PhD studentship: Not just skin deep: circulating lipids in a “localised” disease and th

PhD studentship: Not just skin deep: circulating lipids in a “localised” disease and their role in angiogenesis

Clinical and Experimental Sciences

Location:  Southampton General Hospital
Closing Date:   Friday 29 July 2016
Reference:  753016FC

Lead Institute / Faculty: Medicine

Main Supervisor: Dr Timothy M Millar

Other members of the supervisory team: Dr Alan N Hunt

Duration of the award: 3 years

Project description:

Dyslipidaemia is thought to be a major contributory factor to cardiovascular co-morbidities in psoriasis. In cardiovascular disease (CVD), increased circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known to have damaging effects in the vasculature. Both psoriasis and CVD show inflammatory cell recruitment and stromal cell hyperplasia. Therefore, both conditions potentially share a similar underlying pathology. In particular, the concentration, oxidative modification and the proportions of various lipid classes are thought to be important factors in these diseases. Our previous work investigated human serum lipids and their role in the immunopathology of psoriasis by modelling pathological features of the disease such as new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and inflammation. We showed that specific lipid classes are significant factors in endothelial function and immune cell proliferation.  In particular our research has pointed towards a role for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) as the bioactive lipid mediator of some of these effects and we hypothesise that S1P signalling is a modifiable target in lipid mediated CVD.  Intracellular S1P is tightly regulated but it can be synthesised rapidly and is also found circulating in the blood.  This funded PhD studentship aims to understand the mechanism(s) by which bioactive lipids and especially their oxidation products regulate endothelial function and immune cell responses in human disease.

Techniques will include flow cytometry, lipid biochemistry including Mass spectrometry, human endothelial cell culture, functional assays of angiogenesis and endothelial migration, immune cell trafficking as well as cell based signalling pharmacology and varied microscopy techniques.  This position would suit a motivated and enthusiastic candidate with relevant general experience in cell biology, biochemistry and immunology with a particular interest in vascular biology and lipid signalling.

The University of Southampton is one of the leading, Russell Group research-led universities in the UK.  We are a vibrant and ambitious Faculty of Medicine with a leading reputation in research, enterprise and education.  We offer a world class training environment for postgraduate study with an emphasis on translating new discoveries into healthcare practice and our research covers the spectrum from basic science to clinical innovation.

Key words: Vascular, inflammation, lipid, cell biology, endothelium, signaling, angiogenesis.

Please contact: Dr Timothy M Millar t.m.millar@soton.ac.uk, 02381 20 8975 https://www.som.soton.ac.uk/about/staff/listing/profile.asp?millart

Person Specification: Qualified applicants with, or expecting to gain a first (1st) or upper second class (2:1) degree and/or second degree with a related Masters in a relevant discipline are encouraged to have informal discussions with the principle investigator Dr Tim Millar via ‘phone 02381 20 8975 or email millart@soton.ac.uk and to apply through the Faculty admissions site stating their relevant experience and suitability for this position.

Funding information:  Jointly funded by the Kerkut Charitable Trust (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~gktrust/) and the Psoriasis Association (https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/) from October 2016, in the Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK and provides a stipend and payment of tuition fees (depending on eligibility).

Administrative contact and how to apply:

Please complete the University's online application form, which you can find at

https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=4355&majr=4355&term=201617#_ga=1.60104237.1658067525.1460548452

You should enter Dr Timothy M Millar as your proposed supervisor. To support your application provide an academic CV (including contact details of two referees), official academic transcripts and a personal statement (outlining your suitability for the studentship and your research experience to date).

Informal enquiries relating to the project or candidate suitability should be directed to Dr Timothy M Millar (T.M.Millar@soton.ac.uk) or Dr Alan Hunt (A.N.Hunt@soton.ac.uk).

Closing date: 29^th July 2016

Interview date:  Week of 8th – 12^th August 2016

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification