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Deadline: The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 30 April 2025.
West Midlands, All England
A new PhD scholarship for Black British Researchers in the College of Medicine and Health
PhD Project: What matters to patients in the treatment of lupus nephritis? a mixed methods study of patient preferences.
This PhD project will be based in the Department of Inflammation and Ageing in the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology which is part of the College of Medicine and Health.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 30 April 2025.
About the project
Lupus nephritis (LN) is an autoimmune inflammatory glomerulonephritis in which an over-active immune system causes inflammation in the kidney. Inadequate treatment of LN results in chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney failure. Although several national and international guidelines for LN management exist, we have identified marked differences in physician's treatment preferences for LN across the UK, including differences between rheumatologists and nephrologists [1]. In a parallel study we are investigating the decision cues used by physicians to select treatment.
As effective clinical decision-making is a shared process between physicians and patients, it is critical to understand patient preferences with regards to treatment. This is important to inform patient-centred drug development, clinical guidelines, and tools to support shared decision-making. This project will allow you to study in detail patient preferences with respect to LN treatment, the relative importance of these and how they align with the opinions of other stakeholders.
Proposed methods
This mixed methods study will comprise 3 phases:
Phase 1: You will conduct semi-structured exploratory interviews with patients both with LN and with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have not developed LN but may be considered “at risk”. You will purposively recruit participants from ethnic minority and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure a broad range of responses. You will analyse transcripts using content and inductive thematic analysis (full training will be given, see below).
Phase 2: You will conduct a survey involving Q methodology to define the relative importance of treatment attributes important for decision making that were identified in Phase 1.
Phase 3: You will hold focus groups with key stakeholders (patients, physicians, charity representatives, commissioners) will be used to explore the findings from phases 1 and 2 and triangulate these with data from our separate study of decision cues used by physicians to identify areas of commonality or critical differences.
Impact
This study will provide an essential understanding of patient preferences for treatment of LN and compare these to physician preferences, which we are investigating in a separate, complementary study. This study has clear relevance for pharmaceutical or biotech companies who are developing new treatments for LN as it is critical that new therapies are acceptable to patients, and that clinical trial design reflects patient treatment preferences.
Our findings will also inform future clinical guidelines for the treatment on LN, directly addressing treatment-related factors or attributes which are important for patients. Understanding differences in treatment preferences between patient groups will also inform future studies to address health inequalities and define how patient preferences relate to treatment adherence and ultimately outcomes for patients with LN.
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:
3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham
What does the scholarship provide?
Applicants will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in a relevant subject, or an alternative qualification, or experience of equal quality. In certain cases, a Masters degree or equivalent may be expected in a relevant subject.
After applicants have made contact with the lead PhD supervisor, you will then need to apply to the PhD project using our online application portal: you should select '125th Anniversary Scholarships (CMH)'. You will need to create an account for the online application portal and you will be prompted to sign-in upon your return to the portal.
You do not need to complete your application in one session; you can save your application at each stage and return to the portal at any stage before submission, particularly if you do not have all of the necessary documents when you begin your application.
As this is an 'advertised PhD', in which you will studying the above project that has already been provided by the academic supervisor(s), you do not need to submit a research proposal. Your personal statement will suffice for determining your suitability for the PhD project as well as your previous academic, professional and personal experiences.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 30 April 2025.
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