PhD Studentship: Jean Spier Clinical PhD Brain Tumour Diagnostics, Multi-Omics and Computational Biology

We are offering an exciting fully funded clinical PhD opportunity in brain tumour diagnostics, focusing on multi-omics approaches and computational biology. This project addresses a major unmet clinical need: brain tumours remain the leading cause of cancer-related death in children and adults under 40, with survival outcomes still poor. Median time from surgery to tissue diagnosis is 26 days (IQR 21–36; Tessa Jowell BRAIN MATRIX interim analysis 2025). This PhD aims to develop rapid and accurate diagnostic approaches using advanced genomic technologies. The project will evaluate rapid sequencing methods alongside DNA methylation-based classifiers to accelerate tissue diagnosis. By reducing the time to diagnosis and developing new efficient techniques, this work has the potential to improve patient outcomes, enable faster access to targeted therapies and clinical trials, and reduce the psychological burden associated with diagnostic delays.

The molecular testing will be performed mainly at the Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Service (MPDS) at UHB led by Dr Philippe Taniere, which offers access to a wide range of technologies on site (IHC, FISH, RT-PCR, NGS, long read sequencing, methylation array) as well as technical and scientific support. The local brain tumour tissue pipeline provides access to fresh tumour samples with appropriate clinical annotation led by Dr Victoria Wykes (Academic Neurosurgeon) and via the Tessa Jowell BRAIN MATRIX Network led by Professor Colin Watts Chair of Neurosurgery University of Birmingham. Collaboration will also be with the Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences - University of Birmingham, led by Professor Andrew Beggs

The successful candidate (pathology /neurosurgery ST1-3 ideally with a National Training Number) will generate and analyse a richly annotated, integrated multi-omic dataset from brain tumour samples. Working at the interface of computational biology, neuro-oncology and molecular medicine, the student will apply state-of-the-art transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic profiling techniques. The project will also involve developing and validating novel diagnostic classifiers and establishing a testbed for genomic testing in a clinical setting.

This is a highly interdisciplinary project, offering training in both experimental and computational techniques. The student will gain hands-on experience in next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, single-cell and bulk multi-omics, spatial ‘omics technologies, and machine learning approaches. Opportunities to work with brain tumour organoids and contribute to translational research bridging laboratory discoveries and clinical implementation will also be provided.

The PhD will be based within a collaborative research environment, with supervision spanning academic, clinical, and industry partners. The student will split their time between research groups in cancer genomics and neurosurgery, as well as a leading clinical molecular pathology laboratory and the project is supported by industry collaborators and includes opportunities for international collaboration and travel within Europe.

In addition to project-specific training, the student will have access to a comprehensive programme of professional development courses covering research skills, data analysis, communication, and career development. Participation in national and international conferences and workshops will be encouraged.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research with real clinical impact, while developing a diverse and highly sought-after skillset in genomics and computational biology.

Funding notes:

This Jean Spier Clinical PhD studentship for covers tuition fees and a stipend for candidates with Home fee status. There is an expectation that the candidate will engage with the donor.

Advert information