PhD Studentship: Improving The Prevention and Treatment of Lean Type 2 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa

About the Award

NIHR Global Health Research programmes aim to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).  This 4-year collaborative project bring together researchers five institutions in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)to improve outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes in SSA . It aims to understand how local factors contribute to increased risk and identify the best ways to prevent and manage this condition.

Location:

University of Exeter Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, RILD Building, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK.

The University of Exeter’s Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences is inviting applications for a PhD studentship fully funded by NIHR to commence on 1st November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.  For eligible students the studentship will cover international tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 for 3 years full-time.

The student will be based in the University of Exeter Medical School and will be expected to spend time undertaking field work at the MRC/UVRI/LSHTM research unit in Uganda and/or the Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit and/or University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Applications will be assessed on merit, and we will endeavour to adapt travel requirements to meet the needs of the successful applicant where, for example, an applicant has caring responsibilities which limit travel.

This is a 3-year PhD studentship funded by the NIHR Global Health Project “Improving outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa” (NIHR156184).

Project Description:

This PHD offers the opportunity to work with leading Clinicians and Scientists in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa to improve management for people living with type 2 diabetes and develop advanced skills in clinical research and data analysis.

Over 20 million people live with type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This number will increase 134% by 2045, the largest expected increase of all regions in the world. A key challenge for managing type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa is lack of local data to inform appropriate management. Increasing evidence shows that diabetes presents differently compared to high-income countries. One important difference is that those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are often young and lean, in stark contrast to its classical presentation in the old and obese in high income countries. Current guidelines are largely based on research from high income settings and focus on dietary change, exercise and weight loss for both prevention of type 2 diabetes and its treatment. However, we do not know the role of lifestyle factors in the development of type 2 diabetes in lean Africans, or whether lifestyle advice and weight loss is an effective intervention for those who are already lean.

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