Interdisciplinary PhD Funded by Future Human

Taking a patient centred approach to the development of next-generation cancer treatments.

The Future Human Signature Research Theme is excited to support a PhD studentship for the following project: Taking a patient centred approach to the development of next-generation cancer treatments.

This project will be supervised by Dr J. Hiscock (School of Chemistry and Forensics), Prof. M. Garrett (School of Biosciences), Dr K. Taylor (School of Sports and Exercise Science) and Mr. S. Kommu (NHS Consultant Surgeon), starting in the academic year 2022 (from September 2022).

Project summary:

Within the scope of this interdisciplinary PhD, a postgraduate student will develop our novel supramolecular self-associating amphiphile (SSA) technology to produce next generation treatment strategies against cancer.

This PhD project will:

  • Consider in-clinic patient challenges associated with treatment and explore how alterations within treatment development could be implemented to improve patient experience.  Skills gained in: Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) data collection and interpretation.
  • Design, synthesise and characterise the physicochemical properties of next-genoration SSAs driven by patient need. Skills gained in: Chemical synthesis, Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta Potential, NMR, CMC determination, Mass Spectrometry, Tensiometry, X-ray Crystallography.
  • Evaluate the anticancer activity and mode of action for these next generation SSAs. Skills gained in: Human Cell Culture, Cell Proliferation Assays, Western Blotting, Fluorescence Microscopy, Flow Cytometry.

Further details