This fully funded PhD position at the University of Nottingham investigates the impact of genetic risk for organ fibrosis on brain health, with a focus on early ageing and cognitive decline. The project leverages established markers for body organ fibrosis (such as liver and heart) from the UK Biobank to explore their effects on brain structure and function. Recent discoveries of brain fibroblasts and the g-lymphatic system, which is implicated in brain waste clearance and neurodegenerative diseases, provide a timely context for this research. The aim is to determine whether these biological systems are causally linked and to identify measurable brain changes associated with waste clearance and tissue maintenance. As a PhD student, you will work with large-scale imaging and genetic datasets to uncover how organ health and inflammation relate to brain ageing. You will apply advanced causal inference methods, including Mendelian randomisation, to test the relationships between genetic fibrosis risk and brain changes. The findings from this research could reveal new mechanisms and inform strategies to protect brain health, particularly in the context of dementia and neuro-psychiatric comorbidities associated with organ fibrosis. The project offers interdisciplinary training in neuroimaging, statistical genetics, systems biology, and population data science, preparing you for a research career in academia or industry. You will be supervised by Professor Dorothee Auer (University of Nottingham), Dr Alireza Mohammadinezhad, and Dr Allen Richard (University of Leicester), with opportunities to collaborate across institutions. Funding is provided by the Medical Research Council for four years and includes a stipend, tuition fees (for both home and international students), a laptop allowance, a research training and support grant (£5,000 per annum), and a travel allowance (£300 per annum). Applications are welcome from home, EU, and international candidates, though international recruitment is capped at 30% of the cohort due to funder stipulations. Applicants should have a strong academic background in neuroscience, biology, medical science, genetics, bioinformatics, or data science. Experience or interest in neuroimaging, statistical genetics, or large-scale data analysis is desirable. The application deadline is January 9, 2026. For further information and to apply, visit the MRC AIM website or contact Professor Dorothee Auer for project enquiries. References supporting the project include recent studies on CNS fibroblasts, organ fibrosis and cognitive performance, multi-organ MRI associations, and genetic risk mapping for pulmonary fibrosis. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of genetics, brain health, and disease prevention.