Applicant information
What happens after you apply to Bristol?
Clinical Sciences
| Awards available | PhD MSc MD DSc |
|---|---|
| Duration of programme | PhD: three years full-time; six years part-time MSc: one year full-time; two years part-time MD: two years study. |
| Number of places | Not fixed |
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Programme overview
Research opportunities in Clinical Sciences are offered in the School of Clinical Sciences, which has locations across Bristol. We are located within the Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Frenchay, Southmead, Bristol Children's and Bristol Eye hospitals, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, and the Education Centre. A close working relationship has been established with the Clinical Academy in North Bristol, with clinical colleagues in the North Bristol NHS Trust and with the University Hospital-based NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol).
Research Groups
The School's individual research groups and units, based at sites in North Bristol, include:
- Academic Renal Unit
- Academic Respiratory Unit
- Diabetes and Metabolism
- IGF and Metabolic Endocrinology Group
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit
Academic Renal Unit
We are located in new, state-of-the-art
laboratories at Southmead Hospital. Our
interests are in human renal cell biology; most
of our work is based on human cell lines.
Kidney disease is an important and expensive
problem for the NHS; we have made good
progress in understanding why kidneys do not
normally allow protein into the urine, why this
goes wrong in kidney disease, and possible
treatments. Supervision and training can be
provided by senior post-doctoral researchers.
Academic Respiratory Unit
Lung Research
This group undertakes research relating to the regulation of inflammation in the normal and diseased human lung. We are particularly interested in the interaction between pulmonary alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells. In this context we have focused on cytokine networks and the role of proteases in cytokine processing. In addition to the tissue injury aspect of inflammation we are also interested in permability and repair mechanisms with a particular interest in the biology of vascular and edothelial growth factor.
Pleural Clinical Trials Group
Nick Maskell and his research team are involved in a number of single centre clinical trials in pleural disease. Several multi-centre studies are also being recruited to, some of which are co-ordinated
from Bristol. This translational research programme
is addressing key management and investigation
dilemmas in this under-researched area.
Diabetes and Metabolism
We focus on the causes, prediction and possible prevention of childhood type 1 diabetes. We have access to unique populations and sample collections for studying the pre-diabetic period, and have pioneered diabetes prediction methods based on immune, genetic and metabolic markers. The autoantibody laboratory plays a major role in international standardisation programmes and the development of novel assays. It also supports several large international collaborations. Our team carried out a major intervention trial known as ENDIT (European Nicotinamide Diabetes Intervention Trial) and now provides a focus for type 1 diabetes prevention trials in the UK. There is an active genetics programme looking at established and novel genes in type 1 diabetes. In addition a long-running, population-based register allows studies of the epidemiology of childhood diabetes.
IGF and Metabolic Endocrinology Group
The Group focuses on the role of nutrition in the development of chronic diseases, particularly obesity, insulin-resistance and epithelial cancers. We work closely with the Paediatric Obesity Clinic, ALSPAC and the Department of Social Medicine to examine dietary and lifestyle determinants of obesity, insulin-resistance and common cancers and the role played by insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in their development. The Paediatric Obesity Clinic is investigating the role of diet, physical activity and behavioural changes in weight management and the factors that determine the development of insulin-resistance. We work with large cohort studies of populations, smaller clinical studies, and laboratory investigations using human cell models, including unique primary cultures of human adipocytes and skeletal muscle. We also have several epithelial cancer models investigating the cell biology of IGFs, their binding proteins and their role in cancer progression.
Institute of Clinical Neurosciences
The Institute of Clinical Neurosciences (ICN) is a confederation of autonomous but interdependent neuroscience research and teaching groups in North Bristol. The four main University of Bristol research groups within the ICN are:
Dementia Research Group
This group is based in the John James
Laboratories, adjacent to Human Tissue
Authority-licensed South West Dementia Brain
and DNA Bank at Frenchay Hospital. Its main
focus is the study of Alzheimer's disease (AD),
with a growing portfolio in vascular dementia,
and involves a combination of molecular genetic,
biochemical, cell culture, neuropathological and
clinical approaches. Central to this work is the
brain bank, which provides tissue for microscopy
and immunochemical studies, DNA and mRNA
for studies of gene expression, and protein for
studies of protein expression and enzyme
activities. Cerebrospinal fluid from the brain bank
is used for parallel investigations of protein levels
and activity whilst cell-cultured methods are often
used as a complementary strategy to the tissue-based
work. The group's current research
programme focuses on several interconnected
themes, including altered expression of Aβ-synthesising
and Aβ-degrading enzymes and
disturbances of Aβ transport in the pathogenesis
of late-onset AD and cerebral amyloid angiopathy,
vascular abnormalities in AD, and the involvement
of inflammatory mediators and pathways in AD.
Multiple Sclerosis and Stem Cell Group
This Group is part of the University's Institute of
Clinical Neurosciences and is based at the
Burden MS Stem Cell Laboratories and the MS
Clinical Research Centre at Frenchay Hospital. The
Group includes a mixture of basic and clinically
qualified neuroscientists. We are interested in
understanding the biology of tissue damage in
multiple sclerosis, particularly injury to grey matter
and to neurons and axons. We are a translational
group, and aim to use these research findings to
develop and test novel therapies in MS patients.
We collaborate with Professor Wraith, developing
immune treatments for MS, and we have a major
interest in stem cells and stem cell therapies.
Functional Neurosurgery Group
We undertake laboratory and clinical research in
the fields of intracranial drug delivery and deepbrain
stimulation. The laboratory research is
concerned with developing novel techniques of
drug delivery to the brain, suitable for the
administration of viral and non-viral mediated gene
therapy, monoclonal antibodies and neurotrophic
proteins to discrete neuroanatomical target
structures. This research involves many academic
and industrial collaborations, bringing together
expertise in medical and software engineering, MR
physics, fluid dynamics, molecular biology, drug
development and virology. We aim to translate
these techniques into clinical trials within the next
12 months. Current clinical research is concerned
with the identification and evaluation of novel
targets for deep-brain stimulation in patients with
Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and essential tremor.
Neonatal Medicine Group
This Group investigates the mechanisms of brain
injury in newborn infants and develops treatments
to protect and repair the neonatal brain, reducing
long-term disability. Lack of oxygen during labour
and delivery at full term can cause severe brain
injury and serious disability. The laboratory studies
of Professor Marianne Thoresen demonstrated that
cooling by only a few degrees after hypoxia could
protect the newborn brain. Bristol was one of
three centres in the world to pioneer post-hypoxic
cooling in term newborn infants in 1998. Feasibility
and physiology studies led to two randomised
trials. The TOBY trial of total body hypothermia
(published in the New England Journal of Medicine
in 2009) showed increased survival without
neurological treatment. This treatment is now being
introduced as standard throughout the developed
world. Together with paediatric neurosurgeons,
led by Ian Pople, Professor Andrew Whitelaw
developed a new treatment approach for
premature babies with large brain haemorrhage.
This involves washing toxic substances out of the
ventricles of the brain and reducing pressure and
distortion early. A randomised trial has recently
shown that this reduces severe disability. Currently
a new randomised trial is examining whether very
early intervention for these infants improves
outcome. A current study is examining whether
imaging the brain with ultrasound or MRI during the
neonatal period can accurately predict physical and
mental development at 2 years. We aim to assess
the effect of hypothermia and 'brain washing' in
these two patient groups at school age.
Musculoskeletal Research Unit
Academic Rheumatology Group
Our research consists of laboratory, translational
and epidemiological studies into the
pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of
osteoporosis. We are investigating the
determinants of bone development based on the
ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents
and Children) cohort; we are also using this
cohort to examine links between joint
hypermobility and chronic pain in childhood. Our
COSHIBA (Cohort for Skeletal Health in Bristol
and Avon) study aims to evaluate a new way of detecting vertebral fractures in primary care
patients. The UK-wide DINAG study (DXA
Databases to Identify Novel Anabolic Genes),
evaluates individuals with unexplained high
bone mass and aims to identify novel genetic
mutations which may provide the basis for new
treatments for osteoporosis. We perform
translational studies into the cause and
prevention of osteoporosis secondary to
conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease
and Multiple Sclerosis. In laboratory studies, we
are analysing the mechanisms involved in
selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)
effects on bone cells. Elsewhere we are
characterizing the skeletal phenotype of novel
mutant mice generated as part of the MRC
chemical mutagenesis project.
Orthopaedic Surgery
We collaborate closely with mechanical engineering
and materials science to evaluate new designs of
hip and knee prostheses and their failure
mechanisms. Orthobiologics are also being
developed to promote bone regeneration.
Cytogenetic, molecular and morphological
techniques are being used to assess the genetic
and immunological effects on human cells of
orthopaedic materials that are disseminated
throughout the body. There is close collaboration
with the MRC HSRC in several studies evaluating indications and referral pathways for total hip
replacement, trust in healthcare and whether
surgical activity affects outcome. Outcome studies
include multicentre randomised controlled trials
and the use of RSA to evaluate micro movement
of the prosthesis in the early post-operative period.
The School's individual research groups based within the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust include:
- Child Health
- Bristol Heart Institute
- Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology (LINE)
- Gastroenterology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Ophthalmology
- Rheumatology
- Surgery
Child Health
A virtual structure which provides a focus for academic and educational activity within the broad context of all issues relating to the life, health and welfare of children and young people. Research interests include: biostatics, cardiology; Children of the 90s; endocrinology and metabolic medicine; infant and childhood deaths; infant physiology; infection and immunity; neuroscience and neonatal medicine; nephrology; oncology; respiratory paediatrics and rheumatology.
The Bristol Heart Institute
The Institute aims to foster local, national and international multidisciplinary cardiovascular, basic and applied research by stimulating collaboration between the University's cardiovascular research groups. Research groups within the Institute include: academic cardiac surgery; vascular cell biology; cardiac biochemistry; cardiovascular physiology; and cardiac physiology.
Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology (LINE)
Studies in neuroscience and endocrinology from fundamental molecular and cellular biology through physiology to clinical studies. In particular studying the brain's response to stress and disease and how it regulates both neuroendocrine and autonomic functions. Our areas of research include neuroprotection; the neurochemistry of pain; molecular mechanisms of hypothalamic and pituitary function; signal transduction mechanisms in endocrine cells; transgenic research on the roles of neuropeptides in the central and peripheral nervous systems; neuroimmunology; molecular aspects of Alzheimer's disease; thyroid pancreatic islet cell autoimmunology; and clinical endocrinology and neuroendocrinology.
Gastroenterology
Research ranges from basic science to clinical research including molecular biological studies of the developing mucosal immune response, the immunology of IBD, the mechanism of steroid resistance in IBD and bone loss in IBD. Further areas of research include the study of biomarkers based on volatile organic compounds emitted from bodily fluids for the diagnosis of infection and malignancy.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Clinical research with emphasis on pregnancy complications and preterm labour. Laboratory research includes cell regulation in the myometrium and ovary often related to understanding the basis of clinical problems and improving diagnosis and therapy.
Ophthalmology
Research is focused on improvement in health care that relies heavily on the implementation of basic science advances and transfer of laboratory-acquired knowledge to the clinic. Areas of research include: immunology of autoimmune disease; corneal transplantation; cell and matrix biology; biochemistry of ocular disease; cryopreservation; ocular mucins; in vitro toxicology; molecular ophthalmology; epidemiology and retinal cell biology and neural progenitor cells.
Rheumatology
Research across the full range of musculoskeletal conditions including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis
Surgery
Research includes the pathogenesis and cellular biology of breast cancer, the value of surgical interventions and the measurement of quality of life in surgical patients. Clinical research programmes in cancer and vascular disease supported.
Entry requirements
An honours degree (or international equivalent) in a biological or related science or medical subject.
For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see our International Office website.
Admissions statement
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Key research interests
Dr Shelley Allen, Alzheimer's disease and the Neurotrophins; small molecule therapeutics; protein distribution and analysis; cDNA cloning; protein expression systems and bioassays.
Professor Gianni Angelini, Saphenous vein bypass graft failure; beating heart surgery and arterial re-vascularisation; myocardial protection; normothermic cardio pulmonary bypass; clinicla and echocardiographic evaluation of heart valve prosthesis.
Professor John Armitage, Cryobiology; corneal storage; eye and heart valve banking; corneal transplantation follow-up studies.
Professor Raimondo Ascione, Stem cell therapy for myocardial repair; management of diabetes mellitus and stress hyperglcaemia during cardiac surgery in the adult; myocardial protection during cardiac surgery; beating heart coronary surgery and arterial revascularisation; innovative surgical techniques; mitral valve repair and end-stage ischemic left ventricular surgery.
Professor Polly Bingley, Aetiology, pathogenesis, prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes.
Professor Ashley Blom, Restitution of bone stock loss and development of novel bone graft substitutes. Improving the outcomes of arthroplasty.
Dr Mark Bond, Mechanisms regulating matrix metalloproteinase expression, the vascular extracellular matrix and how it interacts with smooth muscle cells to regulate their proliferation.
Dr Chiara Bucciarelli, The role of magnetic resonance imaging in cardiovascular disease.
Dr David Cahill, The relationship between endometriosis and chlamydia with fertility; the endocrinology of the ovarian cycle and the mid-cycle LH surge; reproductive medicine; medical education.
Dr Maeve Caldwell, Neural stem cell biology with the main aim to develop these cells to replace those lost through neurodegenerative disease; transcription factors induction and growth factors are currently being used to make these cells produce functional dopamine neurons (the neuronal cell type lost in Parkinson's disease).
Dr Massimo Caputo, Congenital and adult cardiac surgery.
Dr Patrick Case, Molecular cytogenetic and immunological responses of human cells to orthopaedic materials.
Professor Kei Cho, Synaptic plasticity and repair; molecular mechanisms of learning and memory; synaptic plasticity in human stem cell derived neurons; molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease in stem cell model; stress-related brain aging and cognition.
Dr Amanda Churchill, Molecular and paediatric ophthalmology; genetic basis of anterior segment dysgenesis; inherited optic atrophy; glaucoma; angiogenic eye disease such as age-related mascular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Dr Emma Clark, Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disease, determinants of childhood fractures, vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women.
Dr Nicki Cohen, Neural progenitor cells, their response to injury, and their potential for repair.
Dr Richard Coward, The role of cellular insulin signalling in diabetic nephropathy.
Professor Andrew Dick, Immunobiology of ocular inflammatory disease; retinal cell biology, pilot studies of novel immunotherapeutic agents.
Dr Marcus Drake, Integrative physiology of lower urinary tract dysfunction, clinical assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence.
Professor Costanza Emanueli, Therapeutic angiogenesis, stem cells, and anti-apoptosis. Research in neurotrophins and the kallikrein-kinin system.
Professor Adam Finn, Clinical studies of vaccines in children; mucosal immunity to pneumococcal infection; mucosal vaccines for poor countries.
Professor Karen Forbes, Consultant and Macmillan Professorial Teaching Fellow in Palliative Medicine. Research on opoids and their use for cancer pain; attitudes towards opioids; the effects of care pathways for the dying on quality of patient care, and educational research around teaching and learning about death and dying.
Professor Sarah George, Regulation of the behaviour of atherosclerotic plaque cells (smooth muscle cells and macrophages) by cadherins and the Wnt pathway.
Dr Kathleen Gillespie, Gene regulation and the role of genetics in type 1 diabetes.
Dr Rachael Gooberman-Hill, Social/medical anthropology; pain; long-term conditions; care-seeking; decision-making; patient involvement in research
Professor Julian Hamilton-Sheild, Childhood obesity; neonatal diabetes; insulin-resistance in childhood; adipocyte biology.
Professor Jeff Holly, Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGFBPs, IGF cell biology; IGFs, nutrition and cancer risk/prevention; role of IGFs in childhood growth; endocrine aspects of childhood obesity.
Dr Chris Jackson, Atherosclerotic plaque rupture, the underlying cause of most heart attacks and strokes.
Dr Patrick Kehoe, Aetiology, pathology and early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease; molecular genetics and interactions between cardiovascular risk factors (Renin-Angiotension and Brady Kinin Pathways) and Alzheimer's disease.
Professor John Kirwan, Glucocorticoid response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in variations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients during periods of disease exacerbation and in response to treatment. Current studies focus particularly on changes in nightime hormone and cytokine levels.
Professor Andrés López-Bernal, Preterm labour: the control of uterine contraction/relaxation. Prostaglandin and oxytocin receptors; signalling pathways in ovarian cells
Professor Andrew Levy, Neuroendocrinology, particularly pituitary physiology and pathophysiology.
Professor Stafford Lightman, Hypothalamic and brainstem integration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system activity; Aetiology of stress related disease.
Professor Astrid Linthorst, Neurochemical and neuroendocrine mechanisms in the brain that support coping with stress; role of GABA; serotonin and glucocorticoid hormones in the regulation of neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to stress; cause and prevention of stress-related diseases.
Dr Steve Lolait, Molecular genetics of neuropeptide receptors; expression and function of G protein-coupled receptors (including the vasopressin V1b, oxytocin, apelin and oestrogen receptors) in neuroendocrine systems; receptor knockouts.
Professor Seth Love, Neuropathology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease; vascular dementia; Lewy body disease and stroke; vascular abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease; metabolism of Aβ; molecular interactions between Aβ, phosphor-tau and β-synuclein.
Dr Karen Luyt, Injury and repair in the developing brain; neonatal intensive care.
Professor Paolo Maddedu, Angiogenesis gene therapy in ischemic disease; stem cell mobilization and homing into ischemic sites; stem cell and microvascular dysfunction in diabetes; stem cells therapy.
Dr Nick Maskell, Pleural disease.
Professor Peter Mathieson, Role of glomerular epithelial cells in the kidney in health and disease; cytokines in kidney disease; effects of immunotherapeutic agents on cytokine gene expression.
Professor Craig McArdle, Cell signalling with emphasis on neuroendocrine control of reproduction by GnRH and gonadal steroids, and relationships between G-protein coupled receptor trafficking and signalling.
Professor Ann Millar, Mechanisms of inflammatory lung disease; regulation of cytokines in fibrosis and lung permeability.
Professor David Murphy, Regulation and function of vasopressin neurons: transgenic rats; pituitary; hypothalamus; gene regulation; neuropeptide processing; cardiovascular/osmotic control; circadian clock; stress.
Dr Gavin Murphy, Blood conservation in cardiac surgery; acute kidney injury; minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
Professor Andrew Newby, Mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque rupture and myocardial infarction with focus on inflammation, matrix degrading metalloproteinases and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Dr Lindsay Nicholson, Immunobiology and T Cell Responses in Autoimmune Disease.
Dr Finbar O'Callaghan, Neuroepidemiology and child neurology; investigating how both the environment and neurological disease affects the developing brain, with specific interest in the effects of infantile epilepsy and stroke in children.
Dr Claire Perks, Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGFBPs. Role of IGFs/IGFBPs in breast and prostate cancers. Nutrition, obesity and cancer.
Professor Barney Reeves, Epidemiology and statistics for clinical trials
Professor Johannes Reul, Afferent and efferent control mechanisms regulating glucocorticoid hormone secretion; role of glucocorticoids in signalling, epigenetic, gene expression and cellular processes in the brain underlying stress-related learning and memory.
Dr Chris Rogers, Design and analysis of clinical trials and observational studies; methods for sequentially monitoring outcomes after surgery; predicting short and long term outcomes after heart surgery across centres and surgeons and evaluating the benefit of heart and lung transplantation compared to medical therapy for patients with different risk profiles.
Professor Moin Saleem, Biology of the glomerular podocyte; understanding the molecular mechanism of nephrotic syndromes; insulin signalling in the podocyte.
Dr Simon Satchell, Biology of the glomerular endothelial cell; microvascular circulation and modelling in the human glomerulus.
Professor Neil Scolding, The underlying cell biology of multiple sclerosis and the development and implementation of myelin repair treatments.
Mr Frank Smith, Attenuation of medial and intimal hyperplasia on vein bypass grafts; laboratory assessment of peripheral vascular disease.
Dr Richard Smith, Development of rational immunosuppressive regimes based upon an understanding of the immunopathological mechanisms underlying transplant rejection and autoimmune disease.
Professor Saadeh Suleiman, Investigating the cellular changes in heart cells during progression of coronary disease and during development in order to improve techniques of myocardial protection during adult and paediatric open-heart surgery.
Professor Marianne Thoresen, Neonatal neuroscience; mechanism of damage and repair in the newborn brain; experimental and clinical research on neuroprotection including randomised trials (in particular the effect of hypothermia and neuroprotective substances) and posthaemmorrhagic ventricular dilatation in the immature brain.
Professor Jon Tobias, Laboratory, translational and epidemiological studies into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
Professor James Uney, Changes in the expression of stress regulated genes during neurodegeneration; the control of genes involved in apoptosis and protein folding by MicroRNAs; regulation of microRNA biogenesis by RNA binding proteins; viral mediated transduction techniques.
Dr Gavin Welsh, Cellular mechanisms of proteinuria; cell signalling and diabetes.
Professor David Wynick, Galanin; neuropeptides; dorsal root ganglion; peripheral nerve regeneration; neuropathic pain; hippocampal neuroprotection; mouse transgenic technology; gene knockout.
Application deadline: Not fixed
Get in touch
Senior Postgraduate Admissions Administrator
Phone: +44 (0) 117 331 6824
Email: md-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk
Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fmd
International students
English-language requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band, in addition to the standard entry requirements.
Find information for international students on eligibility, funding options and studying at Bristol.
Fees and funding
2014/15 fees
PhD/MD: Full-time UK/EU £3,939;
overseas
£17,000 (lab-based); £28,900 (clinical)
ChM: please contact the Faculty Office.
MD students charged at UK/EU rate
Fees quoted are provisional, per annum and are subject to annual increase
Funding options
You can contact the School for further information about funding. Further information on funding for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students is available from the Student Funding Office website.
Student views
The facilities are excellent; the city is youthful and vibrant. Whilst as a PhD student you're expected to work largely independently, there are plenty of people to turn to for advice.
Sasha
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