PhD Studentship - Communication Breakdown: Using Human 3D Bioprinted Models to Understand Disruption of Neuron-muscle Interactions in ALS

The GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme is offering up to 18 MRC funded studentships across a range of biomedical disciplines, with a start date of October 2027.

These four-year studentships provide funding for fees and stipend at the rate set by the UKRI, as well as other research training and support costs, and are available to UK and International students.

This project is in competition for place with the projects across the MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award studentships.  There are a total of 18 studentships available across the partnership.

ALS is a devastating neurological disease with no cure, and we urgently need new ways to understand and treat it. This exciting PhD project combines cutting-edge stem cell technology, 3D bioprinting, brain cell models, and advanced genomic analysis to explore how nerve cells and support cells interact in health and disease. You’ll model a key ALS feature seen in most patients and use high-resolution single-cell techniques and drug screening to uncover new disease mechanisms and identify novel drug candidates. This highly interdisciplinary and collaborative project offers exceptional training in neuroscience, genomics, bioinformatics, bioengineering and translational research.

These studentships are funded through GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme and consist of UK tuition fees, as well as a Doctoral Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27, updated each year).

Additional research training and support funding of up to £5,000 per annum is also available.