Cancer Immunometabolism: PhD Studentship: The Role of Lipid Metabolism in Regulating the Immune Tumour Microenvironment of Glioblastoma

The funding provider: Cancer Research Wales Brain Tumour Research Initiative (BATRI)

The subject area: Cancer Immunometabolism

The Project start dates: October 2026**

(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:

• Dr James Cronin, Swansea University Medical School 
• Dr Nick Jones, Swansea University Medical School 
• Dr Roberto Angelini, Swansea University Medical School 
• In collaboration with Dr Florian Siebzehnrubl & Dr Matthew Clement, Cardiff University 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Cancer and Genomics

Mode of study: Full-time

Place of study: Swansea University Medical School (Singleton Campus)

Project Description:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with poor survival and limited treatment options. A major barrier to effective therapy is the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, which can restrict anti-tumour immunity and contribute to resistance to immune-checkpoint therapy. Nutrient availability is increasingly recognised as a determinant of immune cell fate and lipid metabolism is emerging as a key regulator of immune suppression in GBM, influencing lipid-laden macrophages and microglia, regulatory T-cell differentiation, cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion, and the wider balance between anti-tumour and pro-tumour immune states.  

Using established protocols for the isolation, culture and functional analysis of human immune cells, the student will develop patient-derived GBM immune co-culture models to investigate how lipid metabolism regulates the immune tumour microenvironment. 

The project will examine how lipid availability and lipid-metabolic pathways influence key immune populations in GBM, including regulatory T cells, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T-cell subsets, glioma-associated macrophage/microglia-like cells, and other immune cells. Particular focus will be placed on how lipid metabolism affects immune-cell differentiation, suppressive function, inflammatory signalling, exhaustion and anti-tumour activity. 

This will help determine whether lipid metabolism can be targeted to reduce immune suppression and restore anti-tumour immune function in GBM. 

The project would suit a motivated student with experience or interest in cancer immunology and immunometabolism biology. Experience in primary immune-cell culture, flow cytometry, or lipidomics & mass spectrometry would be particularly advantageous, although full training will be provided.

*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.