Development of spinal cord injury and repair-on-a-chip model

About the Project

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects over 4,400 people annually in the UK, with around 105,000 individuals currently living with the condition. These injuries often result in permanent disability, requiring long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and social support. With an average lifetime cost of £1.12 million per patient, SCI places a substantial burden on the NHS and wider healthcare system.

To support regenerative medicine approaches for SCI, human-based advanced in vitro models offer a promising alternative for predicting the efficacy and safety of biomaterials and cell therapies. However, suitable models of spinal cord damage and repair remain limited. This project aims to develop a novel model using 3D printed microfluidic platforms.

1. Chip engineering of spinal cord injury. Microfluidic chips will be designed to deliver reproducible compressive injury to motor neuron bundles. Using DLP printing, motor neuron spheroids will be guided through microchannels using chemokine gradients. A pneumatic chamber (microfabricated separately) will apply controlled compression. Chips will be characterised via electron and confocal microscopy, nanoindentation, and DMA.
2. Model Validation. Injury response will be assessed using bit.bio motor neuron bundles. Cell viability and apoptosis will be evaluated via live/dead assays and Annexin V/caspase markers. Axonal fate will be analysed through immunostaining and confocal imaging.
3. Repair Evaluation. Injured bundles will be treated with peptide amphiphile hydrogels with comparison to fibrin gels known to enable poor recovery potential. Regeneration will be assessed by axon connectivity (confocal microscopy/immunostaining) and calcium transport (fluorescence imaging).

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.