PhD Studentship: Can Nutritional Intervention Unlock Better Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injuries? Investigating Brain Blood Flow and Cellular Metabolism Regulation by Ketones Following Head Impacts. MRC GW4 BioMed DTP PhD Studentship 2024/25 Entry, PhD in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

The GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP is offering up to 22 funded studentships across a range of biomedical disciplines, with a start date of October 2024.

These four-year studentships provide funding for fees and stipend at the rate set by the UK Research Councils, as well as other research training and support costs, and are available to UK and International students.

About the GW4 BioMed2 Doctoral Training Partnership

The partnership brings together the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff (lead) and Exeter to develop the next generation of biomedical researchers. Students will have access to the combined research strengths, training expertise and resources of the four research-intensive universities, with opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary and 'team science'. The DTP already has over 90 studentships over 6 cohorts in its first phase, along with 38 students over 2 cohorts in its second phase.

The 80 projects available for application, are aligned to the following themes;

• Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair
• Neuroscience and Mental Health
• Population Health Sciences

Applications open on 4nd September 2023 and close at 5.00pm on 1st November 2023.

Studentships will be 4 years full time.  Part time study is also available.

Project Information

Research Theme:

Neuroscience & Mental Health

Summary:

This project will investigate the efficacy of ketogenic supplements to improve cognition and brain blood flow regulation after concussive or sub-concussive head impacts. The approach will be from petri dish to person and allow you to learn a range of skills. In people you will measure head impacts over a season of sport and examine the effect of dietary supplements. You will also explore how ketones alter brain cells using in vitro and ex vivo models.

Description:

Head accelerations, such as during contact sports, are associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease. The underlying mechanisms linking head accelerations to neurodegeneration are poorly understood, but alterations in brain blood flow and energy metabolism are believed to play a crucial role. Neurovascular coupling (NVC), the connection between brain blood flow and neural activity, is disrupted after one season of contact sport, and acute changes in NVC are also observed following concussion.

In neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease, impaired glucose uptake by the brain contributes to cellular dysfunction and death. This metabolic deficit is closely tied to changes in inflammatory signalling. Ketogenic dietary interventions, such as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation, improve cognition in individuals with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. However, the potential of ketogenic supplements to enhance brain function and recovery after brain injuries, as well as their impact on NVC and  cognitive performance in contact sports, remains unexplored.

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