About the Project
Liquid biopsies have the potential to transform cancer care by enabling tumour detection and monitoring through a simple blood sample. However, despite major advances, their clinical impact remains limited for many cancers because tumours often release only very small amounts of DNA and proteins into the bloodstream. This creates a fundamental signal-to-noise challenge, where rare cancer-derived molecules are difficult to distinguish from the abundance of material originating from healthy…
tissues. The problem is also acute in applications such as early cancer detection and minimal residual disease monitoring, where biomarker levels are often extremely low.
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates and increasing incidence in the UK, particularly in the North-West of England. Patients would benefit greatly from liquid biopsies capable of detecting disease earlier and monitoring treatment response. However, the low concentration of tumour-derived biomarkers in blood has limited the development of clinically useful liquid biopsy for OAC.
Rather than passively measuring biomarkers already present in blood, we will expand an innovative approach to develop lipid-based nanoparticles that act as molecular modulators, actively capturing and concentrating cell-free DNA. By enriching these biomarkers before blood collection or analysis we aim to amplify the tumour signal and improve the sensitivity of existing liquid biopsy technologies. The project builds on pioneering works from the supervisory team demonstrating that engineered nanoparticles can efficiently recover circulating biomolecules and generate highly informative molecular profiles from blood.
The PhD student will design and optimise nanoparticles, evaluate their performance in laboratory and animal models, and validate the technology using banked clinical samples from patients with oesophageal cancer treated at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in biomedical sciences, molecular biology, biotechnology, bioengineering, or related disciplines, with an interest in cancer research, nanomedicine, genomics, and translational science.
Eligibility
You must hold, or about to obtain, a minimum Upper Second Class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant discipline. A related master’s degree would be an advantage
International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English language) before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility information can be found on the University's Country Specific information page.
Before you Apply
Applicants must make direct contact with preferred supervisors before applying. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to meet with potential supervisors, prior to submitting a formal online application.
How to Apply
Apply directly via this link: https://tinyurl.com/577zjazd or on the online application portal, select MCRC PhD Programme as the programme of study.
You may only apply for one project within this scheme. Please ensure that your application includes all required supporting documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supporting Statement
- Academic Certificates and Transcripts
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Further details are available on our website: CRUK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme | Biology, Medicine and Health | University of Manchester
Application Timeline
- Applications open: Monday, 5 October 2026
- Application deadline: Monday, 23 November 2026
- Interview date: Week commencing 11 January 2027
- Start date: September 2027
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the University’s activities. The full statement can be found here: https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/getting-started/equality-diversity-inclusion/
Funding Notes
These studentships are fully funded for four years, covering:
- Project running costs
- University tuition fees (at the UK/Home rate)
- An annual stipend to help with living costs, currently £22,894 a year
International Candidates
We are able to offer a limited number of bursaries to high- performing EU and international candidates, covering PhD fees only. Bursaries do not include financial support for visa/health surcharges. We asses each EU and international candidate's suitability for a bursary at the application and interview stages.