Barts and The London - Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Queen Mary, University of London
Supervisor: Professor Ian Mackenzie 2nd supervisor: Professor Iain Hutchinson
Applications for this project are invited from graduates with experience and interest in a Relevant Biological Science with a first class honours degree or an upper second class honours degree with a masters degree in a relevant discipline. The student will be based at the School’s Whitechapel Campus in London.
The project: Most of the proliferative cells within a malignant lesion are capable of limited growth but, as for normal tissues, only a sub-population of proliferative cells is capable of indefinite growth. These are the “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) and this fraction of cells is responsible for driving the growth and spread of malignancies. Such cells have now been identified in a wide range of tumour types and there is increasing evidence that it may be essential to target CSCs if therapy is to be successful. It has been shown for several types of tumours that stem cells have greater resistance than the bulk of tumour cells to killing by radio- and chemo-therapies, and that therapeutic agents may appear to be clinically effective without actually destroying the CSC population responsible for tumour regeneration. The aims of the project are to determine how CSC properties of individual tumours are predictive of in vivo behaviour and clinical outcomes, and to develop information of therapeutic value for targeting CSC maintenance signaling pathways.
Cancer stem cells are a major interest of research in the BICMS and further information about the BICMS and people working within the Stem Cell Initiative can be found at http://www.icms.qmul.ac.uk/stemcell/index.html
The studentship: This studentship will provide UK/EU home fees and a minimum stipend of £15510.00 per annum for 3 years. This studentship is available immediately and the start date would be as soon as practicable.
Non EU nationals are eligible to apply for this studentship but would need to fund the difference between home and overseas tuition fees themselves, approximately £8000.00 per annum for a minimum period of three years.
Applications and Enquiries: To apply, please download the School of Medicine & Dentistry application form from our website: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/index.html and return to the Admissions Office - email: pgsmd@qmul.ac.uk with a copy to the supervisor i.c.mackenzie@qmul.ac.uk
For enquiries please contact: Brenda Bell b.bell@qmul.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: 22 December 2009.
