PhD Studentship: Recreating Brain Tumours in Vitro Using Patient-derived Glioma Stem Cells Hosted by Human Mini-brains

DoS: Dr Jon Gil-Ranedo (jon.gil-ranedo@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Claudia Barros (claudia.barros@plymouth.ac.uk)

3^rd Supervisor: Professor José M Almendral (jmalmendral@cbm.csic.es)

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 01 October 2023. Full-time study mode.

Project Description 

Glioblastoma remains as an incurable brain tumour, with a median survival of 15 months. Major reasons for treatment failure include tumour heterogeneity, transitional cellular states, and extensive infiltrative behaviour. Such clinically relevant properties are not recapitulated with traditional in vitro models, likely contributing to low success of clinical trials and highlighting the need for more translatable systems. Cerebral organoids, or mini-brains, is one of the most promising advances providing a physiological 3D substrate for glioma stem cells (GSC) to generate tumours that closely mirror patient ́s GBMs. This PhD project aims to develop and characterize human cerebral organoids from iPSCs and use these as platform to generate infiltrative tumours with existent patient-derived GSCs. The model will be validated as a more clinically relevant system to study mechanisms of tumour formation and therapeutic resistance. 

Eligibility 

Applicants must have a first or upper second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant Masters qualification. Extended laboratory research experience (molecular biology, biochemistry, cell culture and/or confocal microscopy) is advantageous. A strong interest in neural development and brain tumour biology is required. 

The studentship is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £18,021 per annum (2023/24 rate, to be confirmed). The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £12,670 per annum). International students must have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any element). 

NB: The studentship is supported for three years of the four-year registration period. The fourth year is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year. 

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Jon Gil-Ranedo (jon.gil-ranedo@plymouth.ac.uk). 

To apply for this position please visit here. 

Please clearly state the name of the DoS and the studentship title that you are applying for on the top of your personal statement. 

Please see here for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please contact research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk 

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 12^th of June 2023.  

We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications.

Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. 

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