Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES): Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Hormone-immune Signalling in Parkinson’s Dementia - Towards a Potential Therapy

Funding providers: Swansea University

Subject areas: Medicine, Neuroscience, Dementia

Project start date: 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Project description:  

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, effecting 10 million people worldwide. PD is characterised by motor and non-motor impairments – with >70% progressing to dementia at an accelerated rate. Existing treatments for the motor impairments work in ~50% of those affected and do not address the underlying pathology, while there is no effective treatment for dementia. A therapy that slows dementia progression would have unprecedented impact on the health and social care sectors.

The primary aim of this project is to develop a drug that prevents harmful brain inflammation and supports brain plasticity to treat PD dementia.

This research builds on Dr Davies’ lab findings at Swansea University Medical School (SUMS) that used in silico tools, in collaboration with Dr Mullins (SUMS), to identify novel small-molecule compounds that modulate ghrelin bioavailability. The scholar will determine whether enzyme targeting small molecules modify acyl-ghrelin signalling both in neuronal cell culture systems and human T-lymphocytes relevant to PD dementia.

This project, supported by MRC Development Pathway Gap Funding and in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Institute (ARUK DDI) at University College London (UCL), will accelerate the development of new compounds. The SURES student will join Dr Davies’ lab, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team encompassing nerve cell function (Dr Davies), inflammation (Dr Jones, SUMS), in silico drug design (Dr Mullins) and medicinal chemistry expertise (Professor Ducotterd, ARUK DDI, UCL), to develop new treatments for PD dementia where there is significant un-met need.

The scholar will also work alongside colleagues to develop a companion diagnostic mass-spectrometry-based blood test to facilitate drug efficacy monitoring. The SURES student will determine whether our recently developed Bead Assisted Mass Spectrometry (BAMS) test, working in collaboration with Dr Angelini (SUMS), represents an accurate diagnostic tool to monitor ghrelin bioavailability.

This project is aligned with two of the newly established Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science Research Institutes, namely, Healthy Ageing & Chronic Conditions and Advanced Diagnostic and Medical Technologies. The SURES student will work closely with collaborative teams and with FMHLS Institutes to maximise the impact of our research to the University and to the wider society.

Eligibility

Candidates must have attained, or must be expected to attain, a first-class honours degree and/or a distinction at master’s level. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

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. 

Please visit our website for more information on eligibility.

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

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