PhD studentships
Tissue engineered mucosa for clinical applications
UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
Professor Brian Derby
The UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration (UKCTR) invites applications for a distinguished 3-year Newby Trust funded PhD studentship commencing in October 2009. Funding will provide full support for the UK/EU tuition fee and a tax-free annual stipend of £13,290.
The UKCTR has recently identified clinical applications where an engineered epithelium would be of significant benefit to patients. Grafts in the nasal and oral cavity must sometimes, by necessity, use tissue extracted from other (non-mucosal) parts of the body. This often leads to poor clinical outcomes (scarring, drying), hence their replacement with autogenous tissue engineered mucosal layers would have immediate potential benefit. Current technology can generate free standing cell layers or cell sheets that have been successfully used in clinical studies elsewhere. The aim of this project is to develop a 'cell sheet engineering' capability to provide engineered sheets of oral keratinocytes suitable for use in clinical studies.
In the first instance, this will provide sheets of keratinocytes suitable as mucosal tissue replacement for reconstructive surgery in the oral or nasal cavities. An initial study just finished in Manchester has provided essential basis for extending the technology to patterned cell-containing substrates. The successful candidate will develop the technology further using inkjet printing to allow the deposition of both cells and supporting biomaterials at a high spatial resolution. They will develop methods to print 2- and 3-D constructs with patterned cells and/or matrices. These sheets can be assembled into multi layer structures to fabricate more complicated tissue analogue structures.
The project supervisors will provide extensive guidance regarding clinical application and requirements of the cell sheets to enable their handling during surgery.
The successful applicant will develop a wide variety of bioengineering techniques and have the opportunity to collaborate with internationally recognised experts in biomaterials and tissue regeneration. Upon completion of the project, the candidate will be ideally placed to progress into a post-doctoral position or industrial R&D.
Applications are welcomed from candidates holding, or expecting to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject such as materials science or biology.
Interested candidates should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the project to the UKCTR Research Business Manager, Andrea Evans at andrea.evans@manchester.ac.uk. Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided.
Applications will be welcomed up to and including Monday 20 April 2009.
For further details on the study or to confirm your suitability please contact the project lead, Professor Brian Derby at brian.derby@manchester.ac.uk