PhD Study : Nutrition and the gut microbiome: impact on brain health in older adults

Summary

By 2050 the number of people aged 60 years and over is projected to reach 2 billion, of which an estimated 131 million will have dementia. Preventing or delaying the onset of the disease is a public health priority as dementia has profound implications for the individual and society. Dementia is a multifactorial disease and solutions that target its various risk factors are urgently required. Evidence suggests a protective role of certain dietary patterns (e.g. the ‘Mediterranean’ diet) or specific dietary components, including B-vitamins.

As diet can be modified, it offers a strategy to potentially reduce the risk of developing dementia. The gut microbiome (the totality of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and their collective genetic material present in the gastrointestinal tract) is taxonomically diverse and plays a vital role in health and disease. The microbiota of older people displays greater inter-individual variation and differs from the core microbiota and diversity levels of younger adults. This shift in the composition, function, and phylogenetic diversity of the gut microbiota (i.e. dysbiosis) is influenced by many factors including diet and is associated with several chronic diseases.

Recently, interest has grown in understanding how the gut and brain are connected (the gutbrain axis) and how this connection is influenced by the gut microbiota. Although most evidence comes from animal studies, research shows dementia patients have reduced diversity and altered microbiota composition compared to those without the disease, and the gut microbiome is associated with cognitive performance in healthy community dwelling adults. Modulating the gut microbiome through dietary means could be beneficial in supporting healthy ageing.

This PhD project will utilise and build upon a large, all-island collaborative ageing and health study that has been developed over the last 12 years - the Trinity-Ulster, Department of Agriculture (TUDA) study. The TUDA resource was established to assess nutritional, environmental and clinical factors in relation to health in ageing and provides extensive data on over 5000 adults of 60+ years across Ireland. The original and TUDA follow-up studies (TUDA 5+ cohort, BrainHOP and OptiAge trials) have recently been extended to involve an in-depth investigation of genetic factors, along with study of the gut microbiome in relation to the ageing process.

This PhD project is a nutrition-microbiology collaboration and will extend ongoing work by using state-of-the-art methodologies to investigate the composition and function of the gut microbiome. The overall aim will be to explore how the gut microbiome is influenced by diet and other environmental factors and the impact on brain health in TUDA participants. Next generation microbiome sequencing approaches will be applied to provide high taxonomic and functional resolution of the gut microbiome; allowing relationships between diet, cognitive function and the overall microbiome to be examined.

This combination of cutting-edge nutritional research with microbiome analysis has the potential to have a significant impact on our understanding of human health and wellbeing.

This project will suit applicants with a primary or MSc degree in nutrition or biosciences with microbiology who have excellent interpersonal skills and are willing to learn new skills.

Applicants must be willing to engage in collaborative research in Cork with the APC Microbiome Institute, encompassing Munster Technological (MTU) & Teagasc, to learn new laboratory skills and techniques for characterising microbiome composition and diversity.

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
• 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
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• 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