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West Midlands, All England
This PhD project will be based in the Clinical Immunology Service which is part of the Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy in the College of Medical and Dental Sciences.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024.
In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) are tests that can detect disease, conditions, and infections; IVD results are central to 70% of all clinical and treatment decisions. IVDs have the potential to accelerate patient pathways, reduce hospital stays, facilitate targeted treatment schedules, and support patients to maintain their own health. Rapid expansion of testing technologies, data and deep learning solutions offer the opportunity to progress precision medicine and optimise the use of IVDs for patient and health care benefits. The adoption of IVDs within clinical pathways is slow and creates a barrier to innovation within health care. A key cause of this is a disjointed approach that fails to integrate academic, clinical and industry expertise from the outset. There is also a failure to exploit data to identify where diagnostic innovation could yield the greatest impact. As a result, IVDs are rarely designed for a specific pathway and many diagnostics are developed that have no clear plan to adoption. To address this, we need a new model that clearly identifies the role of IVDs in patient care and matches the development of IVDs to meet the needs of end-users. The PhD scholar will help to shape and trial this new approach in practice.
To develop a new model for the development of IVDs that will enable their accelerated implementation into clinical practice to deliver patient and health care impact.
1. Investigating the use of data to identify care pathways and the feasibility of using data to test if a new or alternative diagnostic is likely to have value within a pathway. This will tap into existing data initiatives geared towards revealing unmet needs for innovation. The main output will be the identification of a pathway/s that could be improved through a new or repurposed IVDs.
2. Engage with the NHS and patients to explore the identified pathways further and help ratify where and how a diagnostic test could improve a clinical pathway. Investigate the current testing rationale and establish the required specifications a diagnostic would need to fulfil to enable its adoption.
3. Design a target product profile for a new or repurposed diagnostic. The diagnostic solution will be matched to the meet the bespoke need and pathway identified in phases 1 & 2, selecting the most appropriate technology platform. Initial proof of concept for the test will be generated in the laboratory.
The project will act as a template and applied to the future scoping and development of a broad range of novel IVDs and medical technologies. This will provide an evidence base to enable a step-change in the use of diagnostic technologies in patient pathways within Birmingham Health Partners supported infrastructure.
The project will be based within the Clinical Immunology Service (CIS) at the University of Birmingham Medical School. The CIS is an interface between laboratory, industry and clinical practice and has significant IVD development expertise. Training will include interdisciplinary skills in the context of the IVD translational pathway, learning how to engage/work with key stakeholders with dedicated placements. It provides an ideal environment to conduct this novel research but also provide bespoke training to place the PhD scholar on the trajectory to become a future leader in translational research that can deliver real-world impact.
Applicants should have a strong background in biological or medical sciences. They should have an interest in improving clinical pathways for patients through diagnostics and data as enabling technology.
Applicants will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in biological or medical sciences or other discipline relevant to the PhD project e.g. bioinformatics, medical sciences, biomedical technology. Study at MSc level in one of these fields is desirable but not essential.
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. UK nationals and eligible for registration as Home students
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham
1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £18,622 per year. This support covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs, including bench fees. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree.
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. 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.
Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant’s suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.
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 (MDS)‘. 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 Tuesday 30 April 2024.
For your application you will need to submit the following documents:
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