PhD Studentship: Digital Twins of COPD Patients Receiving HFNC Therapy

Funding for: UK Students

An opportunity exists to join the world-leading Interdisciplinary Collaboration in System Medicine (ICSM) Research Group to work on an industrially funded PhD project that will develop digital twins to investigate next-generation ventilation technologies in collaboration with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

The project:

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy, pioneered by Fisher & Paykel, delivers heated, humidified oxygen to patients at flow rates above 20 L/min and has become the first-line treatment for acute respiratory failure worldwide [1]. This project will develop digital twins [2,3] of patients suffering from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are being treated with HFNC. We are collaborating with clinicians in Italy who are conducting clinical trials in this area and we will leverage their data to create digital twins of these patients, and use them to investigate potential benefits associated with (a) using bi-level (high/low) flow rates during inspiration/expiration (b) stratification of patients to identify sub-groups that would benefit most from different HFNC modalities, and (c) optimization of flow rates to individual patient characteristics.

Key References:

[1] H. Shamohammadi, L. Weaver, S. Saffaran, R. Tonelli, M. Laviola, J.G. Laffey, L. Camporota, T.E. Scott, J.G. Hardman, E. Clini, and D.G. Bates, "Airway pressures generated by high flow nasal cannula in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A computational study", Respiratory Research, 2025. pdf

[2] H. Shamohammadi, S. Saffaran, R. Tonelli, V. Chiavieri, G. Grasselli, E. Clini, T. Mauri, and D.G. Bates, "Digital twins suggest a mechanistic basis for differing responses to increased flow rates during high-flow nasal cannula therapy", Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, 2025. pdf

[3] H. Shamohammadi, Sina Saffaran, D. Troxell, R. Tonelli, V. Chiavieri, G. Grasselli, D. Luca Grieco, S. Spadaro, A. Esquinas, E. Clini, T. Mauri, and D.G. Bates, "Digital Twins of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure and Sepsis Patients Suggest Potential Benefits of Bi-Level High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy", Intensive Care Medicine, 2025. Pdf

Scholarship:

The award will cover the UK tuition fee level, plus a tax-free stipend, currently £21,805, paid at the prevailing UKRI rate for 3.5 years of full-time study.

Eligibility:

This studentship is available to home students only.

The candidate should have a good 2.1 Bachelors, or Masters degree in Engineering, Computational or Physical Sciences, or Physiology/Medical Sciences. This project will suit those with a keen interest in mathematical/computational modelling and simulation applied to real-world medical challenges.

How to apply:

Candidates should submit an expression of interest by sending a CV and supporting statement outlining their skills and interests in this research area via the above 'Apply' button. If this initial application is successful, we will invite you to submit a formal application.

Candidates must fulfil the University of Warwick entry criteria and obtain an unconditional offer before commencing enrolment.

Should your application for admission be accepted, you should be aware that notification of acceptance for the PhD does not constitute an offer of financial support. Successful scholarship candidates will receive an official communication from the School of Engineering to confirm their award.

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