Postgraduate research opportunities Sex difference in right ventricular fibrosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Tuesday 8 February 2022
- Number of places: One
- Duration: Three years
Overview
More females develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than males. However, female PAH patients have better right ventricular (RV) function including less fibrosis and as a result better survival than the males. The mechanism for the sex-dependent RV fibrosis is not well studied and this project will investigate the underlying mechanism to gain better knowledge and develop therapeutic strategies for PAH.Eligibility
Applicants should have a degree in biology, medicine or a chemistry related subject.
The project is suitable for fully-funded students, self-funded students, joint supervision with international institutions or places of work, PhD plus.
Project Details
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal and rapidly progressive disease that ultimately leads to right ventricular (RV) failure and death. RV function is the major determinant of prognosis in PAH, but no effective therapy directly targets the RV in PAH. One important fact is that there is a sex paradox in the epidemiology of PAH: although PAH occurs two-four folds more frequently in women than men, women with PAH have better RV function and thus survival than men. Better RV function in female PAH patients is associated with less RV fibrosis. However, the sex-dependent RV fibrosis in PAH is not well studied. Such sex difference is thought to be linked to sex hormones, especially estrogen.
This project will investigate the underlying mechanism for the sex-dependent RV fibrosis in PAH with the goal of identifying promising therapeutic targets and developing treatment strategies for PAH.
Further information
A bench fee of £12,000 per year is required.
Apply
Please apply via the PhD Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences course page.
Number of places: One
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