PhD Research Studentships
3D in vitro model for orthobiologic screening of human bone healing response
| Supervisor: | Karin HING |
| Apply by: | 28 January 2026 |
| Start in: | September (Semester 1) |
Description
We are inviting applications for an exciting multidisciplinary project, to develop the use of a Tissue in-a Tube (TiaT) perfusion bioreactor model of bone healing for use as an animal-free screening tool for safety and efficacy testing of synthetic bone graft substitute scaffolds to accelerate orthobiologic biomaterials innovation and clinical translation, through the use of novel in vitro technologies to reduce animal testing and fast-track safety and efficacy testing.
This exciting studentship will involve investigation of human biological variability with respect to the capacity of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) from different human donors to exhibit a pro-osteogenic response when cultured within the TiaT model.
The current barriers to effective use of in vitro testing in biomaterials safety and efficacy testing are the continued dependence on 2D models with non-physiological static, mechanical and nutrient environments, and the use of transfected cell lines that do not fully capture the breadth of human biological response. The TiaT model represents an important step forward from traditional static 2D or 3D cultures, where mechanical signals associated with interstitial fluid movement are generally ignored. This studentship will advance this model and its potential through investigation of the model’s ability to predict the breadth of human pro-osteogenic responses or bone healing capacity, using hMSC from a series of anonymised donors. The responses will be monitored through a combination of histological and immunological analysis of extracellular matrix development, genomic and proteomic analysis of markers of hMSC osteogenic differentiation and quantification of cellular soluble mediator release profiles over incubation periods of up to 28 days.
The aim of the studentship will be to investigate the breadth of biological variability using a Tissue in-a Tube (TiaT) perfusion bioreactor model of bone healing incorporating primary human mesenchymal stem cells. This proof of concept project will demonstrate the capacity of TiaT based bone healing models to accelerate orthobiologic biomaterials innovation and clinical translation, through the use of novel in vitro technologies to reduce animal testing and fast-track safety and efficacy testing.
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 Karin HING.
Apply
Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD FT Medical Engineering full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):
Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-701" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
| Keywords: | Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science - Other, Tissue Engineering |