PhD Opportunities

PhD opportunities at the Row Fogo Centre.

Current PhD opportunities

The Alzheimer's society VIDA (Vascular and Immune Contributors to Dementia) scheme are funding two PhDs. One will be led here in Edinburgh with the other by Manchester. Row Fogo staff will be supervising on both PhD placements.

Edinburgh PhD

The associations and impact of brain mineral deposition as a marker of vascular dysfunction and inflammation in neurovascular diseases

In this project, we will use in vivo MRI from several large longitudinal cohort studies (n~1400) in Edinburgh and London with MRI data on iron, SVD features, and most also with BBB function, to assess relationships of brain iron deposition to SVD features, cognitive and clinical measures, MRI measures of BBB leakage, blood markers of inflammation, and disease progression, with tissue samples available for some subjects. Analysis of MRI-detected iron, BBB leakage, and SVD severity, with blood and cellular biomarkers of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases, longitudinal clinical, cognitive, and demographic data, in four large cohort studies, will help determine the vascular and inflammatory associations and impact of brain iron deposition in neurovascular disease. Secondarily it will identify patterns of iron deposition that may indicate increased risk of vascular dementia. Iron deposition is easily seen on commonly-used clinical MRI sequences meaning that the findings will translate readily to clinical practice and research. The student will learn about imaging in vascular and neurodegenerative diseases including AI techniques, neuroanatomy, a range of MRI image analysis methods, how to manage large data samples, clinical observational and biomarker methods, state of the art statistical analysis, tissue histology, and benefit from training provided by the DPUK and DRI, including Vascular Theme ECR Network, and the two host institutions.

Funding Notes

Successful applicants will receive a generous stipend of £20,500 pa rising by £1,000 each year, and home fees will be covered (international student fees may be covered). Funding is also provided for research expenses, career development and student travel/conference attendance.

For further information please see the following link:

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/vida-dtc-the-associations-and-impact-of-brain-mineral-deposition-as-a-marker-of-vascular-dysfunction-and-inflammation-in-neurovascular-diseases/?p178480

Primary contact for any queries: M.Valdes-Hernan@ed.ac.uk

CLOSING DATE: Friday 20 December 2024

Manchester PhD

Using UK Biobank to understand the links between hypertension and dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD) is characterised by impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF), that over time leads to a mismatch between energy supply and demand, leading to a loss of neuronal function and the onset of clinical symptoms. Other than large events such as strokes, impaired blood flow to the brain can occur through various mechanisms such as reduced arteriole lumen size, micro-ischaemic events, haemorrhages or capillary stalling. Apart from age, hypertension is the strongest risk factor for VaD, and although recent research has uncovered mechanisms that impair CBF in hypertension models, the pathophysiological links between the two are not well defined.

This project will utilise the resources available in UK Biobank to compare the genetic associations between a panel of blood pressure related traits (SBP, DBP, PP and clinically coded hypertension) with those from cognitive function tests (i.e. fluid intelligence score, as a proxy for dementia) to determine all loci in the genome where the two colocalise. These loci will then be investigated for additional genetic associations with processed magnetic resonance imaging phenotype data, plasma proteomics and a panel of blood metabolites (including cholesterol subtypes and a panel of other blood lipids and lipoproteins). The loci will then be prioritised from most to least evidence of relevance to dementia progression.

In the second half of the project, putative targets of interest - in particular those linked to vessel diameter control – will be investigated using physiological approaches. The validation approach will be tailored according to its functional role, but will involve either pharmacological inactivation or over-activation and short-term knockdown studies in mouse cerebral arteries, the main outcome of interest will be impact on arterial diameter or its control mechanisms.

Funding Notes

VIDA students will embark upon a 4 year fully-funded PhD project. This covers tuition fees and an annual stipend. Successful applicants will receive a generous stipend of £20,500 rising by £1,000 each year. This does not include any costs associated with relocation. Funding is also provided for research expenses, career development and student travel/conference attendance.

For further information please see the following link:

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/vida-dtc-using-uk-biobank-to-understand-the-links-between-hypertension-and-dementia/?p178220

CLOSING DATE: Friday 20 December 2024

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Read about previously advertised PhD projects

Previously advertised PhD opportunities

Other PhD Studentships offered by Precision Medicine Doctoral Training Programme

Read about other PhD programmes in Precision Medicine across The University of Edinburgh.

Please, check information about individual projects as different application deadlines may apply.

Application call for admissions in September 2023: October/early November 2022.

Precision medicine Doctoral Training Programme -list of all PhD Studentship projects

Additional information

Check regularly or PhD opportunities with Doctorate Programmes in Precision Medicine, PhD /Doctorate/ MD opportunities with Edinburgh Imaging and PhD opportunities with Edinburgh Neuroscience.

You may also seek our other PhD opportunities on the Find a PhD website (external website).