PhD Studentship: Pharmacogenomic Repurposing of Drugs for Treatment-Resistant B-Cell Lymphoma University of Plymouth in United Kingdom

[Full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £19,215 per annum (2025-26 rate; 2026-27 TBC) and £2,500 per annum bench fees for 3 years. International applicants must cover the difference between Home and International tuition fees. No funding for NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa costs, or flights. Fourth year is self-funded for writing-up.]

This PhD studentship at the University of Plymouth offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in pharmacogenomic drug repurposing for treatment-resistant B-cell lymphoma. The project addresses diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a prevalent and aggressive haematological malignancy, where standard therapies like R-CHOP fail in approximately 40% of cases. The research aims to identify and validate FDA-approved drugs as adjunct therapies to improve outcomes for patients with refractory or relapsed DLBCL.

The project employs a hybrid approach, combining wet lab techniques such as high-throughput cell-based screening, flow cytometry, and preclinical treatment models with informatic strategies including data mining, manipulation of large pharmacogenomic datasets, and machine learning using R and Python. Candidate drugs are sourced from previous high-throughput screens, literature, and repositories like GDSC, CellMiner, CTRP, DepMap/PRISM, and PharmacoDB. These drugs are validated as single agents and in synergy assays with R-CHOP components, with prioritization based on in vitro efficacy and clinical plasma concentration comparability. Preclinical testing in mouse models is planned for promising candidates.

The successful candidate will join the Derriford Research Facility, a state-of-the-art environment supporting research in cancer, infection, immunity, and neurodegeneration. Facilities include flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, histology, and experimental animal resources. The student will participate in both laboratory and informatic research, with emphasis tailored to their prior experience.

Funding covers full Home tuition fees, a stipend of £19,215 per annum (2025-26 rate; 2026-27 TBC), and £2,500 per annum bench fees for three years. International applicants must cover the difference between Home and International tuition fees. There is no additional funding for NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa costs, or flights. The fourth year is a self-funded writing-up period.

Eligibility requires a first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or a Masters qualification. Applicants cannot work full time while receiving a PhD stipend. Required application documents include a CV, personal statement, degree certificates and transcripts (interim transcript if still studying), and contact information for two referees. No research proposal is needed. The application deadline is 11 April 2026, with interviews for shortlisted candidates shortly thereafter.

For informal inquiries, contact Dr Anthony Uren at [email protected]. Apply directly via the provided link, ensuring all required documents are included.