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 DIMITRIOS LAMPROU

Development of dose modifying biodegradable implants for infrequent administration

This PhD project focuses on the development of a next-generation implantable drug delivery system for incretin-based therapies used in diabetes and obesity. By combining biodegradable polymers with advanced 3D printing technologies, the project aims to create implants capable of adjustable, sustained drug release, reducing gastrointestinal side effects while improving treatment adherence and patient experience.

While modern incretin therapies are highly effective, adverse gastrointestinal effects and inflexible dosing regimens remain major barriers to long-term adherence. This project addresses these challenges by developing a dose-modifying biodegradable implant that enables gradual, controllable drug release over extended periods. Using 3D printing for rapid prototyping, the research will investigate how implant geometry, material selection, and formulation influence release profiles, with the goal of producing functional prototypes capable of flexible dosing strategies.

The student will work within Queen’s University Belfast research teams and collaborate closely with an industrial sponsor, gaining exposure to both academic and industry-led drug development. Training will encompass a wide range of advanced analytical and characterisation techniques, including 3D printing, microscopy, thermal analysis, spectroscopy, rheology, mechanical testing, and in vitro release studies. Alongside technical development, the project offers strong opportunities for professional growth through conference attendance, industry engagement, public outreach, and dissemination of findings via presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 26th January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st May 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

Microbial Ecology of the Cystic Fibrosis Airway: Interactions, Infection, and Disease Progression

This PhD project forms part of the PULSE CF Innovation Hub, a multi-centre, interdisciplinary collaboration funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and LifeArc, bringing together expertise from the University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, and Queen's University Belfast. The research will employ a comprehensive multi-omics approach to elucidate the molecular networks connecting the gut and lung in cystic fibrosis, with the ultimate aim of developing novel strategies to predict, prevent, and treat pulmonary exacerbations.

Pulmonary exacerbations represent one of the most challenging and burdensome aspects of cystic fibrosis, yet the biological mechanisms that initiate and drive these episodes remain poorly defined. Recent evidence highlights complex polymicrobial communities in CF lungs and points to a potential lung–gut axis influencing inflammation, infection resilience, and susceptibility to exacerbations. This project will integrate longitudinal clinical, microbial, inflammatory, and metabolic datasets to characterise lung and gut microbiomes, identify biomarkers, and uncover mechanistic pathways associated with exacerbation severity, recovery trajectories, and recurrence risk.

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in advanced multi-omics techniques, including microbiome/metagenome profiling, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Additional training will cover bioinformatics, data integration, systems biology approaches, longitudinal study design, and network analysis. Professional development opportunities include scientific writing, presentation skills, conference participation, public engagement activities, and publication of scientific papers, ensuring highly transferable skills for careers in academia, industry, and precision medicine.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31st January 2026

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 1st October 2026

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