"PhD Studentship: Holding Onto Hearts and Mind: Proteo-Transcriptomics Profiling of the Ageing Heart in Parkinson Disease – the Search for Novel Markers for Early Decline in Brain-Heart Communications"

The cardiac action potential is modulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Recent studies have shown an association between cardiac disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD) where the degeneration of the ANS is prominent. Importantly, while PD patients develop motor dysfunction at the later stages of the disease, autonomic dysfunctions (dysautonomia) can precede these motor symptoms, suggesting it as a prodromic stage of PD. Despite this, the mechanism underlying PD-related cardiac ANS degeneration is unknown. The Ala30Pro (A30P) missense mutation in the alpha-synuclein protein is a genetic risk factor of PD associated with early-onset familiar PD. We hypothesise that cardiac alpha-synuclein pathology, specifically in the cardiac sympathetic neuronal compartment, known as the stellate ganglia, reflects the ageing-mediated remodelling driven by alpha-synuclein. This ageing-dependant cardiac remodelling may lead to electrophysiological alterations of the heart and ultimately impact the brain. With a focus on identifying a novel biomarker for early decline in the heart-brain-axis, this study aims to explore the effect of alpha-synucleinopathy in heart and stellate ganglia. Using a PD animal model with a neuronal-specific alpha-synuclein A30P human mutation, we will employ electrophysiological techniques, RNA sequencing, proteomics, and histochemical analysis. The findings are expected to provide insights into early diagnostic tools for PD within the context of the brain-heart axis.

The student will be based at the University of Surrey; this is an ideal location which promotes informal interactions among the member of the team and constant exposure to innovative approaches, problems and settings beyond pure academia. The candidate will benefit from international and interdisciplinary (med-vet-environment) development and networking activities organized by the school. There are opportunities to interact with several UK and EU collaborators and travel to these labs for personal development opportunities.

Supervisors: Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam, Dr Bonn Lee and Dr Charlotte Edling

Entry requirements: Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. Starting in January 2026. Undergraduates with a degree in Biological Sciences or related subjects are welcomed as long as they have a strong interest in electrophysiology and molecular biology. Medical and veterinary graduates are encouraged to apply. A Master’s degree in related subject is desirable and previous experience in electrophysiology work is useful but not essential.

Funding: Fully and directly funded for this project only for 3 years. Funding will cover University tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for three years and a stipend for three years at RCUK levels.