4-Year MRC ITTP PhD Studentship Project Title - Imperial College ...

PHD STUDENTSHIP PROJECT DETAILS4-Year MRC ITTP PhD StudentshipProject Title:miRNA biomarkers of inflammatory lung pathophysiology arisingfrom administered pharmaceuticals and air pollution componentsAcademic SupervisorDr Toby Athersuch, Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology & Biomarkers,MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London.Industrial SupervisorsDr Timothy Gant, Head of Toxicology Department,Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency.Dr Tom McKevittSafety Assessment, GlaxoSmithKline.ContactsTo apply for this project please email a CV to:toby.athersuch@imperial.ac.ukClosing date for applications: 5pm, 15th August 2012Shortlisted candidates will be contacted on or before: 17th August 2012Interviews for shortlisted candidates: 21st August 2012.Interviews will be held at Imperial College LondonMRC-HPA Centre for Environment and HealthImperial CollegeLondonProject OutlineMany air pollutants and xenobiotics cause inflammation of the lungs and cytokine signalingthat occurs following lung inflammatory responses is a possible mechanism by which inhaledchemical and biochemical species may cause adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.In addition to air pollution, inflammatory lung pathologies have been reported followingexposure to a number of preclinical drugs. The development of a sensitive, physiologicallyrelevant, and tissue-specific markers of inflammatory responses in the lung would be avaluable tool in the research and evaluation of inflammatory lung pathologies resulting fromair pollution or administered pre-clinical pharmacological entities alike.This studentship project will use cutting-edge profiling techniques to discover and developsuch markers. More specifically, the project will focus on micro RNA (miRNA; short RNAspecies of 12-15 nucleotides in length that play an important role in the control of mRNAtranslation rates). There is growing evidence that miRNAs are found in all accessible bodyfluids and that in contrast to longer mRNA species that code for proteins that are rapidlydegraded, miRNAs are remarkably stable in biofluids. Furthermore, it has beendemonstrated that the abundance of specific miRNA species in biofluids can reflectpathological changes in target organs. Combined, these properties have led to the currentinterest in the potential of miRNAs as specific, accessible and sensitive biomarkers of targetorgan toxicity.The studentship will provide a solid training in both standard toxicological assessmentprocedures (histopathological data, protein marker expression), as well as new and noveltechniques (high throughput sequencing, miRNA profiling, and molecular methods). Underthe MRC ITTP studentship programme, the student will experience a variety of researchenvironments at Imperial College London, Health Protection Agency, and GSK.

The first year of the project will provide a Masters-level training, with the student enrolled onthe MRes Biomedical Research course at Imperial College London, prior to progression tothe PhD study in the second year. The studentship would be ideal for someone with a strongbiological background, enjoys practical laboratory work, and is keen to apply state-of-the-artsequencing techniques to answer key molecular biology questions.The studentship includes university registration/tuition fees and an MRC student stipend.