Elucidating the mechanisms of pathology in neurodevelopmental white matter diseases

About the Project

Lead supervisor:Dr Noemie Hamilton

The student will be registered with the Department of Biology

Our research interests are to dissect the mechanism of auto-inflammatory neurological disorders using zebrafish as an animal model. Leukodystrophies are devastating rare monogenic neurological diseases with patients presenting loss of white matter and severe developmental delays. Many leukodystrophy-causing genes have been identified due to advances in sequencing capabilities. However, for most of those new diseases, there is limited research and models available and there is no treatment available. We have previously published the first zebrafish model to study leukodystrophies (Haud et al, PNAS, 2011) and used this model to identify cellular drivers and develop novel therapies (Hamilton et al, Glia 2020, Rutherford et al, PNAS 2024). To expand the number of models available and boost research on leukodystrophies, we created LEUKOLABS, a new network to unite leukodystrophy researchers in the UK. Through this network, multiple research models will be combined to study new leukodystrophy identified and the student will be working towards elucidating the mechanism of pathology. This will advance our understanding of these rare diseases and contribute to the development of therapies.

This project will use zebrafish as a model, using CRISPR/Cas9 to target genes of interest, functional genetics, molecular biology and live high-resolution imaging. More information about our research can be found on our lab website.

Funding: for self-funded applicants

Interested candidates should in the first instance contact Dr Noémie Hamilton

The University of York is committed to recruiting future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.

The Department of Biology holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award. We are committed to supporting equality and diversity and strive to provide a positive working environment for all staff and students.

Entry Requirements: Students with, or expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme means that we welcome applications from students with any biological, chemical, and/or physical science backgrounds, or students with mathematical background who are interested in using their skills in addressing biological questions.

Programme: PhD in Biomedical Science (3 year)

Start Date: 21 September 2026