PhD Study : Biomarkers Discovery for Early Detection of Diabetic Nephropathy using an untargeted Metabolomics approach

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Summary

Diabetes (type T1D and type II (T2D) affects around 400 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is currently the leading cause of end-stage renal disease which means patients require the use of dialysis and renal transplantation. At present, DN is diagnosed by measuring albumin in urine (albuminuria) and estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Limitation in these methods has been seen in regression to normal albumin levels and development of DN in participants who did not present with elevated levels of urinary albumin. In addition, passing of albumin signifies damage to the glomerular filtration barrier. As such, there is a great need for alternative selective biomarkers of DN which can be detected prior to irreversible renal damage.

This study aims to identify novel urine biomarkers for the detection and stratification of the early onset of DN using a stratified patient cohorts including healthy volunteers, early T2D, T2D and DN patients cohorts. The identification of novel biomarkers will be carried out using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry instrumentation hosted at the Mass Spectrometry Centre in the school of biomedical sciences.

Applicants must have a good knowledge of Anaytical Chemistry, Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Please note: Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
  • Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Publications record appropriate to career stage
  • Experience of presentation of research findings
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

Frontiers in Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022 Jun 29;13:887237.  doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.887237. eCollection 2022.

Colhoun, H. M., Marcovecchio, M. L. (2017) ‘Biomarkers of diabetic kidney disease’ Diabetologia, available, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-018-4567-5.

Magee, C. Grieve, D.J., Watson, C. J., Brazil, D. P. (2017) ‘Diabetic Nephropathy: a Tangled Web to Unweave’, Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 31, 579-592.

Kinaan, M., Yau, H., Quinn Martinez, S. (2017). ‘Concepts in Diabetic Nephropathy: From Pathophysiology to Treatment’, Journal of Renal and Hepatic Disorders, 1(2), 10–24.

Guariguata, L., Whiting, D. R., Hambleton, I., Beagley, J., Linnenkamp, U., Shaw J.E. (2013) ‘Global estimates of diabetes prevalence for 2013 and projections for 2035’, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 103, 137-149.

Uwaezuoke, S. N. (2017) ‘The role of novel biomarkers in predicting diabetic nephropathy: a review’, International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, 10, 221–231.

Sharaf El Din, U. A. A., Salem, M. M., Abdulazim, D. O. (2017) ‘Diabetic nephropathy: Time to withhold development and progression - A review’, Journal of Advanced Research, 8, 363-373.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 27 February 2023
04:00PM

Interview Date
27 March to 6 April 2023

Preferred student start date
18 September 2023

Applying

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