Principal supervisor: Dr Jennifer Ashworth
Other supervisors: Dr Victoria James, Prof Amanda Wright
About the Project:
The cells in our bodies are surrounded by a complex arrangement of proteins and sugars. Known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), this intricate network plays vital roles in disease progression. In breast cancer, the orientation and organisation of collagen fibres surrounding the tumour correlates specifically with patient prognosis. This phenomenon is still not fully understood, since current cancer models typically neglect the role of these fibre networks, despite its proven clinical significance.
This PhD project will implement novel biomaterial technology to study how tumour-specific collagen networks impact breast cancer progression. Implementing a technique called ice-templating, which patterns collagen fibre networks through controlled ice crystal growth, the student will reproduce key features of the 3D collagen networks found specifically in normal breast or breast tumour tissue. These biomaterials will be applied as 3D culture models to study how tumour-specific fibre networks dictate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.
Incorporating cutting-edge techniques spanning a wide range of fields, this highly multidisciplinary project will include 3D cell culture, biomaterial design/fabrication, molecular biology, and multiphoton fluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopy. Specifically, we will implement advanced microscopy to examine tumour-specific ECM influences on short-range cell-cell interactions, and extracellular vesicle analysis to explore how 3D fibre networks can impact long-range interactions. By applying these methods to patient-derived breast cancer cells, this project will identify key mechanisms underpinning invasion via cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, increasing our understanding of breast cancer progression and revealing future approaches for improved identification of novel treatments.
Environment: The student will work as part of the Diagnostics and Therapeutics research group in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (SVMS), which undertakes research on life-threatening and life-changing diseases in humans and animals. This interdisciplinary project will also benefit from access to custom-built microscopy platforms in the Optics and Photonics Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, as well as the £100M suite of biological research facilities at the Biodiscovery Institute.
Further information and Application
Candidates may have a background in either biological or physical/materials science, with a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree, or a 2.2 with a related Master’s degree. A willingness to work as part of an interdisciplinary team is essential.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to the principal supervisor: Dr Jennifer Ashworth, [email protected] .
Candidates should apply online and include a CV and a covering letter in the supporting documents. When completing the online application form, please select the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, then PhD Veterinary Medicine and Science (36m) and, once submitted, send your student ID number to [email protected] .
Any queries regarding the application process should be addressed to [email protected] .
Interview Date:
29th February 2024
Start Date:
1st April 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter
Eligibility for Funding
This is a fully funded studentship open to UK nationals only.