PhD studentship: Role of adipose tissue function in fatty liver disease

With the increased prevalence of obesity, and limited success in preventative approaches, there is an urgent need to better understand and manage its long-term consequences. Such consequences include the increased risk of developing metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Over 25 years, we and others have investigated mechanisms of disease at both molecular and systems levels, that have revealed fundamental metabolic and endocrine roles of adipose tissue in regulating metabolic health. These include the pathogenic role of chronic low-grade inflammation(or metaflammation) in limiting adipose tissue expansion and function - key drivers of ectopic fat deposition. Recent evidence suggests that perturbations in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) also plays a key role in energy homeostasis and may impact on the development of obesity and NAFLD. The current PhD project aims to address these associations by investigating adipose tissues from NAFLD patients who have participated in a randomised placebo-controlled trial testing the effect of a synbiotic intervention. The project will involve a collaboration between three research groups based at University Hospital Southampton and will offer opportunities to gain skills and experience in clinical & translational research using techniques such as histological imaging, immunoassays, molecular biolgy, transcriptomics, lipidomics, bioinformatics and biomedical statistics.

Please contact:  Dr Jaswinder K. Sethi (j.sethi@soton.ac.uk)

Person Specification: See below.

We seek a candidate with the following qualities:

The successful candidate is likely to have the following qualifications:

Funding information: 

The project is fully funded for 3 years by the National Institute for Health Research through the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and welcomes applicants from the UK only (due to funding restrictions). Funding will cover fees and a stipend at standard Research Council rates from Oct 2018.