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Molecular subtyping to identify therapeutic options in colorectal cancer

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences | PHD

Applications are now CLOSED
Funding
Funded
Reference Number
SMED-2221-1168
Application Deadline
7 February 2022
Start Date
1 October 2022

Overview

*Application closing date has been extended* Our lab (https://dunne-lab.com/) is looking to recruit a translational bioinformatics PhD student, who will work within a highly-collaborative research team, to improve our understanding of colorectal cancer. The student will interrogate bulk and single cell RNAseq, spatial transcriptomics, copy number and whole exome mutational sequencing data.

Of all human diseases, cancer has one of the worst rates for converting insight from preclinical research models into clinically useful treatments. The genomic sequencing of hard-to-treat colorectal cancers has yielded fewer clinically druggable mutations than expected. Therefore despite small successes, there have been many expensive failures in this space. Our lab (https://dunne-lab.com/) is focussed on improving outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer, by increasing understanding of the biology underpinning aggressive traits in tumours and converting that new knowledge into new treatment options. The group employs a wide range of laboratory techniques, both "wet-lab" and "dry-lab", by combining in vivo and in vitro molecular biology, in situ molecular pathology and in silico translational bioinformatics.

Our group is looking to recruit a PhD candidate with:
• Experience of working with molecular datasets and in performing translational bioinformatics analyses.
• Interest in understanding the nuanced and complex interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment.

This work will involve bioinformatics assessments of existing transcriptional and genomic dataset, to examine the temporal evolution of these tumours within the immune and stromal environment, and alignment to clinical response data (including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) in our cancer collections.

Funding Information

Please note that this is a Competition Award - 6 advertised projects for 1 Award.

Funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). For UK domiciled students the value of an award includes the cost of approved tuition fees and maintenance support (Fees £4,500, Stipend £15,609 – 2022 TBC). To be considered eligible you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the full 3 year period prior to the start of the studentship and you must be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland on the first day of the start of the studentship. For further information about eligibility criteria please refer to the DfE Postgraduate Studentship Terms and Conditions 2021-22 at https://go.qub.ac.uk/dfeterms

Funding eligibility: ROI (and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled) status may be eligible for funding. Please review the DfE T&C’s.

Project Summary
Supervisor

Dr Philip Dunne

More Information

askmhls@qub.ac.uk

Research Profile

Mode of Study

Full-time: 3 years

Funding Body
DfE
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