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:
SANJEEV GUPTA
School:
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Has project been
agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed
registration school?
Research Centre /
group affiliation:
Y
Research group /
centre website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/pathology/research.html
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/pathology/research.html
DISCIPLINE OF PATHOLOGY
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them
here.
The main focus of research in my group is to evaluate the role of microRNAs in determining cell fate
during conditions of stress. We use a combination of molecular cell biology, transcriptomics,
proteomics and miRNA expression profiling to address specific questions such as
 What is the role of miRNAs in Unfolded Protein Response?
 Does impaired miRNA biogenesis contribute to cancer progression by inhibiting ER stressinduced apoptosis?
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
FUNCTION AND REGULATION OF microRNA BIOGENESIS DURING UNFOLDED PROTEIN RESPONSE
Global downregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a common feature of human tumours. Loss of
miRNA biogenesis has been shown to enhance cancer progression. The several components of
miRNA biogenesis machinery (XPO5, DICER and TRBP) have been shown to act as haploinsufficient
tumour suppressors. How the dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis promotes tumour development is
not clearly understood? Our preliminary data showing resistance to ER stress-induced apoptosis in
dicer mutant cells and significantly altered miRNA expression profile upon exposure to endoplasmic
reticulum (ER) stress conditions underscores a role for miRNAs during ER stress response. The
stressful conditions in the tumour microenvironment, including hypoxia and nutrient deprivation
can activate a range of cellular stress-response pathways. Cellular adaptation to hypoxia occurs
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
through multiple mechanisms, including activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR).
Although the UPR is primarily a pro-survival response, during conditions of unresolved stress, UPR
switches to apoptotic response. We hypothesize that microRNAs influence the cellular response
during conditions of ER stress and down-regulation of miRNA biogenesis may contribute to cancer
progression by inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis in tumour microenvironment. The aims of this
proposal are (i) determine how the loss of miRNA biogenesis attenuates of UPR-induced apoptosis
(ii) functional characterization of UPR-regulated miRNAs. This proposal will provide novel insights
into regulation of UPR signalling by miRNAs and may help in designing new therapeutic modalities
to treat diseases by modulating the UPR.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
Studying high-quality science, delivered in a clinically relevant way at School of Medicine, NUI
Galway will enable postgraduate student to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for
a career in academia. We have a flexible structured-PhD program designed to ensure an excellent
PhD experience. The postgraduate programme will provide broad training in the intellectual and
practical basis of translational cancer research. Postgraduate student will interact directly with Dr
Gupta on daily basis. Throughout all the years student will participate in weekly seminars and
presentations at journal clubs. The student is expected to attend at least one international
conference, where he/she will present the results of his/her research to their peers. At the end of
the PhD study, the student will submit and defend a PhD thesis describing his/her original research
carried out during the course of the PhD studies.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Sanjeev Gupta, PhD
Discipline of Pathology, School of Medicine
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway, Ireland . Email: Sanjeev.gupta@nuigalway.ie
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Medicine, pharmacy, molecular Biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, physiology, cell
biology and genetics.
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fitschoose only one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
Health and Biomedical Sciences
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Biodiversity and Bioprospection
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):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ _Y__
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _Y__
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _Y___