Overview
Cardiff University is pleased to invite applications for a PhD studentship in Drug Discovery. This project will be based primarily within the HPV Research Group, which is a highly active and rapidly expanding unit composed of both basic scientists and clinicians. It will involve close collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Chris McGuigan, which has world leading expertise in design of nucleoside analogue drugs.
Project Background
The incidence of HPV associated neoplasia (pre-cancer) is increasing. HPV associated Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN) is a painful and distressing condition, and is a precursor of vulval cancer. The main treatment for VIN is currently surgery, but a topical treatment (applied to the affected skin) would have obvious advantages. This project will use a novel model system based on cell culture to assess the potential of nucleoside analogue drugs. This challenging project will develop expertise in cutting edge technologies, including cell culture, drug design and evaluation, and biomarker discovery and validation. It could also have significant impact on treatment of VIN. Evaluation of these compounds in a primary culture system is novel and provides a unique opportunity to examine these drugs in a physiologically relevant, but experimentally tractable system. This project's immediate aim is to improve treatment of VIN and prevent malignant progression, but it is likely that the results will be relevant to treatment of other HPV associated cancers.
The specific aims of this project are:
1.To determine the efficacy and mode of action of the nucleoside analogue Cidofovir in treatment of HPV associated disease.
2.To identify structural variants of Cidofovir with increased activity against HPV associated neoplasia.
3.To investigate the effects of the demethylating agent Decitabine on HPV gene expression and disease.
4.To identify biomarkers which predict response to these two classes of therapy.
This project ties in with a current clinical trial (RT3VIN) evaluating use of Cidofovir in treatment of VIN. Both groups share the aim of Cardiff University School of Medicine, to pursue the highest standards of research, education and training, to enhance the health of the people of Wales and the wider world. The School of Medicine is one of the largest in the UK, with over 2,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled. The HPV Group is part of the Cancer Studies IRG which gained the highest possible rating (5*) in the Research Assessment Exercise in 2001.
Full proposals can be viewed at:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/presidents/drugdiscovery/index.html
Funding and Eligibility
This is a Cardiff University President's Research Scholarship. The award includes full UK/EU tuition fees plus a doctoral stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£13,290 p.a. for 2009/10,updated each year).
Academic Criteria: We are seeking high calibre candidates for these awards and applicants would normally be expected to have a First Class Honours degree or a 2.1 plus a Masters (or their equivalents). Relevant previous experience may also be considered.
Due to the broad scope of the project (molecular / cellular biology, virology, and cancer) we expect applicants to have undergraduate qualifications relevant to one, but not necessarily all of the subject areas covered by the study. Full training will be provided in all aspects of the work.
Residency: Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open all UK/EU nationals.
How to apply: Interested candidates should forward a current CV and covering letter by email to Dr Ned Powell powellng@cf.ac.uk (Informal enquiries about the project are also welcomed.)
Application Deadline: 1st August 2010
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
Cardiff University is pleased to invite applications for a PhD studentship in Drug Discovery. This project will be based primarily within the HPV Research Group, which is a highly active and rapidly expanding unit composed of both basic scientists and clinicians. It will involve close collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Chris McGuigan, which has world leading expertise in design of nucleoside analogue drugs.
Project Background
The incidence of HPV associated neoplasia (pre-cancer) is increasing. HPV associated Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN) is a painful and distressing condition, and is a precursor of vulval cancer. The main treatment for VIN is currently surgery, but a topical treatment (applied to the affected skin) would have obvious advantages. This project will use a novel model system based on cell culture to assess the potential of nucleoside analogue drugs. This challenging project will develop expertise in cutting edge technologies, including cell culture, drug design and evaluation, and biomarker discovery and validation. It could also have significant impact on treatment of VIN. Evaluation of these compounds in a primary culture system is novel and provides a unique opportunity to examine these drugs in a physiologically relevant, but experimentally tractable system. This project's immediate aim is to improve treatment of VIN and prevent malignant progression, but it is likely that the results will be relevant to treatment of other HPV associated cancers.
The specific aims of this project are:
1.To determine the efficacy and mode of action of the nucleoside analogue Cidofovir in treatment of HPV associated disease.
2.To identify structural variants of Cidofovir with increased activity against HPV associated neoplasia.
3.To investigate the effects of the demethylating agent Decitabine on HPV gene expression and disease.
4.To identify biomarkers which predict response to these two classes of therapy.
This project ties in with a current clinical trial (RT3VIN) evaluating use of Cidofovir in treatment of VIN. Both groups share the aim of Cardiff University School of Medicine, to pursue the highest standards of research, education and training, to enhance the health of the people of Wales and the wider world. The School of Medicine is one of the largest in the UK, with over 2,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled. The HPV Group is part of the Cancer Studies IRG which gained the highest possible rating (5*) in the Research Assessment Exercise in 2001.
Full proposals can be viewed at:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/presidents/drugdiscovery/index.html
Funding and Eligibility
This is a Cardiff University President's Research Scholarship. The award includes full UK/EU tuition fees plus a doctoral stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£13,290 p.a. for 2009/10,updated each year).
Academic Criteria: We are seeking high calibre candidates for these awards and applicants would normally be expected to have a First Class Honours degree or a 2.1 plus a Masters (or their equivalents). Relevant previous experience may also be considered.
Due to the broad scope of the project (molecular / cellular biology, virology, and cancer) we expect applicants to have undergraduate qualifications relevant to one, but not necessarily all of the subject areas covered by the study. Full training will be provided in all aspects of the work.
Residency: Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open all UK/EU nationals.
How to apply: Interested candidates should forward a current CV and covering letter by email to Dr Ned Powell powellng@cf.ac.uk (Informal enquiries about the project are also welcomed.)
Application Deadline: 1st August 2010
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
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