Developing therapies to repair the skin barrier in Eczema

About the Project

We are seeking a graduate with interest in skin biology and skin disease with experience in Cell Biology or Cell Signalling with at least an upper second-class honours degree to join a vibrant eczema research programme in the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research.

Eczema is a common skin condition affecting around 7% of people in the UK at some point in their lives. The main underlying problem is a weakened skin barrier, which allows moisture to escape and irritants to enter. This results in dry, flaky skin and triggers inflammation and itching, significantly affecting the quality of life of people with eczema and their families. Current treatments largely focus on managing symptoms rather than repairing the fundamental barrier defect. A major gap in research is understanding precisely how and why this barrier first breaks down.

Our previous work using non-invasive tape-strips from unaffected skin has revealed early changes in the outer skin layers. We have shown that desmosomes—the structures that hold skin cells tightly together—are disrupted in eczema. This disruption is linked to loss of filaggrin, a gene frequently disrupted in eczema and essential for healthy barrier formation.

This project will investigate how filaggrin loss leads to desmosome breakdown and will identify the proteins responsible. Using patient samples and skin cells grown from these patients, we will explore how to manipulate these proteins to restore desmosome integrity and normal skin barrier function. Understanding these early barrier disruption mechanisms could reveal new therapeutic targets to prevent or reduce disease symptoms before inflammation develops, with the potential of reducing steroid use long-term.

Aim 1. Understanding the effects of filaggrin loss on the desmosome and skin barrier function.

Aim 2. Finding proteins that can control the desmosome in eczema patient tape-strips.

Aim 3. Making eczema skin models in the lab to test the effects of manipulating desmosome-related signalling to restore skin barrier function.

The post is based in the Blizard Institute, Whitechapel Campus. The Blizard Institute provides a stimulating scientific environment and state of the art infrastructure and facilities. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) ranks joint 7th in the UK for overall research quality according to the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 92% of submissions rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Interviews will take place shortly after the deadline for submission of applications. The studentship is available immediately and candidates should be available to start in September 2026 or shortly thereafter.