PhD Studentship: The Underlying Causes of the Diabetic Foot: Revascularisation Deficit and Novel Strategies to Boost Healing

About this project

The diabetic foot is one of the most debilitating comorbidities of diabetes. It is caused by impaired tissue repair, which leads to limb dysfunction and ultimately amputation. Surgical interventions are commonly utilised but are not suitable for all patients, which makes diabetic foot an unresolved medical emergency.

In this project we aim to: 1) utilise RNA-sequence data from animal models of diabetes and wound tissue explanted from diabetes foot patients to identify new disease mechanisms; 2) investigate novel molecular mechanisms of impaired wound repair in primary human cell cultures modelling diabetes (dermal endothelial cells for revascularisation studies and dermal fibroblasts/epithelial cells for repair studies); 3) test the effect of pharmacological and dietary interventions on wound healing using animal models of diabetes and human wound tissue cultures ex vivo.   

For informal inquiries, please contact holly.wilkinson@hyms.ac.uk

About the research cluster / about the research environment

Diabetes is a multifaceted disease that reduces life quality and expectancy through a plethora of health complications and comorbidities. As the number of people living with diabetes is increasing, the societal impact of this disease is predicted to rise significantly in the next decades. The complexity of diabetes requires a multidisciplinary research approach to understand its mechanisms and deliver novel therapeutic tools.

This project will be part of a PhD cluster that will bring together a multidisciplinary team from five different Schools within the University of Hull to investigate four fundamental aspects of diabetes: 1) the effect on blood clotting and vascular health; 2) the association with kidney diseases; 3) the impairment of wound healing leading to peripheral limb diseases; 4) the combined effect of diabetes and dementia on life quality and disease progression.

Funding

• The successful applicant will receive a fee waiver and a maintenance grant / stipend for three years (full-time) or five years (part-time), which covers the research period of the PhD. The fee waiver for 22/23 is £4,596 (Home fee) and the maintenance grant is £17,668 per annum. This rises each year in line with the UKRI’s recommended stipend allowance.

• If you need to move into a fourth year (full-time) or sixth year (part-time) to complete your thesis, please note that you will not receive a tuition fee waiver or maintenance grant during this period and you will be required to pay a continuation fee.

Submission of thesis

Submission of your final thesis is expected within three years and three months from the start of your PhD scholarship for full-time and within five years and six months if studying part-time.

Eligibility and entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum 2:1 degree in a biomedical subject. A taught MSc or Masters by Research in a relevant subject or relevant laboratory experience would be an advantage.

International applicants

This opportunity comes with a Home fee waiver only, which will not cover the full International fee. You will therefore need to pay the difference between the Home fee and the International fee and will need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover this. 

How to apply

Applications are via the University of Hull webpage  

Closing date for applications 

10 February 2022

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