Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

We will consider applications from self-funding PhD candidates who are interested in urological cancers, radiation toxicity or bladder dysfunction.

1996 …2024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Statement

My urology research programmes bring together cell physiology and molecular biology disciplines to understand the complex cellular signalling systems which underpin normal bladder function and become dysregulated in bladder disease.

We are also investigating the role of ion channels in the progression of urological cancers including bladder and prostate.

Research Interests

I obtained my PhD for research into ion channels on smooth muscle cells from the lower urinary tract. This generated my interest in the cellular basis of spontaneous activity in the bladder and set the focus of my independent research career which was marked by a New Investigator Award from BBSRC to study bladder interstitial cells. This work was carried out in the Centre for Biophotonics in the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and formed the foundation for my application to the Wellcome Trust for a University Award (Senior Research Fellowship) in Queen's University Belfast. This award enabled the establishment of my research group in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology.

As co-PI in the first European Union funded consortium to study urinary incontinence ("INComb" FP7 grant), our group made a decisive contribution to the basic cellular mechanisms underlying a condition that affects an estimated 60 million people in Europe and for which there are few effective therapies.

Our MRC-funded research on bladder toxicity as an adverse effect of radiation therapy studied the molecular mechanisms driving typical lower urinary tract symptoms of urgency, urinary frequency, nocturia and voiding dysfunction that develop during treatment. This translational programme includes a clinical research trial in prostate cancer patients to identify predictive biomarkers of late radiation bladder toxicity.

My interdisciplinary programme on ion channels and cancer exploits electrophysiology, molecular pathology, cell and molecular oncology and biomarker discovery to advance our knowledge of tumour biology.

Other

Key Words

Urinary incontinence; urinary bladder; radiation therapy; smooth muscle; interstitial cells; Ca2+-signalling; electrophysiology; confocal microscopy; urothelial cancer; prostate cancer.

Teaching

 

Degree/ProgrammeRole/Module
Medicine

Lectures C25

Fundamentals of Clinical Science

Biomedical Science and Human Biology

Lectures/Tutorials/Research Training

Molecular Markers of Disease

Clinical Biochemistry

Research project and dissertation

MSc (Res) Cancer Medicine

MSc (Res) Oncology Drug Discovery

Module coordinator

Research project and dissertation

USA Placement Programme

Programme Coordinator

Other

Fellowships

We are willing to host and support Fellowship applications for PhD or postdoctoral training.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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