PhD Studentship at School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Manchester

The School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences invites applications for a distinguished 3-year Research into Ageing PhD studentship commencing in October 2009. Funding will provide full support for the UK/EU tuition fee, a tax-free annual stipend of £14, 500 and generous travel allowance.
The primary objective of this project is to identify proteins essential for biofilm development with a view to recognizing novel targets for biofilm inhibition in relation to urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence, a condition largely associated with older patients, is generally managed in hospitals and care homes using indwelling catheters.
Unfortunately the catheter is a hazard to the very patients it is designed to treat. The urine of virtually all catheterised patients is persistently colonized with multiple species of microorganisms and around 50% will develop gram-negative bacteraemia. Long-term use of the urinary catheter is also the most likely source of urosepsis in patients over 60 years of age.
The vast majority of infections result from bacterial biofilm formation on the surfaces of the catheter. Biofilms are structured, multicellular layers that constitute a protected growth mode to facilitate survival in hostile environments. Their production offers increased resistance to host defences and general antimicrobials. As a result persistent painful urinary tract infections are common, particularly in older patients. Together with the increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria, it is, therefore, desirable for future treatments to move away from the use of antibiotics and towards the use of specific inhibitors of functions vital to biofilm formation. As part of our ongoing research to develop novel catheter coating that release such inhibitors this project aims to identify proteins critical to biofilm formation that can be targeted for inhibition.

The successful applicant will develop a wide variety of techniques particularly those associated with molecular biology, proteomics and microbiology. He/she will also develop techniques associated with biomaterial synthesis particularly those derived from cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate or glycerol methacrylate as these will be used for the substrata for biofilm formation.
Upon completion of the project, the candidate will be ideally placed to progress into a post-doctoral position in either the physical or biological sciences or indeed at the interface between the two.
Applications are welcomed from candidates holding, or expecting to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject such as biochemistry, chemistry, chemical biology and biomedical sciences.
Interested candidates should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the project to Dr Michelle Webb at michelle.webb@manchester.ac.uk.
Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided.
Applications will be welcomed up to and including Monday 16 February 2009.
For further details on the study or to confirm your suitability please contact
Dr Webb at the above address.
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/medicalgenetics/