Development of a Microfluidic Platform for Identification of NSCLC Patients at Higher Risk for Brain Metastasis at University of Plymouth

DoS: Dr. Mahmoud Labib (Mahmoud.labib@plymouth.ac.uk, tel.: 0747 121 3967)

2^nd Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Hanemann (oliver.hanemann@plymouth.ac.uk, tel.: 0175 258 3240)

3^rd Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Lim (elizabeth.lim@nhs.net, tel.: 0175 243 2338)

4^th Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Jones (Matt.jones-32@plymouth.ac.uk, tel.: 0175 243 2338) 

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1^st April, 2024. 

Project Description

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of patients with primary lung cancer. Up to 55% of the patients with advanced NSCLC develop brain metastases (BM) with a median survival of 2–3 and 4–6 months in untreated and treated patients, respectively. Due to the location of metastatic lesions, surgical resection is limited, and chemotherapy is quite ineffective due to the blood brain barrier (BBB). It is thus crucial to identify patients at higher risk for BM at an early stage. BM has been ascribed to the presence of competent subsets of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) that transmigrate through the BBB and thrive in the brain. No definitive signature genes for BM have been identified in CTCs from NSCLC due to the lack of validated markers or strategies to isolate these cells with high-efficiency enrichment to facilitate subsequent gene expression profiling. We will deploy a microfluidics-based cell sorting platform to isolate CTCs from a cohort of NSCLC patients with BM. Isolated CTCs will be subjected to comprehensive gene expression profiling to identify the signature genes of BM. Gene ontology will be used to identify the involved molecular pathways and cellular functions of identified signature genes. A microfluidics-based cell profiling platform will be developed to analyse the proteins encoded by the signature genes in CTCs collected from NSCLC patients and subsequently identify patients at higher risk form BM. 

Eligibility 

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject or a relevant Masters qualification. If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 7.0 (with no less than 6.5 in each component test area) or equivalent. 

The studentship is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £18,110 per annum 2023-24 rate. The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £12,697 per annum 2023-24 rate). 

NB: The studentship is supported for three years of the four-year registration period. The fourth year is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year. 

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr. Mahmoud Labib, mahmoud.labib@plymouth.ac.uk. 

To apply for this position please visit here. 

Please clearly state the name of the studentship that you are applying for on the top of your personal statement. 

Please see here for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College. 

The closing date for applications on 15^th February 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview shortly after the deadline.