Fully funded PhD studentship in cardiovascular science: extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular diseases

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship within the Cardiovascular Section at the University of Surrey. We are internationally recognised for our work on cardiac diseases and offer state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team and receive hands-on, inclusive supervision from an award-winning mentor (School of Biosciences’ Supervisor of the Year Award 2021, nominated again in 2024). Students also benefit from a comprehensive programme of training in research and transferable skills through our Doctoral Training Centre. This studentship is for students eligible for UK/home rate fees.

Project description

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited heart disease and a leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in young adults. It is often caused by faults in heart muscle proteins, but how these genetic changes lead to thickening, scarring and electrical instability of the heart remains poorly understood.

This project will use advanced human cell models and cutting-edge molecular and imaging approaches to investigate how extracellular vesicles and other signalling mechanisms mediate communication between cardiac cells and drive disease progression in HCM. You will work with human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and supporting cells carrying a clinically relevant HCM-causing mutation, and apply a range of experimental techniques to:

• Characterise how diseased and healthy cells differ in their structure and function.
• Study how signals exchanged between cardiac cells contribute to maladaptive remodelling.
• Identify molecular changes associated with these signalling pathways that could inform future biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

The project will provide comprehensive training in human cell culture, extracellular vesicles isolation and characterisation, advanced microscopy, cardiac functional assays and molecular/proteomic analyses, offering an excellent platform for a career in cardiovascular research, stem cell biology or translational medicine.

References:

1. Sanwlani & Camelliti. Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiac Cell Crosstalk: from Intercellular Communication to Clinical Translation. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 1-22 (2025).
2. Johnson, Lei, McVey, Camelliti. Human myofibroblasts increase the arrhythmogenic potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 80 (9), 276 (2023).

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information.

Applicants should hold (or be about to obtain) a first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area including; medical sciences, biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry or related disciplines.

Scientific curiosity, strong communication and organisational skills, a proactive and flexible approach to work, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are essential.

An MSc/MRes in cardiovascular/molecular science with merit or distinction and/or previous research experience in molecular biology or cell biology would be advantageous.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our Biosciences and Medicine PhD.

Cardiovascular research