PhD Research Studentships
Evaluation of on-demand oligonucleotide delivery for glioblastoma treatment in advanced vascularised organ-on-chip models
| Supervisor: | Julien GAUTROT |
| Apply by: | 31 January 2023 |
| Start in: | September (Semester 1) |
Description
RNA delivery technologies will continue playing an important role in Medicine, from cancer therapies and tissue regeneration to vaccine design. Despite unprecedented recent progress, important hurdles remain to be addressed for the broader application of RNA nanomedicines. For example, polycationic gene delivery systems typically lead to non-specific interactions between vectors, oligonucleotides and biomacromolecules present in the extra-cellular environment or cytosol. These interactions modulate the long-term fate of vectors and their cargos. We developed polymer brush-based nanomaterials and methodologies to study such interactions and recently published the first report of the polycationic vector interactome (Raynold et al. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 6445). In addition, we have developed microvascularised in vitro models to study the delivery of vectors to target tissues, through a vasculature (Jones et al. Fontiers Bioeng. Biotech. 2022, 10, 915702; di Cio et al. Biorxiv 2022, doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.03.490457; Vinel et al. Nat. Commun. 2021, 10.1038/s41467-021-26297-6).
In this project we will combine these approaches to study and engineer the delivery of vectors to glioblastoma organ-on-chip models through a microvasculature. Together with Marino (Blizard Institute), we will explore the delivery of brush-based vectors developed in the Gautrot lab in an in vitro model of glioblastoma vascularised spheroids, developed between our two labs. Correlation between delivery to glioblastoma spheroids and vector architecture design will allow refinement of the vector specificity, its delivery efficiency and knockdown of important target for glioblastoma treatment (e.g. EGFR).
About the Award
- Level: PhD
- Course: All PhDs in the Faculties of Science and Engineering
- Country: China
- Value: Full tuition fee waiver and living stipend (£1350/month) for 4 years
- No. of awards: Typically 60 each year.
Funding
Funded by: China Scholarship CouncilCandidate will need to secure a CSC scholarship.
Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Eligibility
- The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
- If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of minimum score of 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
- Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).
Contact
For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Julien GAUTROT.
Apply
Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD Medical Engineering full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):
Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-432" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
| Related website: | http://biointerfaces.qmul.ac.uk | |
| SEMS Research Centre: |