NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Newcastle University - Institute for Ageing and Health is offering a MRes/PhD Studentship. The research area will be "The Role of Telomeres and Telomerase Activity in Ageing and Cultivating of Human Limbal Stem Cells".

Duration of the award: 4 years (MRes Medical and Molecular Biosciences followed by a three-year PhD)
Adult stem cells are responsible for lifelong tissue repair and regeneration. However, the regenerative potential of human tissues diminishes with age. Oxidative stress is a major factor that impacts the quality and function of tissues and stem cells in vitro and in vivo.

This project will use limbal epithelium stem cells that regenerate and repair the protective epithelium at the surface of the eye. These stem cells can be damaged in chemical burns to the eye and recently it has been possible to culture and transplantlimbal epithelial stem cells in order to regenerate the corneal epithelia. However, not all transplantations are successful and it is possible that donor age and cellular senescence during culture can impact on success after transplantation.

Telomere length, telomerase activity and oxidative stress are important predictors for proliferative and regenerative capacity as well as functionality of cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesise that these factors could influence the quality and transplantation potential of limbal stem cells. The PhD project will:
a) analyse the influence of the age of the donor on telomere length, telomerase activity and functional properties of limbal stem cells from donors of different ages and characterise b) identify how telomerase levels and  telomere length impact in vitro on the quality and functionality of stem-and progenitor cells during in vitro culture.

A real-time PCR based telomere length assay will be used to determine telomere length. Telomerase will be measured in a functional (TRAP) and a TERT-protein ELISA assay. In addition, real-time PCR for the expression of stem cell typical genes and colony forming assays will be performed.Oxidative stress will be analysed using acute (H2O2) and chronic (hyperoxia) oxidative stress and levels of ROS and mitochondrial parameter will be measured using flow cytometry.

Project start date: September 2010
Eligibility and Value of the Award
Due to funding criteria, this award is only available to UK/EU students. It will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend of approximately L13,290 (2009/10).

Person Specification
You should have, or expect to achieve, a first-class or upper-second-class Honours degree in a relevant subject.

How to Apply
Please complete the University’s online postgraduate application form, selecting ‘Master of Research/Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) – Ageing’ and quoting the reference number IA013. Please attach a copy of your CV and a covering letter to your application.

Closing date for applications: 1 August 2010
Further Information For more details, please contact Dr Gabriele Saretzki, gabriele.saretzki@ncl.ac.uk