Development of a dual-use skin-on-a-chip model for assessment of oncology drug toxicity

About the Project

Skin toxicity remains one of the most challenging dose-limiting side effects of oncology drugs, especially targeted therapies. Existing in vitro and animal models lack sufficient predictivity for clinical toxicity, hindering efforts to balance efficacy with safety in drug development. Development of validated human skin-on-a-chip platforms that mimic key toxicologic responses addresses this gap by providing industry and academia with more predictive tools, supporting safer and more effective anti-cancer drug discovery while minimising reliance on animal models. The overall aim of this PhD studentship is to develop a next-generation vascularised skin-on-chip platform that accurately replicates essential skin toxicity responses to cancer therapeutics.

The project will leverage QMUL’s state-of-the-art human skin models, which consist of a 3D printed skin equivalents containing keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and resident macrophages. Building on this design, the proposed project will optimise the biophysical properties, perfusion and dosing of key drugs, establish robust toxicity readouts, and explore potential mechanisms of action. In addition, new technological advances will be implemented through the engineering of a dual-chip system that enables simultaneous prediction of drug toxicity in the skin-on-chip device and therapeutic efficacy in cancer models, thereby facilitating direct assessment of the therapeutic index and supporting optimised anti-cancer drug selection.

In collaboration with AstraZeneca, a major focus of the project will be to validate the skin-on-chip system with clinically relevant oncology agents to demonstrate correlation between in vitro readouts—target engagement, viability, proliferation, cytokine profiles, tissue integrity, immune activation—and clinical skin toxicity risk.

This project is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ on a Chip Technology (COaCT)

Who should apply?

We are looking for students who have an enthusiasm for organ-on-a-chip technologies, with a range of backgrounds including biology, biochemistry, genetics, materials science, biomedical engineering and other related subjects. Students should have some experimental background and enthusiasm for working in the laboratory. Applicants are not expected to have experience in all elements of this field; training will be provided as part of the PhD to support the development of important skills.

Application Process

Applications for this project are through the COaCT admissions process. Applicants are asked to make one application to the COaCT and list their project preferences from all project currently available as listed here: http://www.cpm.qmul.ac.uk/cdt/projects/projects2026open

The process is explained in detail here: http://www.cpm.qmul.ac.uk/cdt/applications/stepbystep

Funding Notes

The successful applicants will be fully funded (fees and stipend). For 2026/27, the annual stipend rate, including London Allowance, will be £23,805.