Job title
PhD Studentship (Kevin Ryan)
Job reference
REQ00313
Date posted
10/11/2023
Application closing date
15/12/2023
Location
Glasgow
Salary
£21,000 stipend.
Package
All tuition fees will be paid.
Contractual hours
Blank
Basis
Full time
Job category/type
PhD Students
Attachments
Blank
Job description
Development of a mouse model to study the role of alcohol in cancer
Background:
Aspects of lifestyle are known to be contributing factors to many diseases including cancer. More recently, it has become clear that excessive alcohol consumption is a promoter of tumour development. One cancer where this is considered to particularly relevant is the liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma. This cancer has a very poor prognosis and its incidence has increased significantly in recent years. In addition, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer development and 70% of cases of pancreatitis are considered to be caused by excessive intake of alcohol. Our understanding of the role of alcohol in the development of these cancers requires animal models where intake of alcohol is a contributing factor. We have recently developed a system to safely administer alcohol to mouse models. The successful student will examine the impact of alcohol administration to existing mouse models of liver and pancreas cancer, which are established in our laboratories. They will examine the effects that alcohol administration on tissue architecture and integrity, and will examine for changes to the proteome and metabolome of the pancreas, liver and other organs. These findings will aid in understanding the mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to the development of these tumour types.
Research Question:
What is the impact of alcohol consumption on the development of liver and pancreas cancers.
Methodology:
Development and analysis of mouse models of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma involving alcohol.
Analysis of the impact of alcohol on tissue architecture and function using proteome and metabolic mass spectrometry.
Gene over-expression and CRISPRi and CRISPRa approaches to change the expression of genes associated with alcohol impact on tumour development in vivo.
For informal enquiries please contact Kevin Ryan ([email protected]).