Funding

Self-funded

Project code

PHBM3771018

Department

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Start dates

February and October

Application deadline

Applications accepted all year round

This is a self-funded, 3 year full-time PhD studentship. The project is supervised by Professor Darek Gorecki and Dr Gianluca Tozzi.

P2X7 is an ATP receptor with a number of physiological functions, which also plays a role in the development of acute and chronic diseases -- such as inflammation, cancer, bone loss and psychiatric disorders.

P2X7 is therefore an important therapeutic target, but P2X7 trimeric subunit organisation and its interacting partners (signalling and scaffolding proteins) can be highly diverse in various cells and pathologies.

Cell-specific and sub-cellular localisation of P2X7 is still controversial. Understanding these multiple modes of action and cell-specific receptor functions is essential for developing targeted and effective treatments.

The work on this project will include:

  • using molecular biology and proteomic methods to identify receptor assemblies and interacting proteins
  • unravelling cellular and sub-cellular localisation of this receptor using confocal and advanced X-ray microscopy
  • functional analysis of specific cells and tissues (such as bone and brain), following cell-specific ablation by Cre recombinase

Given the importance of the P2X7 receptor in health and disease, our laboratory has created a unique P2X7 knock-in/knock-out mouse.

It expresses endogenous levels of tagged P2X7 isoforms, allowing immunoaffinity purification of the tagged P2RX7 followed by mass spectrometry to identify the associated proteins (the 鈥済enetic-proteomic鈥 approach, Bienvenu et al, 2010). These tags also allow immunodetection of specific isoforms with anti-tag antibodies in situ.

This mouse P2X7 gene is flanked by loxP sites allowing cell-specific and/or conditional knockouts by crossing this strain with specific Cre recombinase-expressing mice or by targeted expression of Cre recombinase.

This project will take functional analyses to a new level by defining the roles of P2X7 in any desired tissue or at any disease stage in vivo.

Fees and funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan.

Entry Requirements

  • A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or a master鈥檚 degree in an appropriate subject.
  • Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered. All applicants are subject to interview.
  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

When you are ready to apply, please follow the 'Apply now' link on the Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences PhD subject area page and select the link for the relevant intake. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our 鈥How to Apply鈥 page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.