PhD Studentship: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Central Nervous System Regeneration

The aim is to discover and test candidate molecular mechanisms underlying central nervous system (CNS) (ie spinal cord and brain) regeneration. The human CNS does not regenerate after injury or disease. However, some animals can regenerate their CNS. Furthermore, the human brain is plastic, meaning it can undergo change, enabling neurogenesis, gliogenesis, formation of new synapses and connections in response to challenges. This means that regeneration of cells and connections in the spinal cord or brain after damage could be possible. Animals that can regenerate their CNS do so by inducing de novo neurogenesis followed by integration of new neurons into functional neural circuits. In humans, new neurons are made daily during learning, and these new neurons also integrate into functional circuits. This means that cells can ‘know’ how to re-establish cell populations and circuits. It may be possible to tap into the regenerative potential of the CNS to direct regeneration after injury and damage. Here, we will investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration in the CNS: neurogenesis, gliogenesis, cell growth, generation of new connectivity patterns and synapses, and integration into neural circuits to result in functional, restored behaviour.

We will use the fruit-fly Drosophila as a model organism for its powerful genetics and molecular cell biology (e.g. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing), transcriptomics, laser scanning confocal microscopy, computational imaging approaches for analysis of images and movies, stimulating neuronal function with opto- and thermo-genetics in vivo, and recording and analysing fruit-fly behaviour. We will strive to extrapolate the relevance of our findings to the mammalian and human condition.

Funding notes:

This is a PhD studentship with the Midlands Integrated Biosciences Training Partnership, funded by BBSRC and in partnership with the University of Warwick, Aston University, Harper Adams University, Coventry University, and the University of Leicester.

For more details please visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/ or https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/college-of-life-and-environmental-sciences/midlands-integrative-biosciences-training-partnership

MIBTP Programme Code for this project: 167D PhD Biosciences FT (MIBTP)

How to apply:

To apply, please click on the 'Apply' button above, make an account, and submit an application via the university online admissions portal. This link is unique to the MIBTP programme; please do not use any other link to apply to this project or your application may be rejected.

References:
Harrison, et al (2021) Regenerative neurogenesis is induced from glia by Ia-2 driven neuron-glia communication. eLife10:e58756 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.58756

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