Ion Channel Signalling in Cancer Cells

About the Project

Lead supervisor:Prof Will Brackenbury

The student will be registered with the Department of Biology

Join our team for an exciting PhD project exploring the critical role of ion channel signalling in cancer metastasis. This is a chance to build on recent, groundbreaking discoveries and develop novel strategies to suppress tumour invasion. We're looking for an enthusiastic and driven student to work at the cutting edge of cell biology, ion transport, and cancer metabolism. The project can be adapted to suit a 1-year MSc by Research degree.

Project Overview

Our cells constantly monitor and respond to their ionic environment. This ability is vital for healthy ageing, but its disruption contributes to numerous diseases, including cancer. Our lab recently uncovered a new link between sodium transport and cancer metastasis. We showed that a sodium channel, Nav1.5, is up-regulated in breast cancers and its expression level correlates with increased risk of metastasis.

We demonstrated that Nav1.5 activity increases intracellular sodium, which in turn boosts the sodium-potassium pump (NKA). This heightened NKA activity increases cellular energy demand, which is met by glycolysis. The resulting metabolic shift leads to an overproduction of protons and subsequent extracellular acidification. This acidic microenvironment is ideal for low pH-dependent proteases, directly increasing cancer cell invasion. Essentially, we've identified a complete pathway linking ion transport, cellular metabolism, and metastatic potential. Targeting Nav1.5 could therefore be a powerful strategy to suppress invasion and reduce metastasis.

Key Objectives

This project will build directly on these findings. Your primary goals will be to:

• Explore how Nav1.5 and other ion transporters/channels affect downstream signalling, metabolism, and cell-cell communication in cancer.
• Map the functional relationship between ion channel activity and amino acid metabolism.
• Determine the key signalling pathways linking Nav1.5 activity to the observed changes in glycolytic activity and cellular pH.
• Identify novel drug targets for metastasis by investigating the specific components of this ion-transport-metabolism axis.

Techniques and Training

You'll receive comprehensive training in a variety of cutting-edge techniques, including:

• Electrophysiology: Using whole cell patch clamp recording to measure ion channel activity—the gold standard for functional analysis.
• Microscopy: Employing sophisticated approaches like confocal microscopy and ptychography to visualise ion channel activity and metabolic changes using ion-sensitive dyes.
• Genetics: Modulating channel expression and function using tools such as RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR-Cas9 editing.
• Molecular Cell Biology: Studying downstream effects on signalling and cellular behaviour using Western blotting, RT-qPCR, migration and invasion assays, and metabolic flux analysis.

This project will provide novel mechanistic insights into an important, understudied signalling mechanism, equipping you with expertise in ion transport, cancer metabolism, and advanced imaging. You will be part of a supportive, dynamic, and collaborative team based in the Jack Birch Cancer Research Unit at the University of York. Our labs are part of the vibrant York Biomedical Research Institute, offering access to state-of-the-art facilities and a strong PhD student community. This project is expected to significantly advance our understanding of cancer cell invasion and lead to high-impact publications.

Find out more about our work and publications here: https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/research/jack-birch-unit/

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 or 1st January 2027

Funding Notes

Students need to have adequate funds to cover 3 years of tuition fees and living expenses.