Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical Sciences Research Insitute
Institute Director: Prof Tony Bjourson
The Biomedical Sciences Research Institute invites applications for the following PhD projects. The projects identified as “Priority PhD Projects” are those which the Biomedical Sciences Research Institute Director has identified as important for business or strategic reasons and awards will be strategically ring-fenced for these projects.
The other PhD projects will be offered next to the highest applicants consistent with the number of remaining. PhD applicants are advised to contact the supervisor(s) to obtain additional information relating to the project of interest.
APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO SELECT 1st, 2nd AND 3rd CHOICE PROJECTS TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARDED THEIR FIRST CHOICE PROJECT AT THE TIME OF INTERVIEW
Priority Projects
Diabetes Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Exploration of key signalling pathways and molecules underlying improved hippocampal function with mono and dual therapeutics in obesity-diabetes |
Dr Victor Gault Prof Peter Flatt |
Pharmacy Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Novel non-invasive detection methods for the determination of blood electrolyte concentrations. |
Dr John Callan Dr B Callan Prof Paul McCarron |
NICHE (Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health) Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Obesity as a determinant of inflammation and glucose metabolism |
Dr Tracy McCrorie Dr Emeir McSorley Prof Barbara Livingstone |
Can all queries regarding this project be directed to Dr Tracy McCrorie t.mccrorie@ulster.ac.uk |
Vitamin D and muscle function |
Dr Kirsty Pourshahidi Prof Sean Strain |
Can all queries regarding this project be directed to |
New approaches to investigate novel gene nutrient interactions in hypertension |
Dr Mary Ward Prof Helene McNulty |
Neurobiology Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Cell signalling pathways activated by novel incretin analogues in cultured neurons |
Dr Christian Holscher Dr V Gault |
Transcriptional Control and Epigenetics Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
MicroRNA involvement in prostate cancer progression |
Dr Declan McKenna Dr Colum Walsh |
G-wires for use in biomedical nanodevices |
Dr Mateus Webba da Silva Dr John Callan Dr Bridgeen Callan |
Vascular Biology Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Vascular based therapies in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
Dr Christopher Mitchell Dr Christian Holscher |
Other Projects
Diabetes Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Isolation and characterisation of naturally occurring bioactive compounds with insulin-releasing or glucose-lowering properties for the treatment of diabetes |
Dr Yasser Abdel-Wahab Prof Peter Flatt |
Effects and therapeutic potential of gut hormones for bone disorders |
Dr Nigel Irwin Prof Peter Flatt |
Role of novel G protein-coupled receptors in islet function and type 2 diabetes |
Dr Aine McKillop Prof Peter Flatt |
Mechanistic studies to assess the benefits of combination therapies using peptide based interventions combined with the insulin sensitizing drug metformin in animal models of diabetes. |
Prof Finbarr O’Harte Prof Neville McClenaghan |
Pharmacy Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Sonosensitiser loaded microbubbles as targeting drug conjugates in the treatment of cancer. |
Dr John Callan Prof AP McHale Dr Bridgeen Callan |
Biodegradable nanoparticles as a potential delivery system for anti-metastatic Ran-GTPase peptide |
Dr Ahmed Faheem Prof P McCarron Dr Mohamed-El-Tanani (QUB) |
Ultrasound for targeted gene therapy |
Prof AP McHale Dr John Callan Dr N Nomikou |
Microbial Biotechnology Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Factors influencing horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance gene determinants between commensal organisms and pathogens recovered from the lungs of Cystic Fibrosis patients. |
Prof James Dooley Dr Patrick Naughton Prof John Moore |
Influence of diet on the function of the human gut microbiome. |
Prof Geoff McMullan Dr Chris Gill Dr Nigel Ternan |
The role of lactobacilli in reducing the infectious disease capacity of antibiotic resistant salmonella in the mammalian gut. |
Dr Patrick Naughton Prof James Dooley Dr Violetta Naughton |
Nanomedicine Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Computational modelling of decationation-dependent checkpoints |
Prof Werner Dubitzky Prof Stephen Downes |
NICHE (Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health) Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Pre-loads in weight management: is there a role for milk? |
Dr Alison Gallagher Dr Maeve Kerr Prof Rob Welch (Advisor) |
The impact of walking on weight-management of overweight/obese adolescents and young adults. |
Dr Alison Gallagher Prof Marie Murphy |
Evaluating the contribution of antioxidant rich dietary fibre on colonic microbiota and health |
Dr Chris Gill Dr Kieran Tuohy (IASMA) Dr G McMullan |
The anti-metastatic properties of olive oil phenolics in vivo |
Dr Chris Gill Dr J Worthington Prof G McMullan |
Factors associated with weaning practices of overweight and obese pregnant women |
Dr Alyson Hill Prof Marlene Sinclair |
Transcriptional Control and Epigenetics Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Environmental epigenomics in stem cells |
Dr Diane Lees-Murdock Dr Colum Walsh |
Novel chemoprotective roles for vitamin D in prostate cancer |
Dr Paul Thompson Dr Jenny Worthington Dr Stephen McClean |
Stem cell growth and reprogramming in health and disease: the role of DNA methylation. |
Dr Colum Walsh Dr Diane Lees-Murdock |
Vascular Biology Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
Quantitative bioassays to assess the activity of a selected biosurfactants (rhamnolipids and or sophorolipids) for treatment of full thickness skin wounds. |
Dr Christopher Mitchell Prof Ibrahim Banat Prof Roger Marchant |
Vascular based therapies in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
Dr Christopher Mitchell Dr Christian Holscher |
MRes Projects
Transcriptional Control & Epigenetics Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
SUMOylation of Vitamin D Receptor; a molecular basis for the anti-aging effects of vitamin D? |
Dr Paul Thompson Dr Declan McKenna |
Stem cell reprogramming in health and disease: the role of DNA methylation. |
Dr Colum Walsh Dr Diane Lees-Murdock |
Diabetes Research Group
| Project Title | Supervisors | Contact |
|---|
The establishment and characterization of a specific immunoassay for glucagon in biological samples. |
Prof Finbarr O’Harte Dr Aine McKillop |