Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Deadline: 17 August 2026
Wales
Open to: UK and international applicants
Funding Providers: Swansea University
Subject Area: Cancer Biology, Translational Oncology, Cancer Immunology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biotherapeutics and Protein Engineering
Project Start Dates:
** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)
**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study:
Mode of study: Full-time
Place of study:
(Time spent at both universities)
Project description:
Nanobody-based precision targeting tools for theranostic applications in gynaecological cancers
Swansea University and Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) are pleased to offer a fully-funded Swansea University Strategic Partnership Reseach Scholarship (SUSPRS) for full-time doctoral students to it’s nineth cohort, commencing in October 2026.
Swansea University (Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science) and Houston Methodist (Neal Cancer Center) are offering a fully funded international PhD studentship investigating next-generation nanobody engineering for precision targeting in ovarian cancer. Led by Professor Deya Gonzalez (Swansea University), an expert in translational gynaecological oncology and advanced therapeutic development, and Professor Chih-Chi Andrew Hu (Neal Cancer Center), a leader in nanobody engineering, cancer biology and molecular therapeutics, this project will investigate whether engineered nanobodies can overcome the biological and physical barriers that currently limit antibody-based therapies in solid tumours.
During the first 15 months at Swansea University, the successful candidate will identify and validate clinically relevant ovarian cancer surface antigens using patient-derived clinical samples, tumour slices, advanced three-dimensional tumour models and integrated genomic analyses. The remaining 21 months at Houston Methodist Hospital will focus on nanobody discovery and engineering, functional epitope mapping, tumour–immune interactions, and evaluation of novel nanobody-based imaging and therapeutic strategies in immune-competent preclinical ovarian cancer models. This unique international PhD provides exceptional training spanning translational oncology, molecular biology, cancer immunology, protein engineering, advanced therapeutics, genomics, imaging and preclinical cancer models.
The successful candidate will work within one of the world's largest medical centres and will have opportunities to publish in leading international journals, present at major conferences, and contribute to the development of next-generation theranostic technologies for ovarian cancer.
Applicants for this PhD must have achieved, or be expecting to achieve, a 1st class UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification), or a 2:1 UK undergraduate degree and a Distinction in a UK master’s degree (or international equivalent).
English Language:
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.
ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [email protected] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
Available to UK and International applicants.
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate of (£21,805 for 2026/27) - October 2026 onwards
Additional research expenses of up to £500 per year will also be available.
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Prof. Deya Gonzalez at [email protected]
Please apply through our website: Biomedical Science, Cancer Biology: Nanobody-based precision targeting tools for theranostic applications in gynaecological cancers (RS982) - Swansea University
Open to UK and International applicants
Applicants for this PhD must have achieved, or be expecting to achieve, a 1st class UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification), or a 2:1 UK undergraduate degree and a Distinction in a UK master’s degree (or international equivalent).
English Language:
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants. Please see our website for more information on the selection process.
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