Engineering Developable Biopharmaceuticals

About the Project

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2025/26.

The broad aim of this research is to understand the effects of forces applied onto biopharmaceuticals during their manufacture. Using this knowledge we can then rationally modify either the manufacture process or stabilise the protein sequence to become “manufacturable”.

Biopharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies, have revolutionised the treatment of diseases with high morbidity and mortality. While it is relatively easy to identify candidate mAbs with high potency and specificity, identifying the subset of candidates that are also stable enough to survive the rigours of large-scale manufacturing is challenging. Over the last 10 years a group of inter-disciplinary researchers at Leeds, comprising experts in protein aggregation (Professor Sheena Radford), high throughput protein engineering (Professor Brockwell) and mechanical engineering (Professor Nik Kapur) have, in collaboration with several leading pharmaceutical companies, designed and applied both in vivo (references 1-3) and in vitro (references 4-6) methods to identify inherently developable biopharmaceuticals. Our group is particularly interested in preventing the intrinsic aggregation of mAb biopharmaceuticals and aggregation triggered by the hydrodynamic forces encountered during manufacture.

In this project you use these assays and other methods to (i) understand the molecular mechanism of manufacture-induced aggregation and (ii) engineer mAbs using rational or directed evolution methods to produce inherently manufacturable biopharmaceuticals.

Eligibility

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence that their English language is sufficient to meet the specific demands of their study. The Faculty of Biological Sciences minimum requirements in IELTS and TOEFL tests are:

• British Council IELTS - score of 6.0 overall, with no element less than 5.5
• TOEFL iBT - overall score of 80 with not less than 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 19 in writing. Tests must be taken at a test centre.

How to apply

To apply for this project applicants should complete an online application form and attach the following documentation to support their application.

• a full academic CV
• degree certificate and transcripts of marks
• Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)
• Evidence of funding

To help us identify that you are applying for this project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;

• Select PhD in Biological Sciences as your programme of study
• Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert

For information about the application process please contact the Faculty Admissions Team:

e: fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This project is open to applicants who have the funding to support their own studies or who have a sponsor who will cover these costs.