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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by
27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
Dr. Leo Quinlan (leo.quinlan@nuigalway.ie)
School:
Medicine
Research Centre / group affiliation: Cellular Physiology and Network of Excellence for
Functional Biomaterials
Research group / centre website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/physiology/leo_quinlan.html
PI website / link to CV:
Dr. Leo Quinlan is a lecturer and principle investigator in the discipline of Physiology at NUI
Galway. At NUI Galway he has supervised a number of postdoctoral researcher fellows and
5 doctoral dissertations. Dr. Quinlan’s research programme is focused on epithelial biology
in a variety of organ systems. He has to date published 10 papers in high-impact factor
publications with a publication.
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
A biomaterials approach to treatment of overactive urinary bladder targeting purinergic
signaling pathways.
Brief PhD Project Description:
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic debilitating condition of unknown cause that significantly
affects patient’s quality of life. This condition is characterised by a loss of bladder barrier
function leading a chronic inflammatory response. Depletion of the epithelial
glycosaminoglycan lining of the bladder leads to activation of the neuro/endocrine
pathways resulting in hyperactivation of bladder afferents and windup in the spinal cord
leading to pain and inflammation. Current treatments aim to repair / replace the
glycosaminoglycan layer but do not address the root of pain and reflex muscle activation. A
potential therapeutic target in this regard are purinoceptors (ATP receptors), known to be
unregulated in bladder inflammation. The researcher will use the available IC animal model
to investigate the purinoceptor pathway activity and the potential of delivering pathway
specific agent using a biomaterials base. It is envisaged that this project will have significant
clinical impact in symptom management and quality of life of IC patients.
Keywords
biomaterials, urology, inflammation, bladder,
Purinoceptors.
Cystitis, clinical applications, ATP,
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
This project is a collaboration between the cellular Physiology group and the Network of
Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB) research group under the directorship of Prof.
Abhay Pandit. The focus of NFB is on the design of innovative functionalised biomaterial
constructs for targeted site-specific multi-modal delivery of biomolecules. Functionality for
these biomaterial platforms is achieved through custom chemistries which facilitate the
attachment of surface tethered moieties or encapsulated therapeutic factors including
drugs, genes, cells, growth factors, hormones and other active agents to specific target sites
whose efficacy are tested in validated animal models. The NFB is an academic-industryclinician partnership with the necessary translational machinery to facilitate translation of
technologies developed to the clinic and market as speedily as possible.
The candidate will have the opportunity to join a rapidly developing team of scientists in the
area of biomaterials with applications in bladder biology. The candidate will work closely
with academic staff and lead postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Peadar Rooney.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
As above
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
The ideal candidate would have a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical science or
neurscience, or a related subject. A Master’s degree would be a distinct advantage.
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): Y _
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): N _____