PhD Studentship, University of Manchester

Peripheral inflammation and cerebral ischaemia
The University of Manchester - Faculty of Life Sciences

Closing date: 3 February 2010
Start date : September/October 2010

Enquiries and applications: Further information about this project and the Faculty of Life Sciences can be found at www.manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences/postgraduate/

Full details of how to apply can be found at www.manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences/postgraduate/apply/

For enquiries please contact:

Email      : pgresearch.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk
Telephone  : 0161 275 5608
Supervisor : Dr Stuart Allan

The project:

The brain is critically dependent on an adequate blood supply to maintain normal function. Disruption of blood supply by blockage (stroke) or bleeding (subarachnoid (SAH) or intracerebral haemorrhage) results in cerebral ischaemia (CI), and can have devastating clinical consequences. CI is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and despite intensive research effort there are no widely effective treatments. A number of reasons have been proposed for the lack of success in finding successful treatments for CI, including the relevance of the animal models used to date. Research on CI has focussed largely on events within the brain. However, increasing evidence implicates peripheral processes, particularly inflammation, in the aetiology and outcome of CI. Therefore, the failure to address this key aspect of CI pathology may be one reason for the lack of new treatments for stroke and SAH. Refocusing on the primary causes of CI disease may therefore yield more success.

Our recent research demonstrates a rapid change in peripheral inflammatory responses after experimental stroke. Furthermore, a peripheral inflammatory stimulus prior to experimental stroke worsens outcome, which mirrors clinical findings. The overall aim of this project therefore is to further investigate the contribution of peripheral inflammation to CI. More specifically this project will establish whether the brain endothelium and parenchyma in animals with a raised peripheral inflammatory profile is in a 'primed' state, which makes it more susceptible to increased injury in response to experimental stroke and/or SAH.

To achieve the above aim relevant experimental models of stroke and SAH will be used along with immunohistochemical, multiplex and modern bioimaging techniques.

The studentship: This studentship is available to UK and other EU nationals (due to funding criteria) and provides fees and stipend subject to eligibility. Applicants should hold (or be about to obtain) a first or upper second class honours degree in a related area.

Applications are encouraged from students with a relevant biological sciences background.