Developing an Injectable Nano-Therapeutic Platform for Osteoporotic Bone Repair Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are the most common complication of osteoporosis. Current treatment involves conventional procedures that inject cement into the vertebrae to stabilise the spine and relieve pain. No reparative treatment exists. This PhD project is part of an exciting European Research Council (ERC) funded project, RESTORE, that will utilise recent advances in the area of advanced manufacturing and 3D-printing to engineer a dual component biomaterial platform, comprising of a 3D-printed biodegradable stent with known degradation rates, and a tuneable design, with a therapeutic injectable hydrogel, with mechanical properties and bioactive composition tailored to regenerate and repair osteoporotic vertebral bone.

This specific PhD project will develop an additively manufactured (AM) stent structure to aid in restoring the structural integrity and function in osteoporosis-damaged bone, combining computational mechanics, material science and bioengineering approaches to produce a 3D printed bio-absorbable stent, with known degradation rates to support early bone regeneration. This is an extremely important and timely clinical topic, which represents a significant burden to healthcare worldwide and is a considerable socio-economic problem. The project will require detailed in silico, in vitro and in vivo assessment of the platforms structural restoration potential, which will include using additive manufacturing approaches to create a polymeric and osteogenic promoting stent that degrades overtime and mechanical characterization of the stent performance during stent degradation.

The successful candidate will be a part of the Murphy Lab within the wider Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), a multi-PI network based at RCSI. This highly dynamic research environment has over 30 early career researchers (including PhD/MSc students and Postdoctoral fellows) and the successful applicant will have a wide opportunity to interact with peers and near-peers of the various groups affiliated with TERG. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to work with our clinical collaborators on the RESTORE project, who will provide invaluable guidance on the development of the RESTORE technology for clinical use.

The successful candidate will also have opportunities to be involved in and to gain hands-on experience in the teaching activities of the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, which include macroscopic anatomy and biology.

Supervisor:

Ciara Murphy ( https://www.rcsi.com/people/profile/ciaramurphy )

Mandatory Specifications:

• Minimum of an Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1) Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Material Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or related disciplines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and a high level of competence in the English language.
• Ability to work independently, to take initiative and discuss/develop and communicate own ideas.

Desirable Specifications:

Material Sciences, Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering background

Applications:

To apply, please access the following link and complete the application form in full: https://forms.office.com/e/58CzKZSbsd

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback to applicants.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

At this stage only successful candidates will be contacted to submit CV, transcripts and other relevant documentation.

For successful candidates, referees will also be contacted at this stage for a reference.

Applications must include:

• a completed application form
• English language requirements – see https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements .

All applications must be made online by 31/01/2025

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure the application form is completed in full and on time. Late and/or incomplete applications will not normally be assessed.

Duration: 4 year PhD

Application Deadline: 31/01/2025

Shortlisting: 14/02/2025

Interviews: 21/02/2025 (Virtual interviews available)

Start Date: 01/03/2025

Further information on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland can be found here: https://www.rcsi.com/