The CRUK & EPSRC Cancer Imaging Centre in Cambridge and Manchester (CMCIC) forms an exciting new partnership in the development of imaging biomarkers for cancer treatment. Despite rapid advances in medical imaging, an increasing gap is emerging between imaging methods development and translation into clinical practice. A major focus of the CMCIC is methods validation studies to support earlier clinical implementation and qualification of imaging biomarkers.

A number of 4-year PhD studentships are available for outstanding UK/EU* candidates wishing to develop research careers within biomedical imaging and cancer biology. Supported through CRUK and EPSRC each studentship is due to commence October 2014, providing an annual tax-free stipend of £19,000, plus full coverage of tuition fees and research expenses.

Within Manchester, the CMCIC forms part of Manchester Cancer Research Centre, a partnership between the University, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Research at this centre includes analysing how second cancer drug treatments may increase uptake of a first cancer drug and the development of sophisticated, quantitative imaging studies to revolutionise drug development and treatment. The successful PhD candidates will benefit from training opportunities spanning Dynamic MRI and PET acquisition and analysis, radiochemistry and cancer therapeutics.

Project opportunities at the University of Manchester fall under two broad themes, ‘Assessment of Response to Therapy’ and ‘Imaging Analysis of Tumour Genomes and Microenvironment’. Training will be delivered across our partnering sites by multi-disciplinary teams, with access to outstanding facilities, such as those housed within the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC).

We are seeking applicants with backgrounds in a range of relevant disciplines such as biological/medical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science. It is expected that candidates would hold a minimum upper-second class degree (or equivalent). A Masters qualification and/or relevant professional/research experience would be an advantage.

*Applicants must be UK/EU nationals continuously resident in the UK since at least September 2011 in order to qualify for full studentship funding.

Applicants should select their preferred study and contact the primary supervisor to initially discuss suitability and any additional requirements for the research. If encouraged, a full application should then be emailed to the primary supervisor providing the following:

-          CV

-          Academic degree transcripts

-          Two academic references

-          A brief (maximum 750 words) statement outlining motivations for wanting to undertake a research study in cancer imaging, suitability for the specific project and how you see advances in imaging influencing cancer therapeutics more generally.

Deadline for applications: 10 January 2014

Full details on the application process and projects referenced below are available on our website, please access it by clicking the 'Apply' button below.

Preclinical evaluation of the use of MRI and PET based markers of hypoxia in the prediction of response to hypoxia-selective cytotoxins

Developing novel multimodality spatiotemporal models for PET oncology tracers

Developing novel tracers to quantify and identify radiation induced tissue damage

Developing models of CSF pulsatility and cerebral compliance variation in patients with cerebral tumours

Developing optimised MR acquisition and analysis protocols for integration of multimodality MR data  

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