PhD Study : A novel therapeutic targeting the inflammasome as a treatment for glaucoma.

Apply and key information  

Summary

BACKGROUND:

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and is a global problem that affects over 60 million people. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease and, with the rapidly expanding aging population, the number of people diagnosed with glaucoma is predicted to exceed 100 million by 2040. Glaucoma is characterised by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Unfortunately, there is not currently a cure for glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction remains the only treatment strategy for all types of glaucoma. Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, a secondary glaucoma, presents with much higher IOP than observed in open-angle glaucoma. There is growing evidence that axon damage in the optic nerve head precedes death of the RGCs, this axon damage has been linked to glial activation and inflammation. While inflammation is normally helpful and part of the wound healing response to injury, if this inflammation is excessive or continues for a prolonged time, it can change from a helpful to harmful response that further damages the nerves in the eye. Therefore, regulating inflammation is an important therapeutic target that could prevent disease progression in patients with glaucoma. The ‘NLRP3 inflammasome’ is expressed in the optic nerve head and has been shown to become activated during glaucoma. By targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, it may be possible to inhibit harmful inflammation against the nerves in the eye and prevent vision loss in glaucoma patients. Through the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in many inflammatory diseases, this has led to the development of a novel therapeutic that can target the inflammasome. Promising findings have been obtained for the use of this therapeutic in both glaucoma and other inflammatory conditions.

OBJECTIVES:

This proposed study will

(i) recruit a cohort of glaucoma patients within Northern Ireland and study the expression of inflammsome proteins and their association with IOP, age of onset and type of glaucoma,

(ii) identify biomarkers of inflammation in glaucoma that will determine which patients would benefit most from an anti-inflammatory therapy that targets the inflammasome in the eye,

(iii) further characterise the therapeutic to fully understand the mechanism of action and downstream effects in vitro; this will involve the use of glaucoma relevant cell lines including astrocytes, microglia and retinal ganglion cells.

This PhD project in collaboration with Dr Gregory Ksanders at Harvard Medical School, will provide the opportunity to generate a comprehensive dataset that will help move this novel glaucoma therapeutic from the pre-clinical to the clinical phase improving the treatment of glaucoma patients.

Researcher will be based at C-TRIC (Altnagelvin Hospital site).

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the 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

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 - peer-reviewed
  • Publications record appropriate to career stage
  • Experience of presentation of research findings
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.
  • 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

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Friday 7 February 2020
12:00AM

Interview Date
9 to 20 March 2020

Preferred student start date
Mid September 2020

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Victoria McGilligan

Other supervisors