Institute of Child Health, University College London
PhD Studentships - Stem Cells and Disease
The UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH) is a postgraduate research institution which, together with its partner, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, contains the largest concentration of research expertise in the scientific basis of child health in Europe. Its standing is reflected in the Grade 5*A awarded in the 2001 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise and in the DoH Biomedical Research Centre for Children's Health awarded to ICH/GOSH in 2007. The Institute is committed to high quality postgraduate education and has a strong track record of training and support for its postgraduates. A high level of interaction exists across the Institute between basic scientists, clinicians and population health scientists. The Institute is offering a number of research studentships for the academic year 2008-09 supported by the Child Health Research Appeal Trust and MRC. Applicants selected for CHRAT or MRC funding will be able to choose from the following PhD projects:

Stem Cells and Disease

Stem cell therapy for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (Professor Agostino Pierro)

Identification of transcriptional pathways de-regulated in t(12;21) associated leukaemia (Dr Owen Williams)

Imprinted gene expression in the placenta and its effect on fetal growth (Professor Gudrun Moore)

Analysing how transcriptional regulators Brn3a and Brn3b control normal heart development and studying changes that occur if these proteins are lost (Dr Vishwanie Budhram-Mahadeo)

Development of retinal stem cell therapy. Isolation of rod precursors for photoreceptor regeneration (Dr Jane Sowden)

Stem cells to encourage functional recovery following in utero surgery for open spina bifida (Professor Andrew Copp)

Identification and Characterisation of HESX1 Transcription Targets (Dr Juan-Pedro Martinez-Barbera)

Use of enteric nervous system stem cells as a potential treatment for severe gut developmental disorders
(Dr Nikhil Thapar)

Further projects available in Infection and Immunity, Neurosciences and Mental Health, and Population Health Sciences on the ICH vacancy website, http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/ich/humanresources/

For further information about the ICH see our web site, www.ich.ucl.ac.uk. Applications are invited from committed individuals wishing to do research in a clinical context, and who expect to graduate with a UK 1st class or upper 2nd class honours degree or equivalent from abroad.

For information about the projects and how to apply, please refer to the ICH vacancy website, http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/ich/humanresources/. Please note, applications that are submitted without following the correct procedure may not be considered.

This will include a display of posters by PhD students which demonstrates the range of ICH research and an opportunity to attend a lecture by the leader of the recent "Caudwell Xtreme Everest" expedition.

4-year PhD studentships funded by the Medical Research Council are also tenable at ICH, in the project areas listed above. To apply for a UCL 4 year MRC DTA PhD studentship, please see: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/biomedicine/funding/mrc-dta/