International Scholarships for Everyone: UK : National Institute For Medical Research InterMalTraining: 14 Fellowships For Research Training Leading To A PhD

Intervention Strategies Against Malaria

Malaria exacts a devastating social and economic cost across the globe. "Intervention strategies against malaria" (InterMalTraining) is an EU FP7 Marie Curie-funded Initial Training Network coordinated by Michael J Blackman, National Institute for Medical Research, London UK. Its objective is to support advanced research training through an interdisciplinary collaborative PhD programme that emphasises the path from fundamental research to translation into malaria control strategies. The fourteen PhD studentships offer a unique opportunity for students to become engaged in malaria research in world-leading malaria research institutions. Studentships will be funded for a maximum of 3 years with the possibility of spending part of the studentship at a partner institution. Applicants should hold the necessary qualifications entitling them to undertake PhD study in their chosen country, and should possess a high standard of written and spoken English. Further information on each of the projects can be found at http://www.biomalpar.org/ or http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/phd/intermaltraining/. Applications will only be accepted via the online application system, a link to which can be found below and on the same websites. Applications should be submitted before 1st September 2008. Candidates may apply for up to three different projects. Short-listed candidates will be invited to EMBL, Heidelberg, on 13-15 October 2008 for interviews. Successful candidates should be available to start in January 2009.

1. Complementation methodologies to study PfATP6, a proposed target for artemisinins. Supervisors: S Krishna (St Georges, University of London) and C Doerig (University of Glasgow) 8. Functional analysis of two P. falciparum aspartic proteases exported into the host cell. Supervisors: D Soldati (University of Geneva) and C Braun-Breton (University of Montpellier 2)
2. Potential of methotrexate in the treatment of malaria. Supervisors: S Ward (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) and A Nzila (KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Centre for Geographic Medicine Research) 9. Chromatin modifications controlling differential expression of gene families coding for variant surface antigens of P. falciparum. Supervisors: A Scherf (Institut Pasteur) and C Doerig (University of Glasgow)
3. The Mechanism of PfCRT-mediated chloroquine transport in P. falciparum. Supervisors: M Lanzer (University of Heidelberg) and P Bray (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine). 10. Identification of biomarkers of the innate immune response associated with protective immunity induced by malaria vaccines. Supervisors: J Langhorne (National Institute for Medical Research) and E Riley (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
4. Characterisation of the key enzymes of P. falciparum phospholipid metabolism. Biochemical and structural approaches to rational drug design. Supervisors: H Vial (University of Montpellier 2) and C Kocken (Biomedical Primate Research Centre) 11. Understanding the mechanisms of malaria resistance in children with genetic polymorphisms of the red blood cell. Supervisors: P Arese (University of TorinoT) and T Williams (University of Oxford).
5. Development of anti-cytoadherence adjunct therapies. Supervisors: G Campiani (University of Siena) and A Craig (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) 12. Study of the clumping adhesive phenotypes: their association with severe malaria and underlying molecular specificities. Supervisors: D Roberts (University of Oxford), C Chitnis (ICGEB) and P Bull (KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Centre for Geographic Medicine Research)
6. Gametocyte-infected erythrocyte adhesion in P. falciparum. Supervisors: P Alano (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and R Sauerwein (Radboud University) 13. The role of the host cytoskeleton in Plasmodium sporozoite infection. Supervisors: M Mota (Institute of Molecular Medicine) and F Frischknecht (University of Heidelberg)
7. Function and regulation of a serine protease implicated in malaria parasite remodelling and egress. Supervisors: M Blackman (National Institute for Medical Research) and O Billker (Imperial College) 14. The role of actin filament binding proteins in ookinete gliding motility. Supervisors: I Siden-Kiamos (Foundation for Research and Technology) and K Matuschewski (University of Heidelberg)