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Research Opportunities

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Prospective Students

The goal of the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program is to create, foster, and advance unique and collaborative research opportunities between NIH laboratories and laboratories at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. Each OxCam Scholar develops a collaborative research project that will constitute his/her doctoral training. Each Scholar also select two mentors – one at the NIH and one in the UK – who work together to guide the Scholar throughout the research endeavor.

Students may select from two categories of projects: Self-designed or Prearranged. OxCam Scholars may create a self-designed project, which enables students to develop a collaborative project tailored to his/her specific scientific interests by selecting one NIH mentor and one UK mentor with expertise in the desired research area(s). Alternatively, students may select a prearranged project provided by NIH and/or UK Investigator(s) willing to mentor an OxCam Scholar in their lab.

Self-designed Projects 
Students may create a novel (or de novo) project based on their unique research interests. Students have the freedom to contact any PI at NIH or at Oxford or Cambridge to build a collaboration from scratch. The NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) represents a community of approximately 1,200 tenured and tenure-track investigators providing a wealth of opportunity to explore a wide variety of research interests. Students may visit https://irp.nih.gov to identify NIH PIs performing research in the area of interest. For additional tips on choosing a mentor, please visit our Training Plan.

Prearranged Projects
Investigators at NIH or at Oxford or Cambridge have voluntarily offered collaborative project ideas for NIH OxCam Scholars. These projects are provided below and categorized by research area, NIH Institute/Center, and University. In some cases, a full collaboration with two mentors is already in place. In other instances, only one PI is identified, which allows the student to select a second mentor to complete the collaboration. Please note that prearranged project offerings are continuously updated throughout the year and are subject to change.

241 Search Results

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238
Category:
Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Project:

Transmission of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance determinants between and among animals and humans

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:
N/A
University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

We are interested in the transmission of bacterial pathogens and AMR determinants at multiple scales from the within-hospital level to global networks. Projects are possible on many large-scale datasets, primarily using population genomic and phylogenetic approaches to investigate these processes.

237
Category:
Immunology
Project:

Understanding immune correlates of protective immunity

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
UK Mentor:
N/A
University:
N/A
Project Details:

We have several lines of research that accommodate excellent PhD candidates. These revolve around the theme of RNA viral pathogens, antibodies/B-cell responses and immunodeficiencies.


The first involves understanding Immune Correlates of protective immunity, specifically which types of B-cell response and their fine specificities are important for protection against specific RNA viral pathogens (RNA viruses from HIV, HCV to Ebola) how B-cell responses to correlate with protection by vaccines to specific pathogens. The 2nd project involves using broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to develop improved and novel vaccines against notoriously variable viruses. The 3rd project involves understanding how the resident virome in primary, acquired or induced immunodeficiencies leads to chronic immune activation and poor prognosis, with an emphasis on mucosal immunity.

234
Category:
Immunology
Project:
N/A
Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. Michael Lenardo

UK Mentor:

Prof. Ken Smith

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

We have the largest world-wide collection of patients suffering from rare-inherited immunodeficiency that have been whole-genome sequenced (1500+ cases). Using established analytical expertise the candidate will use novel methods to interrogate and filter potential genetic mutations, we will identify novel candidate genetic loci in patients grouped by disease phenotype or familial relationship. Candidate genetic loci will be investigated using CRISPR-editing of patient derived material (lymphoblastoid, fibroblast and iPS cell lines). Confirmatory studies at mRNA, protein and functional level will be carried out to validate the link between variant and disease.

231
Category:
Neuroscience
Project:

Understanding neural activity and circuit dynamics

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:

Multiple NIH collaborators

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:
  1. Models of ion channel regulation in single cells and small circuits
  2. Modelling robust neuromodulation
  3. Regulation and control of neural activity and circuit dynamics
230
Category:
Biomedical Engineering & Biophysics
Project:

Develop Implantable BIOsensors for the detection of small METAbolites in the inflamed brain

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:
N/A
University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

The project aims to develop and exploit high transconductance organic electrochemical transistor-based bio-sensors and ultra-low power thin-film electronics as emerging ICT tools with perfect fit to the targeted application domain. The proposed sensors and interfaces will provide unprecedented ability to detect and monitor small metabolites both in vitro and in vivo, to map immunometabolism of organs and tissues, and to test new drugs in situ.

229
Category:
Cell Biology
Project:

Develop and apply new super-resolution fluorescence and electron microscopy methods to the study of membrane traffic

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. Justin Taraska

UK Mentor:

Prof. Sean Munro

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:
N/A
228
Category:
Cancer Biology
Project:

Establish and implement a glioblastoma-on-a-chip model to study the effect of microenvironments on the tumor progression

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:
N/A
University:
Cambridge
Project Details:
N/A
226
Category:
Immunology
Project:

Investigating the impact of dendritic cell-T cell interactions on autocrine complement activation in CD4 T cells

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. Claudia Kemper

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

In this project, we will investigate how different stimuli including IgG-immune complexes and TLR ligands affect the ability of DCs to influence T cell autocrine complement regulation. This is of relevance to our understanding of how inflammation is propagated in autoimmunity and for vaccination boost strategies.

225
Category:
Neuroscience
Project:

The role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in neurological diseases and aging

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:
N/A
University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have emerged a major cause of neurological disease and may also contribute to the ageing process – but their origin is not well understood. Remarkably, we have shown that most humans harbour a mixture of mutant and wild-type mtDNA (heteroplasmy) at very low levels. Our aims is to understand how mtDNA mutations arise, how they are inherited, and how they accumulate in specific tissues, particularly in the nervous system. Harnessing this knowledge, we will develop new treatments targeting the mitochondrion.

222
Category:
Biomedical Engineering & Biophysics
Project:

Invent and implement new radioactive probes for imaging specific molecular targets 

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. Victor Pike

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

Invent and implement new radioactive probes for imaging specific molecular targets in animal and human brain with positron emission tomography

221
Category:
Neuroscience
Project:

Functional analysis of disease genes causing cerebellar disorders

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. John Hammer

UK Mentor:

Prof. Esther Becker

University:
Oxford
Project Details:

The cerebellum is a fascinating brain structure. While it has traditionally been regarded solely as a regulator of motor function, recent studies have demonstrated additional roles for the cerebellum in higher-order cognitive functions such as language, emotion, reward, social behaviour and working memory. Accordingly, cerebellar dysfunction is linked to motor diseases such as ataxia, dystonia and tremor, as well as cognitive affective disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and language disorders.


We understand surprisingly little about the molecular processes that underlie the formation of the cerebellum and that, when disrupted, lead to disease. The goal of our research is to provide fundamental insights into the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the development and different diseases of the cerebellum with the  ultimate desire to develop novel treatment options for these disorders.


The project will focus on the functional characterization of novel gene mutations causing cerebellar disorders, with particular emphasis on the effects of disease genes on the dendritic arborisation of developing Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. The approach will be multi-disciplinary and employs a variety of methods including functional experiments in cell lines and primary neurons, as well as modelling of identified patient mutations and their effects using stem cells combined with genome engineering. The project is supervised by two experienced investigators with complementary expertise. Research in the Hammer group at NIH will focus on introducing mutations of interest into primary Purkinje cells and to investigate dendritic phenotypes. Research in the Becker group at Oxford will include further functional analyses in Purkinje cells from mutant mouse models, as well as in human induced pluripotent stem cells.


Becker Group website:
https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/research/cerebellar-disease-group


Hammer Group website:
https://irp.nih.gov/pi/john-hammer

220
Category:
Immunology
Project:

Examining inflammasome formation using microscopy

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
UK Mentor:
N/A
University:
N/A
Project Details:

The inflammasome consists of a cytosolic NOD-like receptor, an adaptor molecule (ASC) and an effector molecules caspase 1.  Once activated the inflammasome processes inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) and IL18 as well as driving an aggressive form of cell death (pyroptosis).  Inflammasomme protein complexes are central to sustaining inflammation in acute diseases (like COVID-19 associated ARDS) or chronic conditions (such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s, diabetes, arthritis).  Patients with rare autoactivating mutations in the NLR proteins have basally active inflammasomes leading to severe autoinflammatory syndromes. How inflammasome complexes form within the cell, particularly in patients with autoactivating mutations in NLRs are poorly understood.  

The aims of this project are as follows:
1.      Identify the molecular mechanisms by which the gain of function mutations causes constitutive activation of the NLRs
2.      Determine why gain of function mutations in different NLRs (NLRP3 and NLRC4) result in differences in inflammasome cytokine production with NLRP3 biased towards IL1B and NLRC4 towards IL18
3.      Visualise how gain of function mutations alter inflammasome formation by visualising the protein complexes at super resolution and atomic resolution

This project will study how the inflammasome forms using state of the art microscopy techniques including live super resolution imaging and cyroelectron microscopy tomography.  The consequences of the gain of function mutations on inflammasome formation will be studied using these techniques in cell lines where the key proteins are tagged and the gain of function mutations introduced by CRISPR/Cas9 (many of which are already available within the laboratory).  This work will be extended to consider cells from patients with these diseases to map back the biology and the imaging onto the cell line models.   

218
Category:
Neuroscience
Project:

Molecular studies of excitatory and inhibitory CA1 synapses in synaptic plasticity

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NIH Mentor:

Dr. Wei Lu

UK Mentor:

Prof. Ingo Greger

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

A balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition is crucial for normal brain physiology; upsetting this balance underlies various brain pathologies. To shed light on the molecular underpinnings of this regulation at the synapse level, this project will investigate the dynamics of glutamate- and GABA-A synapses and receptors in CA1 hippocampus under baseline conditions and in response to synapse potentiation. Specifically, using structural, functional and imaging approaches we will study both, spiny glutamatergic and aspiny GABA-ergic CA1 synapses and associated receptor complexes (AMPA-type glutamate and GABA-A) and how these change at the synapse- and receptor levels in response to LTP (long-term potentiation) induction. Our aim will be to monitor changes of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses and receptors at pyramidal neurons (glutamate) and/or parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons at various points after LTP induction. We will monitor changes in synapse size and receptor composition using advanced imaging and electrophysiological approaches.

217
Category:
Neuroscience
Project:

Developing novel treatments for children with inherited neurological diseases

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
UK Mentor:

Dr. Rita Horvath

University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

Inherited neurological disorders are disabling, progressive, often fatal conditions, representing an enormous unmet medical need with devastating impacts on affected families, the healthcare system, and the economy. There are no cures and the limited therapies available treat symptoms without addressing the underlying disease.

Next-generation sequencing has facilitated a molecular diagnosis for many inherited neurological disorders, such as mitochondrial diseases and other neuromuscular diseases, which are the focus of this research. The development of targeted therapies requires detailed laboratory investigation of molecular and mutational mechanisms, and a systematic evaluation of well-chosen agents as well as gene and transcript directed strategies using standardized experimental systems. Our research is focusing on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of childhood onset inherited neurological diseases, such as mitochondrial disease and other neuromuscular diseases to develop targeted therapies.

 

Using a translational approach, we aim to
1. understand the clinical course of patients in relation to the underlying disease mechanism
2. delineate the mutational and molecular mechanisms of the molecular defect in the appropriate cell types by developing model systems such as induced neuronal progenitor cells (in vitro) and zebrafish (in vivo)
3. improve the treatment options for patients by developing novel therapies that are directed at these mechanisms, including directly at the genetic mutation or resulting transcript.

We use a combination of exome sequencing, genome sequencing, and other omics technologies to identify novel disease genes and disease mechanisms. By functional evaluation in vitro (induced neuronal progenitor cells) and in vivo (zebrafish) we confirm pathogenicity and uncover molecular mechanisms of disease. To address the mutational mechanisms, we use gene transfer, splice modulation, allele silencing and CRISPR/cas systems.

213
Category:
Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Project:

Mechanisms underlying DNA replication and cell cycle control in Plasmodium

Project Listed Date:
Institute or Center:
N/A
NIH Mentor:
N/A
University:
Cambridge
Project Details:

My group studies the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.  Collaborative PhD projects can be offered in research areas centered around Plasmodium DNA biology: we are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying DNA replication and cell cycle control in Plasmodium, which replicates by an unusual method called schizogony.  We are also interested in mechanisms for silencing and promoting the recombination of a family of key virulence genes called var genes - particularly the role that G-quadruplex DNA structures may play in var gene control.  In fact, we have recently discovered that G-quadruplexes and their helicases have more general roles in genome stability and evolution in the malaria parasite as well.

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