Research degrees
Scholarships for postgraduate research students
Funding opportunities offered by York St John University.
Scholarships are grants given to a student that you do not need to pay back.
We have the following scholarships available for postgraduate research students.
PhD Scholarship: School of Science, Technology and Health
Can we stop cancer associated fibroblasts from protecting pancreatic cancer cells from chemotherapy?
Application deadline: Friday 16 February 2024
Interviews: Week commencing Monday 1 March 2024
Start date: 1 October 2024
A fully-funded, 3-year full time PhD studentship is offered, investigating the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer. The studentship will cover home fees (currently £4,712 per year) and a stipend (currently £18,622 per year).
Background
Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are cells that make up a substantial, although variable proportion of the tumour mass in some epithelial cancer types –notably in pancreatic and breast cancers. CAFs can impact on the behaviour of the cancer cells, generally having a pro-tumourigenic role (1, 2). We have recently shown in breast cancer that CAFs can protect the cancer cells from chemotherapy, and therefore chemotherapy works less well than it should (3). Importantly, we have worked out how to stop this fibroblast-induced protection using additional drugs in combination with standard chemotherapy (3, 4).
Our hypotheses for this new project are that related CAF-induced chemo-protection also happens in pancreatic cancer, in accordance with some recent reports (5), and that some of the same combination therapies we used in breast cancer will give improved treatment responses in pancreatic cancer. We will test the role of CAFs in pancreatic cancer and will use combination therapies to overcome CAF-induced changes in pancreatic cancer cell behaviour, including chemo-protection. Our ultimate aim is to use therapeutic combinations to improve chemotherapy responses and therefore improve cancer survival.
- Morgan et al (2023) Biology 12:1044. Medical Biology of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Cancer.
- Li et al (2023) Front Oncol. 13:1194835. The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer metastasis.
- Broad et al (2021) Br J Cancer 124:1110-1120. Inhibition of interferon-signalling halts cancer-associated fibroblast-dependent protection of breast cancer cells from chemotherapy.
- Hutchinson et al (2023) Oncogene 40(16):2872-2883. Liver x receptor alpha drives chemoresistance in response to side-chain hydroxycholesterols in triple negative breast cancer.
- Rebelo et al (2023) Trends Mol Med 29:439-453. Fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer: molecular and clinical perspectives.
Methods
We will grow pancreatic cancer cells in culture with and without different types of CAFs. We will treat these cultures with chemotherapy agents and will assess the impact of the presence and type of CAFs on the efficacy of chemotherapy. We will investigate different sources of CAFs, including those cultured directly from primary pancreatic cancer samples.
We will determine how CAFs signal to pancreatic cancer cells and the consequences of this signalling on gene activation in the cancer cells, and on activity of chemotherapy agents. We will use additional inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy to modify the influence of CAFs and to improve cancer therapies. Techniques: 2D and 3D tissue culture of mono- or co-cultures with/without fluorescent/luciferase markers; functional cell biology assays; transcriptomics; over-expression/knock-down approaches; molecular pathology.
Group and environment
The Hughes group has recently relocated to York St John University and is developing a new cancer-research focus area within biosciences at the University. We have an expanding department with dynamic plans for growth and recruitment, and strong clinical links. This project is funded through the generosity of the Three Bears Foundation and there will be excellent opportunities to get involved with their work of raising public awareness of and funds to further medical research into pancreatic cancer.
Supervisors
Eligibility and applications
Successful applicants must have a relevant honours degree (2:1 or above) or internationally recognised equivalent, and may have a postgraduate masters degree. Candidates must be able to demonstrate experience or interest in relevant lab-based molecular cell research. Enquiries prior to application are encouraged; contact Prof Thomas Hughes on t.hughes@yorksj.ac.uk.
You can apply for this scholarship through e:Vision.
References
Broad RV, Jones SJ, Teske MC, Wastall LM, Hanby AM, Thorne JL, and Hughes TA (2021) Br J Cancer 124(6):1110-1120. Inhibition of interferon-signalling halts cancer-associated fibroblast-dependent protection of breast cancer cells from chemotherapy.
Hutchinson SA, Websdale A, Cioccoloni G, Røberg-Larsen H, Lianto P, Kim B, Rose A, Soteriou C, Pramanik A, Wastall LM, Williams BJ, Henn MA, Chen JJ, Ma L, Moore JB, Nelson E, Hughes TA, and Thorne JL (2023) Oncogene 40(16):2872-2883. Liver x receptor alpha drives chemoresistance in response to side-chain hydroxycholesterols in triple negative breast cancer.
Li Y, Wang C, Huang T, Yu X, and Tian B (2023) Front Oncol. 13:1194835. The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer metastasis.
Morgan A, Griffin M, Kameni L, Wan DC, Longaker MT, and Norton JA (2023) Biology 12(8):1044. Medical Biology of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Cancer.
Rebelo R, Xavier CPR, Giovannetti E, and Vasconcelos MH (2023) Trends Mol Med 29(6):439-453. Fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer: molecular and clinical perspectives.
Master by Research: Community Music
Funding available to support a Master’s by Research project attached to the International Centre for Community Music, York St John University, UK.
Application deadline: July 1 2024
Interviews: week commencing July 15 2024
Start Date: October 2024
Duration: 2 Years Part-Time
As part of a larger research project exploring questions connected to the pedagogy of participatory music-making practices, the International Centre of Community Music is seeking a musician-researcher to explore questions surrounding the experiences and impact of participants and workshop leaders connected to the MetamorPhonics bands based in London and Reykjavik Iceland.
The MetamorPhonics bands are set up in collaboration with higher education institutions and charities which provide support for those in recovery and rehabilitation. The bands are led by experienced professional music leaders and focus on collective and collaborative composition processes, resulting in vibrant and exciting music, collectively created and owned by all band members.
MetamorPhonics bands have 50/50 membership of students in higher education and people in recovery and can have up to 30 members. The projects involve high profile public performances, and the bands release their original recorded music for public consumption.
As part of the project, and under the mentorship of Sigrún Sævarsdóttir-Griffiths, the successful candidate will set up and host a new MetamorPhonics band in York. The research project will be supervised by Lee Higgins and will be part of a larger investigation spanning 3-years funded by the Icelandic Research Council.
Funding includes: Part time tuition fees + travel budget.
If you would like further information or an informal conversation, please contact Lee Higgins: l.higgins@yorksj.ac.uk.
Applying for a scholarship
As part of your application we will ask you to write a research proposal. This should include the following:
- What are the main research questions you would address?
- What would be your methodological approach to the research?
- What makes you the right person to carry out this research?
Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form.
You can see examples of research proposals on our dedicated page: Research proposal examples.
