Respiratory infections in children who are mechanically ventilated in the paediatric intensive care unit

About the Project

Mechanical ventilation saves lives — but it also places critically ill children at risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a serious complication that prolongs intensive care stay, increases antibiotic exposure, and contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Despite its impact, we still do not fully understand why some children develop infection while others do not.

This exciting translational PhD project will investigate how immune cells in the paediatric airway behave during critical illness, with a focus on neutrophils — the body’s first responders to bacterial infection. Emerging evidence suggests that in ventilated patients these cells may become dysfunctional, impairing bacterial killing and increasing susceptibility to pneumonia. This project will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction and test whether immune function can be restored using targeted immunomodulatory strategies.

The student will work with clinically derived airway and blood samples from children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), combining patient-facing translational research with cutting-edge laboratory immunology. Training will include advanced flow cytometry, live bacterial killing assays, inflammatory mediator profiling, and ex vivo immune modulation techniques. There will also be opportunities to engage in patient and public involvement work and to present findings at national and international conferences.

Supervision spans paediatric airway, respiratory medicine, and adult and paediatric critical care, providing a uniquely cross-disciplinary training environment. The project is embedded within established translational research groups with strong track records in airway biology, infection research, and PhD supervision.

This studentship would suit applicants with a background in biomedical sciences, immunology, physiology, medicine, or a related discipline who are motivated by clinically meaningful research with clear translational potential. It offers the opportunity to contribute to research that could directly improve outcomes for critically ill children and reduce antibiotic overuse in intensive care.

If you are interested in combining laboratory science with real-world clinical impact, this project offers an outstanding platform for a career in translational biomedical research.

Funding

Students who have, or are expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, are invited to apply. Funding is available for Home (UK) students to cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (indicative amount in year 1 in 2026-27, £21,805) and research costs, for four years. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates. There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.