Funded PhD: Quality of antimicrobials in East Africa along the supply chain: from the local to the global

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Increasing access to quality-assured antimicrobials is critical in low-resource settings given the high infectious disease burden. Yet, access to essential medicines for protecting human and animal health is often undermined in these settings, because of the low quality of such medicines. A further problem relates to the emergence of resistance to existing drugs. Risks of resistance development are likely exacerbated by the widespread use of sub-standard drugs containing inadequate levels of active drug which provides potentially the ideal conditions in which drug-resistance can be selected.

Quality has traditionally been examined from pharmacological perspectives. Focusing on veterinary antimicrobials in subsistence farming communities of northern Tanzania, this project will expand such assessments to incorporate socio-economic-political dimensions of quality that likely define which (poor-quality) products infiltrate the supply chain and the reasons for this. This will be achieved through the integration of laboratory-based analytical tools to identify substandard and counterfeit drugs with social-science focused methods to understand perceptions of and beliefs on quality that influence product choices by key end users (consumers, healthcare providers, medicine sellers, wholesalers and regulators) along the antimicrobial supply chain. As such, applicants will gain highly interdisciplinary skills transferable to a range of health-related research areas.

Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a degree in a relevant subject.

This funded PhD project is part of the MVLS College Futures PhD Programme. The MVLS College Futures PhD Programme is an ambitious initiative from The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS) at the University of Glasgow, designed to cultivate the next generation of research leaders.

Commencing in October 2025, this programme offers up to 12 fully-funded PhD studentships, each spanning 3.5 years and providing a comprehensive package that includes a stipend at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rates, coverage of home tuition fees, and a generous allocation of up to £17,500 for research consumables.

The MVLS College Futures PhD Programme is intricately aligned with the MVLS 2033 vision, focusing on four pivotal research themes:

1. Fundamentals of Life: Aiming to position the University as a globally recognized center for discovery bioscience, this theme emphasizes groundbreaking fundamental research.
2. Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics: Dedicated to pioneering the development and implementation of next-generation clinical interventions for both human and animal health.
3. Health Inequalities: Focused on unraveling the root causes and consequences of health disparities, this theme seeks to devise and apply scalable solutions to bridge health gaps.
4. Planetary Health: Exploring the intricate relationships between environmental changes and the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, this theme strives to identify and assess innovative strategies to mitigate emerging threats.

Read more about the MVLS College Futures PhD Programme

https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/phd-research-opportunities/futures-programme/

Application closing date: March 5, 2025

Programme start date: October 2025