EPSRC DTP studentship: A tale of two metals – imaging the link between copper trafficking and cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer

Platinum drugs are widely used in ovarian cancer treatment, but often the tumour eventually stops responding to treatment and becomes ‘platinum-resistant’.

Studies show that platinum-resistant cancers typically take up less platinum drug and that platinum entry into cancer cells could be mediated by the same transporters responsible for taking up copper, a metal essential for our health. Therefore, ovarian cancer ability to accumulate platinum drugs and, potentially, to respond to treatment could be linked to its ability to take up copper.

This project aims at investigating the relationship between resistance to platinum drugs in ovarian cancer and copper trafficking, and whether removing copper, thus making the tumour ‘hungrier’ for this essential nutrient, can trick it into accumulating more platinum, potentially reversing resistance.

The PhD student will work both in cells and in vivo and use a range of imaging techniques including radionuclide imaging (PET/SPECT), laser-ablation ICP-MS and synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence.

Award Value

Each studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years. This includes tuition fees, stipend and generous project consumables.

Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate of £21,237 (AY 2024/25) per year as a living allowance.

Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): £3,000 per annum for research consumables and for attending UK and international conferences.

Tuition fees: Home

Eligibility

Prospective candidates should have a 1st or at least a 2:1 undergraduate qualification in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering or a related programme.

Preference will be given to candidates with a background conducive to multidisciplinary research.

We welcome eligible applicants from any personal background, who are pleased to join diverse and friendly research groups.

Application

Please visit the studentship website for more information on application instructions.