Aggressive prostate cancer in African men: are microbes involved? Investigating decontamination, microbiomes and human genomics (BREWER_U24MMB)

Project description

Primary supervisor – Prof Daniel Brewer

Secondary supervisor – Dr Abraham Gihawi

Background

With an incidence of >1.4 million cases worldwide, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men. One in eight men will obtain a diagnosis in their lifetime. However, this is doubled in men of African descent and tends to be more aggressive. This reasons for this are unclear. One possibility is that microbial differences contribute. In groundbreaking research, we recently found that certain bacteria are associated with aggressive prostate cancer. 

In this PhD, you will seek to answer the question: Are differences in prostate cancer outcomes between ethnic groups caused by bacteria?

Research Methodology

In this PhD, you will refine wet-lab and computational methods for identifying microbes in cancer whole genome sequencing data. You will apply these approaches to large prostate cancer datasets from men of different ethnic backgrounds collected by the large, collaborative international consortia in which we are involved. You will use machine learning to explore the microbiome and genomic features of cancer. Ultimately, you will discover important associations that could improve patient care.

Training

You will learn how to deal with “Big Data,” high performance computing, pipeline development, and statistical analyses. We have extensive experience helping people to become experts at the forefront of cancer, biology, and data science. A training programme designed specifically for you will be created. You will be a member of UEA’s Cancer Genetics team, an interdisciplinary team comprised of bioinformaticians and lab-based scientists. We will seek Turing award funding to enable the successful applicant to spend part of this studentship in Sydney.

Person specification

A minimum of a 2:1 honour degree in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, or Biomedical Science.

The Microbes, Microbiomes and Bioinformatics (MMB) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is open to UK and International candidates with relevant undergraduate degrees for entry in October 2024 and offers the opportunity to undertake a fully-funded 4-year PhD research project supported by the UKRI Medical Research Council in microbiology and microbial bioinformatics.

Our unique and comprehensive training programme empowers students to feel comfortable running sophisticated computer analyses alongside laboratory work and emphasises problem-based learning in microbial bioinformatics, professional development and research skills. All MMB DTP students undertake a Professional Placement. 

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place on Wednesday 15 May 2024.

The MRC DTP is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Students are selected without regard to age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation or social background. We value curiosity, independence of thought, plus an aptitude for research that combines laboratory work and bioinformatics.

For information on eligibility and how to apply: www.uea.ac.uk/phd/mmbdtp

Entry requirements

A minimum of a 2:1 honour degree in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, or Biomedical Science.

Start date

October 2024

Mode of study

Full-time