"Research Associate MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology (Exposome-driven changes to the Extracelluar Matrix (ECM))"

Research Associate MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology (Exposome-driven changes to the Extracelluar Matrix (ECM))

The University of Manchester - School of Biological Sciences

Location: Manchester

Salary: £37,694 to £46,049 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 10th September 2025

Closes: 22nd September 2025

Job Ref: BMH-029732

Job reference: BMH-029732

Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on relevant experience

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Biology, Medicine Health

Location: Oxford Road

Employment type: Fixed Term

Division/Team: Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection, and Respiratory Medicine

Hours Per Week: Full Time (1 FTE)

Closing date: 22/09/2025

Contract Duration: 36 Months

School/Directorate: School of Biological Sciences

Applications are invited for six Post-Doctoral Research Associate positions based in the new Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) in Exposome Immunology, hosted jointly by the universities of Manchester and Oxford. The CoRE will leverage cutting edge computational approaches, novel experimental models, and experimental medicine studies to uncover how pollutants and infections interact with our genes to cause and exacerbate chronic inflammatory diseases.

The successful PDRAs will form the foundation of our centre, working on six complementary projects that form our initial research portfolio. As such, the research will be highly collaborative in nature, with the post-holders often working across research groups to follow new leads and generate preliminary data that can underpin subsequent grant applications and high impact publications. Depending on progress of their individual projects, researchers may be required to transfer their focus to other emerging priorities within the centre. Successful applicants will have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in biological science, and confidence in a range of immunological techniques.

Project Title: Exposome-driven changes to the Extracelluar Matrix (ECM)

The aim of this project will be to assess the changes to the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) in COPD and asthma patients and identify associations between exposome challenge and disease outcome. The feasibility of using biologic treatment data to further reveal mechanisms will be explored. The study will build on current evidence that the glycosoaminoglycan hyaluronan is a key ECM component that regulates pulmonary responses to environmental challenges.

The postdoc on this project will be tasked with identifying the appropriate samples from available patient cohorts. Taking advantage of matrix analysis tools through Manchester’s Cell-Matrix Centre, samples (nasal washings, biopsies, blood) will be assessed not only for Hyaluronan and its related components, but other glycosaminoglycans and fibrillar proteins. Key immunological data will also be collected. Assessment of ECM and immune changes will be performed on samples from individuals in which we have data on pollution exposure, smoking status, viral infection status, and respiratory disease status. The findings from these studies will feed into a research pipeline leading to a mechanistic understanding of the causal links between exposure and disease.

A key feature of this project will be to engage closely with the Respiratory Medicine clinicians at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, and Nuffield Hospital Oxford as well as the MRC Centre’s computational teams. The postdoc will based within the Allen Laboratory that uses pre-clinical models to understand how the ECM (particularly hyaluronan) regulates pulmonary health and disease. Together by communicating across these teams, the postdoc will help build testable hypotheses.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews: Name: Judi Allen, Email: judi.allen@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries: Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk