PhD Research Studentships
Transforming medical device development for brain cancer through patient involvement and co-creation
| Supervisors: | Christopher CHAPMAN, Giorgia Michelini and Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos |
| Apply by: | 6 February 2026 |
| Start in: | September (Semester 1) |
Description
Project description:
Brain tumours are among the most challenging and life-changing types of cancer. Patients suffer from difficult diagnosis while treatment remains ineffective in the long-term. Significant research is focused on the development of new interventions to improve long-term patient outcomes. One promising avenue is the development of implantable medical devices, to provide personalised tumour monitoring long-term treatment directly to the cancer. Unfortunately, there is the development process for medical devices is largely devoid of patient input. Too often, devices are created in a laboratory and informed only be results of animal studies to then not receive the expected uptake by patients. Lack of patient input in the development process means missing vital opportunities to address unmet needs through understanding patients’ perspectives. This can result in the production of medical devices which are poorly understood, underused, or rejected by patients.
This project seeks to address these challenges by studying how to best embed patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) across all aspects of medical device innovation. Rather than treating patients as device recipients, this project will actively involve them in the device design and development process. Through interdisciplinary research which combines aspects from social science, engineering, and clinical practice the outputs of this project will help shape the development of new medical devices for brain tumour care and management. In collaboration with Brainstrust (the largest brain tumour charity in the U.K.), engineers and device developers, and clinicians this project combines co-design workshops, interviews, and group sessions to explore how patients can most effectively contribute to the design of innovative and effective interventions.
Interviews will be held week commencing February 23rd.
Funding
Funded by: SEMSHome applicants only are eligible for the stipend of £21,874; (p.a.)
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).
- Note for EPSRC studentships; these studentships are open to those with Home and International fee status; however, the number of students with International fee status which can be recruited is capped according to the EPSRC terms and conditions so competition for International places is particularly strong.
- Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).
Contact
For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Christopher CHAPMAN, Giorgia Michelini or Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos.
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-715" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
| Related website: | https://liss-dtp.ac.uk/project/transforming-medical-device-development-for-brain-cancer-through-patient-involvement-and-co-creat | |
| SEMS Research Centre: | ||
| Keywords: | Biomedical Engineering, Medicine - Other |