125th Anniversary PhD Scholarship in Biomedical Sciences - PhD Project: Prebiotic Microcomposites for Personalised Microbiome Modulation in IBD and Health.

About the project

This exciting PhD project, working at the interface of microbiome research and biomaterials engineering, offers the opportunity to pioneer the development of Next Generation Prebiotics— agents which are designed to selectively enhance the growth of specific beneficial bacteria within the intestinal microbiome. By identifying novel natural materials that promote the targeted growth of key bacterial species, this project aims to revolutionise our ability to restore microbial balance in diseases where critical bacteria become lost. This breakthrough approach has the potential to transform therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of microbiome-related diseases, unlocking a new era of precision and personalised microbiome medicine.

Project Background

A stable and diverse gut microbiota is essential for good health, yet imbalances (dysbiosis) are implicated in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, and intestinal cancer. Restoring a healthy microbiota is a growing focus in many therapeutic interventions in these diseases and whilst significant progress has been made in probiotics and faecal microbial transplantation, innovation with prebiotics has lagged. Prebiotics currently lack the precision to target specific bacteria, limiting their clinical effectiveness in restoring depleted bacterial communities in disease. This project aims to advance our understanding and research on the application of Next Generation Prebiotics to improve the growth of bacteria in the intestinal microbiome.

We have recently developed novel Microcomposites (small gel-like beads) as a new type of prebiotic. We have termed these new prebiotics "Scaffolding Prebiotics" as they have been designed with two essential components: (1) a gastrointestinal-resistant material that ensures the gel-bead microcomposite reaches the colon intact, creating additional space (a scaffold) for bacterial growth, and (2) a prebiotic nutrient that selectively promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. These prebiotics uniquely provide both space and nutrients in a single prebiotic intervention, marking an entirely novel and multi-functional way of developing prebiotics. Now that we have established this technology, we need to validate its use and expand its potential application by targeting a broader range of intestinal bacteria (including those depleted in diseases such as IBD) and demonstrate efficacy in disease-relevant microbiome models.

Key objectives within the PhD project include:

1. Expanding Prebiotic Scope: We will broaden our current library of potential prebiotic substrates with the goal of identifying novel prebiotic materials that selectively support a wider range of health-promoting bacteria, including those depleted in IBD.
2. Chemical Incorporation: Using chemical engineering techniques, we will integrate these prebiotic materials into the microcomposites (gel-like beads). We aim to surface-modify these microcomposites with the identified substrates using advanced modification methods.
3. Assessing Efficacy: Newly developed Microcomposite Prebiotics will be tested in sophisticated bioreactor gut models that mimic dysbiosis in disease (such as IBD) to examine if depleted strains grow to restore a healthy microbiome.

Scientific and Healthcare Impacts

Advancements in Next Generation Prebiotics in this project will drive clinical translation, enabling the development of targeted, orally delivered treatments to restore gut microbiome composition in diseases (such as IBD). While IBD serves as a model of dysbiosis in this PhD project, successful demonstration of newly developed prebiotics’ ability to target specific bacteria could have wider applications in other chronic diseases that are also linked to dysbiosis. These new Next Generation Prebiotics have the potential to revolutionise IBD treatment by providing a safer, more accessible and personalised alternative to current therapies. They could be used for disease prevention, treatment, and maintenance, supporting healthy gut communities throughout IBD care. They offer an alternative route in the management of IBD, circumventing conventional treatments which have significant side effects and complications. This innovative approach promises to be a transformative medical intervention, with a primary focus on IBD in this proposal, while also offering broader applications for personalised microbiome modulation. Data arising from this PhD proposal will further advance microbiome research by enhancing prebiotic screening models, delivering valuable tools and insights for researchers across these research disciplines.

Find out more

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:

• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)

 3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £20,780 per year for the 2025/26 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £5,006 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.