Nigel Groome Studentship: Investigating the role of non-coding RNAs in patient pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour cells, extracellular vesicles and blood samples and their function in cancer development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important biological molecules for regulating gene transcription, including gene regulation in cancerous cells. One cancer in which miRNAs are poorly understood are pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs).

Currently, there is a clinically unmet need to improve PNET screening and diagnosis, as well as identify novel biological pathways that could be medically targeted, as patients are commonly diagnosed once metastasis has occurred.

Therefore, this project combines computational analysis and wet lab biology to identify the key miRNAs present in PNETs, map their associated biological pathways, and determine if they could be biomarkers of disease. To do this miRNA expression will be examined in clinically derived PNET cell lines, extracellular vesicles extracted from patient blood samples and supporting online studies. Genomic tools will also be used to investigate the expression of key proteins measured after manipulation of miRNA levels in PNET.

Dr Kate Lines works internationally on PNET and as primary laboratory supervisor will provide training in many techniques, including cell culture, drug treatments, proliferation assays, apoptosis assays and genomic manipulation tools. Dr Priya Samuel will support the clinical aspects of the project, and Dr Ryan Pink in the genomics and computational aspects.

The student will, therefore, benefit from the expertise of three supervisors with extensive cancer biology experience, as well as the facilities available through Oxford Brookes Bioimaging and Genomics Centres. The student will also become part of the Cancer Lab Group, consisting of >5 research groups and 7 PhD students, receiving training and support.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hours of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hours per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.