PhD Studentship: One stone, two birds: a new glaucoma treatment strategy to protect nerve cells and repair optic nerve damage

Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies are among the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. In the UK alone, more than one million people are living with glaucoma. Lowering elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only proven treatment to slow disease progression. Although current therapies are effective at controlling IOP, many patients continue to lose vision despite well-controlled IOP, while others develop glaucoma despite having IOP within the normal range. The major unmet clinical challenge is that no existing treatment can repair damaged optic nerves or regenerate the axons from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that transmit visual information from the eye to the brain. This PhD project aims to address this challenge by identifying novel regenerative therapies capable of promoting optic nerve repair, rebuilding eye-to-brain connections, and ultimately contributing to vision restoration.

Using state-of-the-art experimental techniques and clinically relevant disease models, you will investigate compounds targeting a specific signalling pathway to promote axon regeneration. Candidate compounds will be identified through computational screening and human-derived neuronal culture models, followed by validation in preclinical models of optic nerve injury and glaucoma.

During the project, you will:

• Screen a library of compounds for their ability to enhance regenerative growth in stem cell-derived neurons.
• Validate the regenerative potential in mouse models of optic nerve injury.
• Assess neuronal survival, neural connectivity, and visual function following treatment in experimental models of glaucoma.

This interdisciplinary project will provide comprehensive training in molecular and cell biology, regenerative medicine, disease modelling, and advanced imaging technologies. You will gain hands-on experience in human stem cell culture, super-resolution confocal microscopy, transcriptomic analysis, tissue clearing, and visual function assessment.

By integrating advanced in vitro and in vivo models, this PhD will equip you with a broad and highly transferable skill set for careers in academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in neuro-ophthalmology and regenerative medicine.

This project is funded by Glaucoma UK.

Supervisors: Dr Bennett Au, Dr Joaquin Prada and Dr Ayman Ibrahim

Entry requirements

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information. Starting in October 2026.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.

The successful candidate should hold a degree in neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline. Experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques is essential. Previous experience in animal handling would be advantageous but is not required.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted via the Veterinary Medicine and Science PhD programme page for January 2027 intake. You are required to upload your CV along with two names of academic referees and their email contact included in your application form, as well as a word document stating the title of the project that you wish to apply for, the name of the relevant supervisor and October 2026 start.

After you submit your application, please email Dr Bennett Au at first instance to let him know your application for October 2026 start was submitted, please ensure you include the full project name as well.

Funding

UKRI-rated stipend, PhD tuition fee at UK/home rate. Funding is available for 3 years.  

Application deadline

2 August 2026

Enquiries

Contact Dr Bennett Au

Ref

PGR-2526-099

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