School of Pharmacy

Nanoparticles interacting with a cell membrane

PROFESSOR JONATHAN COULTER

SPARTAN: Sequencing Prostate Androgen-Receptor Therapy with Nanoparticles

This PhD project explores how androgen-receptor (AR) signaling influences the effectiveness of radiotherapy in prostate cancer, with a focus on overcoming treatment resistance. Building on our group’s development of prostate cancer–targeted high-Z nanoparticles designed to enhance tumour radiosensitivity, the study will investigate how AR signaling and DNA damage repair pathways interact with these novel formulations to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Current prostate cancer treatments typically combine androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiotherapy (RT), but emerging evidence suggests that altering the timing of ADT could improve patient survival. This project will assess how AR signaling modulates the response to our nanoparticle-based radiosensitisers across prostate cancer models, examining gene expression, treatment sequencing, and therapeutic resistance both in vitro and in vivo.

The successful PhD candidate will join an international, well-funded nanotherapeutics research group and receive comprehensive training in pre-clinical laboratory techniques, research dissemination, and translational science. Opportunities for professional development include conference presentation, engagement with clinicians and patients, and exploration of commercialisation pathways.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30th January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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PROFESSOR LORRAINE MARTIN

Harnessing Regenerative Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease

This PhD project focuses on developing an innovative regenerative gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) using engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs). In partnership with OmniSpirant Therapeutics, the research aims to enhance delivery of functional CFTR to airway cells while harnessing the natural regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties of stem-cell–derived EVs. This work seeks to advance a next-generation inhaled therapy capable of restoring CFTR activity and improving lung repair beyond what current mutation-specific treatments can offer.

Despite major advances with CFTR modulators such as Kaftrio, many individuals with CF continue to face limited treatment options due to unresponsive mutations, variable clinical outcomes, and global access challenges. This project addresses these gaps by engineering mesenchymal stem cell EVs to more efficiently deliver CFTR, penetrate mucus, target specific lung cell populations, and support tissue regeneration. The student will evaluate corrected CFTR function, anti-inflammatory responses, and anti-fibrotic activity across a range of advanced airway cell models.

Training will span molecular and cell biology, EV engineering, airway epithelial differentiation, protein and imaging analysis, and ex vivo functional models, alongside formal industrial secondments at OmniSpirant. Impact activities include interdisciplinary collaboration, conference presentations, engagement with industry partners, and development of high-impact publications. This project sits at the forefront of translational respiratory therapeutics and offers extensive preparation for careers in both academia and the biotech sector.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 16th January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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PROFESSOR HELEN MCCARTHY

The Development of a Fingerprint Signature for Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Injuries (MSTIs)

This PhD project explores a novel, non-invasive approach to diagnosing and predicting musculoskeletal soft-tissue injuries (MSTIs) by using keratin in fingernails as a surrogate marker for collagen misfolding. Working in partnership with Crescent Bone Health (CBH), the project aims to uncover how mutations in collagen-folding enzymes alter protein structure and Raman signatures, and to develop an AI-driven diagnostic platform with potential applications in sport, primary care, and preventative medicine.

Collagen I is the most abundant structural protein in the musculoskeletal system, yet defects in the enzymes responsible for folding it often only become apparent after injury. Because keratin undergoes similar folding processes, nails offer an accessible, non-invasive source of material that could reveal systemic protein-misfolding patterns linked to conditions such as ACL injuries, tendonitis, and meniscal tears. This PhD will combine recombinant protein engineering, Raman spectroscopy, genomic profiling, and AI-based data analysis to establish molecular signatures of collagen-related risk. The candidate will receive comprehensive training in laboratory techniques, data science (R/Python), industrial QMS systems, and commercial innovation through placements with Momentum 1.0 and CBH.

Impact activities will span scientific communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and stakeholder engagement, supported by a human-centred translational toolkit designed to prepare the student for future roles in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and med-tech sectors.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 16th January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st June 2026

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DR EMMA MCERLEAN

In vivo CAR-T Engineering Using Targeted Peptide Delivery Systems for Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)

This PhD project aims to advance next-generation in vivo–engineered CAR-T therapies by developing antibody-conjugated peptide delivery systems capable of targeting CD8⁺ T cells with mRNA encoding CAR constructs. By moving beyond traditional ex vivo CAR-T manufacturing, the research seeks to support safer, more scalable, and more accessible immunotherapies that could benefit a wider range of patients and cancer types.

Although CAR-T therapies have transformed treatment outcomes in conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and multiple myeloma, their reliance on complex, costly ex vivo engineering limits broader clinical adoption. In vivo CAR-T engineering represents an emerging alternative, and this project will investigate non-viral peptide nanocarriers conjugated with targeting antibodies to selectively deliver CAR-encoding mRNA directly to T cells. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in nanoparticle formulation, physical characterisation, molecular and cell biology, and potentially in vivo models, supported through structured supervisory guidance and regular progress reviews.

Professional development opportunities include conference presentations, advanced skills courses, engagement with clinicians, patients, and industry stakeholders, and participation in commercialisation-focused activities such as IP processes and competitor analysis. This project offers a strong foundation for students interested in the future of CAR-T innovation, nanomedicine, and translational immunotherapy development.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 16th January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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PROFESSOR MICHAEL TUNNEY

Decoding the Lung–Gut Axis: Multi-Omics Insights into Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbations

This PhD project is part of the PULSE CF Innovation Hub, a major new Cystic Fibrosis Trust and LifeArc–funded collaboration between the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, and Queen’s University Belfast. The project aims to unravel the biological drivers of pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in cystic fibrosis using a comprehensive multi-omics approach. By examining the lung and gut microbiomes, host responses, and metabolic pathways, the research will explore how microbial and host interactions across the lung–gut axis contribute to the onset and progression of these clinically significant events.

Pulmonary exacerbations are one of the most burdensome complications of cystic fibrosis, yet the mechanisms that trigger and sustain them remain poorly understood. This PhD will integrate longitudinal clinical, microbial, immunological, and metabolic datasets to identify key biomarkers and molecular networks linked to exacerbation severity, recovery, and risk of recurrence. The student will receive extensive training in microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics (R/Python), metabolomics, and multi-omics data integration, working closely with an interdisciplinary supervisory team across three leading universities.

In addition to developing advanced research skills, the successful applicant will take part in a broad range of impact activities, including public engagement, science communication, and national and international conference presentations. The studentship is fully funded for three years at the DfE UK home rate, with additional competitive opportunities available through the School’s DfE-funded studentship allocation. Applications must be submitted before the 8th of December 2025.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 8th December 2025

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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PROFESSOR MICHAEL TUNNEY

PULSE-CF: Polymicrobial Communities in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Airways - Role in Infection and Pulmonary Exacerbations

This PhD project forms part of the PULSE-CF Innovation Hub, a major CF Trust and LifeArc–funded collaboration between the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Queen’s University Belfast. The research will investigate how interactions between pathogenic and commensal bacteria within the cystic fibrosis airway contribute to the onset of pulmonary exacerbations — one of the most significant and poorly understood challenges faced by people with CF.

Although individuals with CF harbour complex polymicrobial communities in their lungs, the specific roles that different bacteria play in triggering infection and exacerbation remain unclear. This project will examine how key pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa interact with commensal bacteria cultured from clinical airway samples, helping to define how microbial dynamics influence exacerbation risk. The student will receive comprehensive training in microbiology, molecular techniques (including RT-PCR and Illumina sequencing), tissue culture, mass spectrometry, molecular diagnostics, and clinical research methods within internationally recognised research teams.

Alongside laboratory and analytical training, the PhD candidate will be supported to take part in a wide range of impact and outreach activities, including public talks, science communication, QUB showcase events, conference presentations, and publication in peer-reviewed journals. The findings from this project will provide an evidence base for developing future therapeutics aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of pulmonary exacerbations in people with CF.

Applications must be submitted before the 8th of December 2025.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 8th December 2025

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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