Applicant information
What happens after you apply to Bristol?
Cellular and Molecular Medicine
| Awards available | PhD MD MSc by research |
|---|---|
| Duration of programme | PhD: Three years full-time; six years part-time MD: One year full-time; two years part-time MSc: One year full-time; two years part-time |
Page contents
Programme overview
The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study of cancer biology, infection and immunology, and stem cell biology.
A major refurbishment of our immunology, microbiology, virology, stem cell biology and cancer research laboratories has created an outstanding working environment with state-of-the-art facilities. Researchers in the School also have access to facilities in the Molecular Recognition Centre and the Cell Imaging and Wolfson Bioimaging Facility within the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences.
Staff research interests include:
- childhood and adult cancers
- stem cell biology
- molecular genetics
- developmental biology
- haematological disorders
- immunology
- arthritis
- neurological diseases
- parasitology
- virology
- bacterial antibiotic resistance
- bacterial pathogenesis
The School places its focus on translational research, that is: turning basic scientific discoveries into something clinically useful. Key successes of this type include the development of novel drugs and therapies, diagnostic tests and the implementation of changes to clinical practice. Several members of staff in the School are clinicians.
Research groups
Research within Cellular and Molecular Medicine is focused on three strategic research themes: Infection and Immunity, Cancer Biomarkers and Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Therapies.
Infection and Immunity
This wide ranging research theme includes:
- Immunology: especially autoimmunity, mucosal immunity and vaccine development.
- Microbiology: especially bacterial pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance.
- Virology: including study of important human viruses such as coronaviruses, adenoviruses, dengue viruses and Epstein Barr virus.
Cancer Biomarkers
Cancer is a major cause of death in the UK and the lifetime risk of developing cancer is about one in three. Over 50% of cancers are preventable. The overall research aim for the groups within Cancer Biology is to increase our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of cancer and to bring advances in these areas to the clinic, in terms of prevention strategies, early diagnosis and targeted novel treatments.
Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Therapies
Research includes work with both adult and embryonic human stem cells. Investigations focus on using stem cells derived from the bone marrow of elderly osteoarthritis patients to regenerate cartilage through tissue engineering strategies in the laboratory and ultimately after implantation in the patient.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. We may consider MSc applications from candidates with a lower second class degree.
For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see the 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
Cancer Biology
Dr Keith Brown, Genetic and epigenetic defects in childhood cancers; epigenetic regulation of cancer stem cells.
Dr Karim Malik, Regulation and cellular functions of the Wilm's tumour suppressor gene, WT1; cancer epigenetics.
Professor Christos Paraskeva, Regulation of differentation; apoptosis and novel therapeutic; chemopreventative strategies for colorectal cancer
Dr Stefan Roberts, Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in mammalian cells, transcriptional control by the Wilm's tumour suppressor WT1.
Dr Ann Williams, Apoptosis as a target for prevention and therapy in colorectal cancer: signalling pathways involved in the development of resistance to cell death.
Immunology
Professor Andrew Dick, Immune mechanisms of autoimmune disorders of the eye.
Professor Adam Finn, Microbial and host interactions in the human upper respiratory tract and pathogenesis of bacterial respiratory and invasive infections in children; respiratory mucosal naturally-acquired and vaccine-induced immunity to pneumococcus and other bacteria; clinical trials of vaccines and antimicrobial agents in children.
Dr David Morgan, Interactions between CD8+T cells and self antigens derived from peripheral tissues or tumor cells.
Dr Lindsay Nicholson, Organ-specific autoimmune disease affecting the nervous system (multiple sclerosis) and the retina (inflammatory eye disease).
Dr Colin Steward, Development of immunotherapy for post-transplant virus infections after stem cell transplantation; identification of new or rare genetic diseases and areas of under-diagnosis.
Professor Neil Williams, Basic and applied aspects of immunity at mucosal surfaces
Professor David Wraith, Regulation of autoimmune disease; presentation of self and foreign antigens to the immune system; immunotherapy of allergenic and autoimmune diseases.
Professor Christoph Wuelfing, Investigating the spatiotemporal organisation of lymphocyte signalling at the systems scale to unravel how the flow of signalling information through the complex signalling network regulates lymphocyte function.
Microbiology
Dr Matthew Avison, Control of gene expression in bacteria; two-component mediated signalling pathways; post-genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in clinically important bacteria.
Dr Ariel Blocker, Structure and mechanisms of action of bacterial type III secretion systems.
Dr Darryl Hill, The role of bacterial proteins in adhesion to and invasion of human cells.
Professor Alisdair MacGowan, Antibiotic resistence epidemiology in the community, antibacterial pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Dr Jim Spencer, Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance beta-lactamases; qnr proteins; the Cfr rRNA methyltransferase; secreted proteases as virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Professor Mumtaz Virji, Structure-function relationships of bacterial pili and the molecular mechanisms of Opa and Opc proteins that lead to cellular adhesion and invasion.
Stem Cell Biology
Professor Anthony Hollander (Head of School), Cartilage regeneration in elderly osteoarthritis patients using stem cells in combination with tissue engineering strategies.
Dr Allison Blair, Characterising stem cell populations in acute leukaemias to facilitate novel therapeutics.
Dr Wa'el Kafienah, The molecular regulation of adult and embryonic stem cell differentiation; skeletal tissue engineering.
Virology
Dr Andrew Davidson, Molecular biology and pathogenesis of dengue virus; development of dengue virus antivirals and vaccines; proteomic analysis of the viral host interaction.
Dr David Matthews, Development of systems to combine state-of-the-art, high-throughput, quantitative proteomics and deep sequencing to study how viruses affect the host cell; interactions between human adenoviruses and the nucleolus.
Professor Stuart Siddell, Molecular biology, genetics and pathogenesis of coronaviruses
Application deadline: Please see our website
Get in touch
Dr Matthew Avison, Director of Postgraduate Studies
Phone: +44 (0) 117 331 2036
Email: medscivet-pg-admissions@bristol.ac.uk
Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fmvs/gradschool/
International students
English-language requirements: 6.5 overall with at least 6.5 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
Full-time: UK/EU £3,939;
overseas £17,000 (lab-based), £28,900 (clinical)
Fees quoted are provisional, per annum and are subject to annual increase
Funding options
Further information on funding for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students is available from the Student Funding Office website.
Research Assessment Score
Units of Assessment 3 and 15 apply. See Complete RAE listings for University of Bristol for further details.
Student views
The postgraduate community is very friendly so it's easy to make lots of friends, even if you've not been here for your undergraduate course
Emma
Useful further information
Accommodation
Our Accommodation Office helps all postgraduate students find accommodation.
Living in Bristol
Discover more about living in Bristol and the city of Bristol.