Microbiology and Immunology: Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Tumour Growth (RS862)

Funding provider: Swansea University 

Subject areas: Ovarian Cancer, Peritoneal metastasis, Immunology 

Project start date: 1 October 2025 ** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates)

Supervisors: Dr Luke Davies (Primary), Dr James Cronin (Secondary) and Dr Megan Chambers 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Microbiology and Immunology 

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description:  

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynaecological cancers (>2000 deaths/year, UK). It is described as a silent killer as most diagnoses occur after it has spread to the peritoneal cavity (metastasis). It is known that peritoneal cells contribute to the growth of metastatic tumours. Previously, it was demonstrated that an immune cell-produced metabolite promotes peritoneal tumour growth (https://doi.org/10.1172/jci99169). However, a host of interconnected metabolic and immune pathways likely regulate tumour progression.  

Identification of these novel mechanisms will provide new targeted therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer.  

The current MRC New Investigator Grant focuses on peritoneal dialysis for kidney disease and aims to add metabolites/drugs to improve this treatment, but this also opens the exciting possibility for using peritoneal dialysis as a tissue-targeted drug delivery tool for metastatic ovarian cancer. This includes utilising existing chemotherapies (e.g. Carboplatin) and targeting new peritoneal-specific mechanisms that promote tumour growth. 

Research questions:  

What cellular/molecular mechanisms promote peritoneal ovarian cancer growth? 

Can we deliver chemotherapy and anti-metastasis drugs via peritoneal dialysis? 

Objectives:

1) Determine how peritoneal cells support metastasis (co-cultures with immune/mesothelial/cancer cells, gene-editing strategies (CRISPR), metabolite-mass-spectrometry) 

2) Develop a proof-of-principle model (in-vivo and in-vitro) to demonstrate that tumour growth can blocked using dialysis-chemotherapy 

UK Students Only 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA, please see - Full list of categories for HE in Wales  

Degree requirements for PhD: Applicants must have obtained at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). Applicants are also expected to hold a relevant Master's degree (however, completion of part one modules, if applicable, with minimum average grade of 60% and submission of Master's degree dissertation before the start date for this PhD is also acceptable). Non-UK qualification, please see - Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. For further information, please see the Swansea University English Language Entry Policy. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

 This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

To apply, please complete the entire application form, following this link: Complete your application here in Learner Gateway 

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS862 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  
  • the RS Code, RS862 and 
  • the scholarship title.   
• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• CV 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 

• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 

• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 

• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 

• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Luke Davies and l.c.davies@swansea.ac.uk 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.