Details
- Deadline
- Research Field
- Natural sciences
- Funding Type
- Funding
- Career Stage
- First Stage Researcher (R1) (Up to the point of PhD)
About
Outline
This project will test the hypothesis that GEnCs respond to the environment imposed by diabetes in a DKD-specific manner. Consequently, GEnC intracellular and extracellular miRNA expression mediates DKD-related effects both locally and in distal nephron domains, and these miRNAs will have potential utility as disease biomarkers.
RNA will be extracted from cells, extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV-free conditioned medium from treated and control GEnC cultures, and analysed by miRNA profiling. Data analysis will combine comparative GEnC miRNA expression analysis and miRNA target prediction, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and comparison with our existing DKD urinary miRNA profile data to identify candidate miRNAs for further analysis. The functional roles of these candidates will be investigated further by manipulating their expression in GEnCs in vitro.
You will join the research group of Dr Timothy Bowen and Professor Donald Fraser at the Wales Kidney Research Unit, Cardiff University School of Medicine. This project will also involve close collaboration with EV experts from Professor Aled Clayton’s Tissue Microenvironment Group at Cardiff University, and colleagues with detailed knowledge of conditionally immortalised GEnCs from Dr Simon Satchell’s team at the Academic Renal Unit, University of Bristol. Industrial partnership with BBI Group will be led by Head of Business Development Dr Pete Corish.
What is funded
Starting stipends of £11,358 a year for MRes/MPhil studentships (exact figures subject to confirmation of start date and an income assessment). The KESS2 scholarship will provide a stipend, plus c. £3K a year available to support project-related expenses. Fees will be met by the University.
Duration
1 year
Eligibility
Applicants for research PhDs at Cardiff University are expected to have one or both of the following:
- a first degree, normally with class 2:1 or higher, or equivalent in a relevant subject
- a relevant Master's qualification or equivalent
- practical experience of microRNA analysis would be advantageous
Organisation
- Organisation name
- Cardiff University
- Organisation Country
- More Information
The responsibility for the funding offers published on this website, including the funding description, lies entirely with the publishing institutions. The application is handled uniquely by the employer, who is also fully responsible for the recruitment and selection processes.