Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES): Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: The In Vivo Mechanistic Dissection of Lifespan Extension Pathways Using Senolytic Compounds in the African Turquoise Killifish Model of Ageing

Funding providers: Swansea University

Subject areas: Senolytics and ageing

Project start date: 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project description: 

Ageing is a growing fundamental economic and social challenge since the age structure of our population will change markedly during this century. Despite significant improvements in living conditions and healthcare leading to increasing life expectancy, it is extremely rare to grow old in good health and by the age of 85 essentially no individual is disease-free.  As such, drug discovery research is focusing on potential interventions that enhance the human health span. One area of research focus is on the reversal of cellular senescence, and so there has been a rapid development of interventions that behave as senolytic drugs. One such drug is Resveratrol, a naturally occurring plant compound that is thought to reverse cellular senescence through its action on SIRT1.

The specific aim of the project is to use Resveratrol, and related senolytic compounds, to identify ageing pathways in a new in vivo model of ageing the African Turquoise Killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri). The project will investigate the effect of mid-lifespan dosing of Resveratrol and similar compounds on lifespan and ageing (senescence) markers in Killifish using RNA-seq and proteomic approaches. Once novel pathways are identified, the project will then use gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9) of Killifish to validate these novel mechanisms of senescence reversal.

This project will be a collaboration between the Murray laboratory at Swansea University, and the Faragher laboratory, at the University of Brighton.

Eligibility

Candidates must have attained, or must be expected to attain, a first-class honours degree and/or a distinction at master’s level. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

Please visit our website for more information on eligibility.

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.