About the Project
HIV-1 remains one of the world's most significant infectious diseases, with an estimated 38 million people living with the virus globally. Among the many HIV-1 subtypes, Subtype C (C-HIV) is the most prevalent, accounting for almost half of all infections worldwide and dominating epidemics in regions such as Southern Africa, India and Ethiopia. Despite its global importance, it remains unclear why this subtype has become so successful compared with others. Understanding the biological and…
genetic factors that underpin its spread could provide important insights into HIV transmission, evolution and future strategies for prevention and treatment.
This PhD project will investigate the genetic determinants that contribute to the transmission and fitness of non-subtype B HIV viruses, with a particular focus on C-HIV. Building on discoveries from a major Medical Research Council (MRC)-funded programme that identified genetic signatures associated with successful transmission of HIV-1 subtype B, the project will extend these findings to the most globally relevant HIV variants and explore whether similar mechanisms drive their success.
The central aim is to determine how specific genetic sequences within the HIV genome influence viral transmission efficiency and replicative fitness. By combining advanced genomic analysis with cutting-edge experimental approaches, the project will explore whether certain viral genetic features provide evolutionary advantages that help explain the global predominance of C-HIV and other non-subtype B viruses.
The student will lead the collection and analysis of viral genomic datasets, developing expertise in bioinformatics, sequence analysis and viral evolution. They will investigate whether genetic signatures previously linked to transmission in subtype B HIV are also enriched in transmitted/founder viruses of subtype C and other globally important HIV subtypes. This work will provide valuable insights into the evolutionary pressures shaping HIV transmission and adaptation.
Alongside computational analyses, the student will undertake laboratory-based research using state-of-the-art in vitro and ex vivo models of HIV transmission. This includes innovative viral transmission assays and human mucosal explant models that mimic the biological environment in which infection occurs. The project will also examine how altering viral genetic sequences, while preserving the encoded proteins, affects transmission efficiency and replicative capacity. These experiments will allow the student to directly test the relationship between viral genetics, fitness and transmission success.
The research offers considerable flexibility, enabling the student to shape aspects of the project according to emerging findings and personal interests. Opportunities exist to compare transmission-associated genetic features across different HIV subtypes, explore novel hypotheses, and investigate the broader implications of viral evolution for disease spread and control.
Throughout the studentship, the student will receive interdisciplinary training in virology, viral genomics, bioinformatics, cell culture, experimental infection models and data analysis. They will also be encouraged to consider how their findings could inform future therapeutic strategies, vaccine development, public health interventions and potential translational or commercial applications.
This project is ideally suited to applicants from biological, biomedical, virological, computational or related disciplines who are interested in tackling a major global health challenge. By combining genomic science with experimental virology, the project will provide an exceptional opportunity to contribute to our understanding of HIV transmission and the factors that have driven the remarkable global success of HIV-1 Subtype C.
Eligibility
Residency: GW4 BioMed3 studentships are available to UK and International applicants. Following Brexit, the UKRI now classifies EU students as international unless they have rights under the EU Settlement Scheme. The GW4 partners have agreed to cover the difference in costs between home and international tuition fees. This means that international candidates will not be expected to cover this cost and will be fully funded but will be required to personally cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD. All studentships will be competitively awarded and there is a limit to the number of international students that we can accept into our programme (up to 30% cap across our partners per annum).
How to apply:
A list of all the projects and how to apply is available on the GW4 BioMed website at gw4biomed.ac.uk. You may select up to 2 projects and submit one application per candidate only.
Please complete an application to the GW4 BioMed3 for an 'offer of funding'. If successful, you will also need to make an application for an 'offer to study' to your chosen institution later.
Please complete the online application form linked from our website by 5.00pm on Wednesday, 21st October 2026. Please note that we may close the application process before the stated deadline if an unprecedented number of applications are received– check the GW4 BioMed website for details and updates. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be notified from Tuesday, 22nd December 2026. Interviews will be held virtually on 26th and 27th January 2027. Studentships will start on 1st October 2027.
Further Information
For informal enquiries, please contact GW4BioMed@cardiff.ac.uk
For project related queries, please contact the respective supervisors listed on the project descriptions on the GW4 BioMed website.
Funding Notes
These studentships are funded through GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme and consist of UK tuition fees, as well as a Doctoral Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£21, 805 p.a. for 2026/27, updated each year).
Additional research training and support funding of up to £5,000 per annum is also available.
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