Fully Funded MS Society PhD Scholarship: The Role of Placental Extracellular Vesicles in the Beneficial Effects of Pregnancy on Multiple Sclerosis

Funding providers: MS Society

Subject areas: Pregnancy, multiple sclerosis, placenta, extracellular vesicles, inflammation

Project start dates: 

• 1 July 2023 (Enrolment open from mid-June) 

Project description: 

Pregnancy is the only known natural favourable modifier of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease course. This project will determine if subcellular fragments released by the placenta into the maternal circulation – small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) – might mediate these beneficial effects. sEVs facilitate intercellular communication via delivery of their cargo to target cells and can cross the blood brain barrier. They can be isolated from the blood of pregnant women and their cargo and functional phenotype elaborated. Here the shared or unique functional characteristics of placental sEVs from pregnant women with and without MS will be determined. This project will be undertaken in the laboratories of the Institute of Life Science in the Medical School at Swansea University’s Singleton Park campus under the supervision of Professor Cathy Thornton (pregnancy), Dr Owain Howell (multiple sclerosis), Dr Jason Webber (extracellular vesicles) and Dr Gillian Ingram (Swansea Bay University Health Board; Consultant Neurologist). This is a fully funded PhD (stipend/fees/laboratory and other materials) awarded by the MS Society (UK).

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £17,668.

Additional research expenses of £14,000 will also be available.

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