Doctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.

Conventional cancer drugs are toxic to both tumour and other normal tissue and so are often associated with significant side effects. Recently, novel drugs which selectively target tumours have been developed. For such drugs (biologically targeted anticancer drugs), the clinical effects are observed at doses below the toxicity levels. Therefore, the side-effects are significantly reduced compared to conventional chemotherapy. A major challenge in using these targeted drugs however is determining the right dose to use for optimal clincial effect. Since certain molecules targeted by the drugs are also present in skin, we propose to monitor the molecular changes in the skin to assess the efficacy of these novel drugs. We will use a non-invasive optical method (Raman spectroscopy) to detect molecular changes is the skin of patients without need of biospy.If successful this would be a very useful method in the development and clinical use of such drugs.

Plant photosynthesis supports life on earth and our entire food chain. It is normally thought of as occurring in leaves but we are beginning to understand that significant productivity depends on photosynthesis in diverse plant organs where a new understanding is needed. A recent review has indicated that non-foliar photosynthesis can provide an important source of carbon for growth and development [1]. Fruit photosynthesis is particularly interesting, as many species (including tomato) undergo a shift from green photosynthetic (or partial photosynthetic) metabolism to fully heterotrophic metabolism on ripening. Photosynthesis in tomato fruit is fully functional, contributes between 10% and 20% of the total fixed carbon of the fruit and makes an important contribution to early fruit development [1]. This timely and exciting project will take this further to explore the hypothesis that engineering the Calvin cycle within fruit chloroplasts can drastically enhance yield, fruit size and nutritional quality. It brings together 3 groups with complementary expertise in photosynthesis and molecular physiology at NIAB EMR, Nottingham and Essex, giving an opportunity to gain experience in molecular and whole plant physiology. Transgenic plants produced with Fruit specific over-expression and down-regulation of genes of the Calvin-Benson cycle, SBPase and FBPaldolase, will be used to dissect the involvement of fruit photosynthesis in fruit development. Quantification of the rates of fruit photosynthesis and the impact on fruit developmental processes will take place using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging in whole fruit chambers and infra-red gas exchange analysis [2] in green and ripening fruits relative to leaves. The effect of short term and long-term environmental factors that regulates photosynthesis rate of fruit during growth will be assessed. Exploratory structural analysis of tissue will take place using cutting edge microscopy and tomography. Metabolites, micronutrients, fruit quality and pigment composition will be measured. The successful candidate will work in a friendly atmosphere within the science teams with a spirit of helping colleagues. You will join a cohort of 38 PhD students on a site with 202 ha in the heart of Kent.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease where the fine, delicate structure of the lungs is replace by a hard, concrete-like substance called fibrous matrix. This prevents the normal functions of the lung, such as the transfer of oxygen from the air to the body, it also leads to irritation and persistent cough. The speed at which this concrete-like matrix is deposited in the lung varies between different people, but ultimately leads to death. Unfortunately it is difficult to predict who will get worse quickly, and who will get worse slowly. Furthermore, there are no treatments that can improve the outlook for people with IPF at the current time. The aim of this study is to develop a biological test that can predict which people with IPF are going to have slowly progressive disease compared with rapidly progressive disease. More importantly these biological tests will hopefully be able to be used to show whether a current, or new treatment, is working in an individual patient. This information will help patients plan their future when the receive a diagnosis of IPF and will help in the development of new treatments for this condition, which are so urgently sought.