Institute of Inflammation & Repair

Professor Clare Mills & Professor Adnan Custovic

The aim of this fully-funded 4-year MRC ICASE project is to develop an independent measure of an allergic reaction which may potentially help identify those at greatest risk of severe allergic reaction to ‘problem’ foods.

IgE-mediated food allergy has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients as at present we lack an effective, accepted therapy. As a consequence, after receiving a diagnosis, patients are advised to avoid their problem food and those at risk of a severe reaction are provided with rescue medication for use should they accidently consume their problem food.

Fear of experiencing a severe, or even fatal, reaction is a major driver of impaired quality of life. A test able to provide an objective measure of an allergic reaction during food challenges with potential to identify those at greatest risk would address a significant unmet clinical need.

This PhD integrates multidisciplinary research with the translation of new technology, based on protein analysis by mass spectrometry (MS), into clinically useful tools. It will be undertaken in collaboration with Waters, a world-leading manufacturer of chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment.

Training will include a combination of untargeted profiling MS methods and targeted MS approaches to define protein markers of an allergic reaction. This will capitalise on the cutting edge technology being developed by Waters. The new methods will be applied to characterising the release of histamine and other pre-formed protein and peptide mediators originating from mast cell lines and patients own basophils. It is these molecules which cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

The successful candidate will receive extensive training from a multidisciplinary supervisory team. Upon completion, they will be well-equipped to progress into a postdoctoral or industrial career in a variety of clinical proteomics and allergy research areas.

The project will be hosted within the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. Training will be conducted in partnership with Waters, incorporating a placement in Wilmslow, Cheshire to provide research experience in a commercial environment.

The 4-year full-time BBSRC ICASE studentship provides full support for UK/EU tuition fees and an annual minimum tax-free stipend at RCUK rates (currently £13,863). The project is due to commence October 2015 and is open to UK/EU* nationals only due to the nature of the funding.

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a minimum upper-second honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, food chemistry/food science, biochemistry or related area. A relevant Masters qualification and previous experience of protein biochemistry, immunological methods or proteomics techniques would be an advantage.

Please direct applications in the following format to Professor Clare Mills (clare.mills<στο>manchester.ac.uk):                  

•  Academic CV

•  Official academic transcripts

•  Contact details for two suitable referees

•  A personal statement (750 words maximum) outlining your suitability for the study, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and research experience to date.

Any enquiries relating to the project and/or suitability should be directed to Professor Mills. Deadline for applications: Friday 16 January 2015.

*Applicants must be UK/EU nationals who have resided in the UK since at least 1 September 2012 in order to qualify for full funding.

http://www.inflammation-repair.manchester.ac.uk/staff/156334

http://www.mib.manchester.ac.uk/

www.waters.com/

http://www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/