PhD Studentship: QUEX – Intervertebral Disc-On-A-Chip at University of Exeter

Join a world-leading, cross-continental research team

The University of Exeter and the University of Queensland are seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, cross-continental research team tackling major challenges facing the world’s population in global sustainability and wellbeing as part of the QUEX Institute. The joint PhD programme provides a fantastic opportunity for the most talented doctoral students to work closely with world-class research groups and benefit from the combined expertise and facilities offered at the two institutions, with a lead supervisor within each university. This prestigious programme provides full tuition fees, stipend, travel funds and research training support grants to the successful applicants.

The studentship provides funding for up to 42 months (3.5 years).

Eight generous, fully-funded studentships are available for the best applicants, four offered by the University of Exeter and four by the University of Queensland. This select group will spend at least one year at each University and will graduate with a joint degree from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.

The following project in within the QUEX Institute interdisciplinary theme of: Healthy LivingFind out more about the PhD studentships Queensland partnership | Working in partnership with the University of Queensland | University of Exeter

Project Description

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is commonly linked to low back pain, which is the leading global cause of years lived with disability. Traditional surgical approaches to treat degenerative disc disease, such as spinal fusion and total disc replacements have high costs, relatively poor outcomes and relatively high complication rates compared to other orthopaedic procedures such as hip and knee arthroplasty. Therefore, there is increasing interest in biological, and regenerative therapies such as the use of growth factors, cell injections, minimal repair strategies such as replacing the gel-like nucleus pulposus at the centre of the intervertebral disc, and the development of tissue-engineered discs to improve outcomes for patients. However, there is a limited understanding of how mechanical loading affects cellular activity and viability within the IVD, which is critical to understand the degenerative process, and for any interventions or regenerative strategies to be successfully implemented.

The overall aim of the project will be to develop and test an intervertebral disc-on-a-chip prototype with integrated microfluidic loading. The project will build upon previous and ongoing projects between the Exeter and UQ that have developed a six-axis bioreactor to replicate the complex mechanobiological conditions of the IVD in the laboratory environment, the use of this system to provide a greater understanding of how mechanical loading affects IVD cells, and the development and evaluation of regenerative therapies for the IVD.