Supervisors: Dr Michael Ashby (University of Bristol) and Dr John Isaac (Lilly UK)
Project
The pathological accumulation of tau is associated with a number of neurological diseases, including Alzheimerâs disease (AD). A major hallmark of AD and other diseases is the severe loss of synapses that occurs at the early clinical stages. The aim of this project is to understand how and when changes in synapse structure and function contribute to progression of the disease. We use in vivo two-photon imaging to enable the longitudinal assessment of neuronal morphology and function in animal models of these diseases. The results of the longitudinal two-photon imaging will provide important new information on synaptic loss and dysfunction in tauopathy and will inform subsequent drug discovery studies to identify novel therapies to prevent synapse loss and/or promote their recovery.Â
Training
You will join an established collaborative research team that will provide technical and scientific training in both academic (University of Bristol) and industry (Lilly, Erl Wood, Surrey) settings. The successful applicant will spend 12-18 months at Lilly and the remainder in the laboratory of Dr Michael Ashby (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/phys-pharm/people/person/73986/ ). This is therefore an exceptional opportunity to conduct cutting-edge neuroscience research at the interface of pharmaceutical drug discovery.
Funding
Standard BBSRC PhD stipend plus top-up by the commercial partner, plus fees for home students plus bench fees and travel expenses to attend meetings/conferences.
How to apply
Please complete an online application by visiting the Apply buttoin below providing at least two referees. Applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in neuroscience/physiology or a relevant biological sciences subject. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Michael Ashby (e-mail: m.c.ashby@bristol.ac.uk) or Dr. John Isaac, Lilly UK (e-mail: isaac_john@lilly.com).
Start date: 23rd September 2013
Closing date: 28th Mach 2013