PhD Research Project: Sarcopenic obesity and fracture risk: investigation of muscle phenotype, musc

Obesity, fall-related injuries and fractures are growing public health problems. One in two women and one in five men will have a fracture. One in four UK adults are obese. Obesity generally protects against fracture, but increases humerus and ankle fractures, and 23% women with fractures are obese. We previously demonstrated higher bone mass and stronger microarchitecture in obese adults. This suggests that fracture in obesity is not due to bone properties, but possibly differences in falls.

The project will investigate muscle quantity and function, gait and balance in obesity. The project will combine detailed phenotyping with investigation of epigenetic musculoskeletal effects of obesity. The project will train the student in musculoskeletal physiology and pathology as well as the principles and practice of gait assessment and modelling, bone density and microstructure measurement, as well epigenetics of adipose and muscle tissue using state-of-the-art techniques.

The student will be based in Sheffield and will receive broad research training through formal teaching programmes and seminars in the Mellanby Centre for Bone Research and Insigneo engineering institute.

Dr Walsh (Sheffield) will be primary supervisor and lead the design and oversight of the clinical study, imaging and basic functional measures.

Dr Mazzà (Sheffield)will train the student in the advanced gait assessment techniques and support this analysis.

Dr Cuthbertson (Liverpool) will contribute to the design of the clinical study and oversee the biopsy acquisition.

Dr Whysall (Liverpool) will oversee the microRNA expression and target gene analyses using qPCR and bioinformatics.

Funding Notes

Funded by the MRC/Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA). Students should have home or EU student status and have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship to be eligible for the full award (tuition fees, research support costs and a tax-free stipend at the Research Council rate). Please see RCUK terms and conditions.

Candidates should have or expect to hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Biological Sciences or an equivalent degree.

To apply, please download application form from the CIMA website (http://www.cimauk.org/training)