Allied Health and Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences
School of Allied Health and Life Sciences
PhD Scholarships – Tuition Fee Waiver
The School of Allied Health and Life Sciences is offering 21 PhD Scholarships which cover tuition fees for up to four years. Applications are invited from candidates with a strong background in research methods and a keen interest in the relevant research topics.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are looking for excellent candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Open to both UK and international applicants. The programme starts in September 2025.
- The candidate must meet the minimum entry requirements for one of our PhD courses:
- PhD Human Sciences
- PhD Psychology
- PhD Allied Health Professions
- PhD Health Studies
- Previous research experience in bioscience, forensic science, sports science, psychology, public health and allied health, as relevant to the project topic.
- Knowledge of research methods relevant to the research project.
- IT skills: proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel is essential.
- Communication skills: the candidate should be highly motivated, able to collaborate effectively, and possess strong visual, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to present research outcomes to commercial, industrial, and academic audiences.
- Teamwork and collaboration: ability to work effectively with academic supervisors, research participants, and other students.
Training & Development Opportunities
Doctoral students at London South Bank University (LSBU), through the London Doctoral College (LDC), benefit from a rich and structured training environment designed to support academic excellence and professional development. All PhD candidates are offered a comprehensive programme of workshops and seminars covering essential research skills, including research design, data analysis, academic writing, ethics, and project management. These sessions aim to support students through every stage of their doctoral journey—from literature review and methodology to thesis completion and viva preparation. Postgraduate researchers can access advanced, discipline-specific training aligned with their research focus. LSBU’s doctoral training environment is designed to build deep expertise in a chosen research area and the broader skills necessary for successful careers in research, industry, and beyond.
The School of Allied Health and Life Sciences has a vibrant research environment!
How to apply:
- Before you begin the application process, make sure you familiarise yourself with the requirements of the application process.
- Please identify a research project of your interest in the table below.
- To apply, please submit a 1,000-word Research Proposal which addresses the Project Description via the official LSBU application platform.
- In addition to the Research Proposal, you will need to submit your CV and additional documents as detailed in the course pages above.
- When you apply, please quote the full reference number of the relevant research project, for example CSP1/AHLS/ PhD Human Sciences – the reference number is available in the first column of the table below.
- Selected candidates will be invited to an online interview.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all places are filled, so early application is strongly encouraged to secure your spot. International applicants are responsible for their visa costs and CAS insurance.
- If you have questions, about specific projects, please email the indicated supervisors
Reference number | Project title and supervisors | Project description and additional requirements |
CSP1/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences | Adaptational responses of an ankle joint ligament to cyclic strain-based training and relevance to injury prevention and rehabilitation Dr Darren James | Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries across the general population and particularly in sport. In most sprain cases, the outer side of the ankle is affected usually by a tear in one particular ligament – the anterior-talofibular ligament (ATFL). Expensive diagnostic technologies can diagnose ligament injury and give some indication of the tissue’s health during rehabilitation; however, these fall short in being able to quantify mechanical behaviour (e.g., strain), which is an important consideration for injury prevention and effective rehabilitation. Ongoing PhD research at LSBU has developed a stress-imaging arthrometry method to assess ATFL strain and demonstrated its validity. We have also shown significant strain differences between the healthy and injured ATFL in response to mechanical loading and more recently identified an optimal ankle position which elicits the highest strain during voluntary movement. In total, four manuscripts are expected from this current period of PhD training. A new period of PhD training will extend this work and investigate whether ligament resistance to mechanical loading can be enhanced via training; and if so, what is the threshold for effective exercise-related adaptive changes? Specifically, the proposed PhD program will implement a 12wk training protocol on healthy participants to demonstrate adaptational responses of ATFL. This protocol will be shared with another proposed PhD project (Dr. Epro) as part of a wider research area on soft tissue injury. The project will then collaborate with a private foot and ankle clinic and recruit patients reporting lateral ankle sprain injury. We hope to show that the insidious nature of this injury can be reversed and also identify the extent of the adaptation with respect to time since injury. The over-arching ambition of this research area is to provide the Orthopaedic community with a cost-effective and practical solution to predict and manage ankle sprain injury. |
CSP2/AHLS/PhD Allied Health Professions | National scoping study and gap analysis of Allied Health Professional Clinical Academics, their educational pathways and clinical service demands. Professor Adele Stewart-Lord
| Academic (ICA) Bridging Schemes - Internships, Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral schemes since 2021 and more recently the NIHR INSIGHT South London Programme was awarded in April 2024. There is little evidence that demonstrates the career trajectories of clinical academics and their progression within the NHS. This study will explore these career options for AHPs at national level. Project aim: Identify challenges, expectations and opportunities within the AHP Clinical Academic workforce to meet current and future clinical service need. Objectives: 1. Scope current and future service need in the existing AHP Clinical Academic workforce. 2. Scope current national post registration education, and future education provision requirements |
CSP3/AHLS/PhD Psychology | Understanding the Reward Value of Vaped Nicotine and Associations with Neurodiversity to Inform Vaping Cessation Strategy in the UK Dr Catherine Kimber
| Vaping continues to make a unique contribution to tobacco harm reduction; the latest Cochrane review reports higher quit rates with the use of nicotine vapes compared to nicotine replacement therapies (Lindson et al., 2025). However, the rapid surge in vaping amongst never-smokers, particularly in young people (Jackson et al. 2024), have led to growing concerns and a government ban in disposable vapes. Research that informs vaping cessation programmes is a key priority for Cancer Research UK. Unlike smoking, relatively little is known about what drives vaping behaviours and how this is associated with the nicotine content or individual differences amongst vapers. Nicotine smoked has benefits, e.g. improved cognitive performance (Rycroft et al, 2005; Heishman et al., 2010), enhanced mood (Cosci et al. 2014), improved experience of sensory rewards (Perkins et al. 2019, Rycroft et al. 2025). Smoking prevalence and higher dependency are more common amongst people who experience attentional difficulties (van Amsterdam et al. 2018) and low mood (Mathew et al. 2017). Very few studies to date have focused on whether vaped nicotine can confer the same perceived benefits. This PhD will use methods that are well-established to measure the reward value of a range of drugs or sensory experiences in humans (Stoops et al. 2005, Perkins et al. 2019, Rycroft et al. 2025). The objective nature of these measures allows for a clear interpretation of whether rewards have greater value under specific circumstances (e.g. presence or absence of nicotine in vapes) or by people who may be using vapes for different reasons (e.g. for the cognitive and mood-enhancing effects of nicotine). The findings from this PhD programme will contribute to the development of targeted regulatory measures to inform smoking and vaping cessation treatment, which has the potential to improve the lives of these groups with special needs, a key LSBU sustainable development goal. |
CSP4/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences | "Viral Killing and Eradication Using Activated Ceramic Nanoparticles: A Targeted Approach"?
Dr Claire Atkinson
| Over half the world's population is infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) for life. Our immune system controls but does not eliminate this virus. Consequently, CMV is problematic in individuals with sub-optimal immune function e.g. immune suppressed organ transplant patients. Worldwide, over 100,000 transplants are performed yearly. Therefore this virus has a significant health, societal and economic burden and led to the US national institute of medicine to designate CMV highest priority for a vaccine. However it should be noted that there are certain patient groups who have defects in their immune systems which prevents them from being able to make immune responses - even against vaccines. Exciting studies in cancer treatment have suggested that you can modify antibodies with nanoparticles which allows you to use usually harmless electromagnetic waves to find and destroy cancer cells specifically. This project builds on a current collaboration with Professor Steve Dunn (LSBU) and Dr Matthew Reeves (UCL) and will build on pioneering vaccine and cytomegalovirus studies performed by Dr Claire Atkinson. We aim to investigate whether we can modify this as an approach to kill virally infected cells in the lab using CMV targeted antibodies, with a view of potential application in vivo and targeting other viruses/diseases. The project will use a model culture system to test different antibodies to determine nanoparticle killing efficacy. |
CSP5/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Understanding the Gender Gap in Thermoregulation during Exercise Dr Freya Bayne
| Thermoregulation plays an essential role in our ability to perform exercise and physical activity, yet sex-based differences remain underexplored. Women experience hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, which may influence thermoregulatory responses, including sweat rate, skin blood flow, thermal discomfort and core temperature regulation. Additionally, health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and menopause may further impact thermoregulation and physical activity participation. Despite growing interest in female-specific psychophysiology, much of the existing literature remains male-centric, leading to a gap in evidence-based strategies for optimizing and promoting physical activity in women. Therefore this PhD aims to: (1) Investigate how different menstrual cycle phases affect thermoregulatory responses and exercise tolerance, (2) Examine the influence of conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis on thermoregulation and exercise tolerance, (3) Compare thermoregulatory differences between males and females to quantify the gender gap in heat regulation, (4) Develop evidence-based recommendations to improve physical activity experiences and performance for women in hot environment. |
CSP6/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Modelling Animal Receptors Which Detect Seismic Cues (MARCS) Dr Rachel Grant
| Numerous reports suggest that animals anticipate seismic events such as earthquakes and tsunamis from hours to weeks beforehand, but to date there is less information on the sensory mechanisms which these species may be using and the exact stimuli they are responding to. Animals’ sensory systems vary considerably in the types of stimuli they are able to detect and make use of, e.g. magnetic fields, infrasound and seismic vibrations are used for a variety of purposes including navigation, homing and communication. Possible environmental inputs include positively charged ions, magnetic field shifts, total electron content fluctuations, ground vibrations and infrasound. The proposed project is a theoretical study of animal receptors to model the thresholds, stimulus types, frequencies and magnitudes of incoming information from the environment and how this is transduced into behavioural or physiological anomalies via receptors and neural pathways. This information will link, for the first time, the neuroscience of several animal taxa to possible seismic cues in the environment in order to help elucidate and understand potential pathways. Furthermore, the student will use existing experimental setups at LSBU (ants, established using the “Expanding Collaborations” internal fund) to investigate the responses of ants to various simulated seismic cues such as ULF EM waves and positive ions. The outputs of the project will be a mathematical model describing how those receptors pick up seismic signals e.g. frequency and amplitude ranges of vibrations, which will be of use to future researchers to inform them of viable fieldwork approaches. The second main output will be a database of responses of ants to various stimuli, made available through publications in academic journals and the public domain. |
CSP7/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Investigating the anti-leukemic activities of bioactive peptides and their underlying mechanisms of action. Dr Ruth Gyereh
| Background: Despite advances in cancer treatments, improving long-term survival rates for leukaemia patients and mitigating the side effects of traditional chemotherapy remain significant challenges. This necessitates the search for novel compounds and innovative therapies (Arber et al.,2016). The exploration of therapeutic potential of bioactive peptides (BAPs) as anticancer agents presents a promising avenue that merits further investigation (Christoffersen et al., 2009). BAPs are a promising group of compounds sourced naturally and known to display diverse bioactivities. Aim: Over five novel bioactive peptides, including 2912, QUB-2712, QUB-2392, and QUB-2684, have been isolated from frog skin secretions, though their anticancer effects on leukaemia cell lines remain unexplored. This project aims to investigate the anti-leukemic properties of these novel bioactive peptides and elucidate the mechanisms of action (MOA). Proposed methodology: This will be achieved using molecular techniques including proliferation assays, Western blotting, flow cytometry, proteomics and gene profiling. The initial studies will establish the cytotoxic effects of the novel peptides against different human leukaemia cell lines by cytotoxic screening assays. Further, the study will elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action of the selected peptides. Hypothesis: This study hypothesizes that bioactive peptides will exhibit anticancer activities. Expected outcome: The study explores the anti-leukemic potential of novel bioactive peptides, aiming to advance targeted therapies with improved efficacy and fewer side effects. The findings could enhance treatment options for leukaemia patients and lay the foundation for future preclinical and clinical developments. This study aims to investigate the anti-leukemic properties of these peptides and their underlying mechanisms of action. |
CSP8/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Unravelling the crosstalk between pathological pathways in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanism and therapeutic potential of nutraceutical interventions on Neurons. Dr. Neha S Tomar
| Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Around 982,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK. Neurodegeneration research has become a critical area of focus, earning increasing attention from governmental bodies due to its growing significance in public health. Between 2010 and 2020, UK government funding for dementia research increased from £28.2 million to £104.7 million annually. By team efforts of researchers and charities, public awareness and willingness to participate in dementia-related medical research has increased, with two-thirds of UK adults expressing readiness to engage in such studies. Despite extensive research, the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms driving AD pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, limiting the development of effective and target specific therapeutic strategies. This project will aim to explore the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration in AD by focusing on three critical pathological processes: abnormal autophagy, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, which plays vital role in maintenance of healthy neuronal functioning. This research will aim to dissect the intricate crosstalk between pathological mechanisms (autophagy, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress) and their collective role in AD progression. Advanced molecular and cellular techniques, including transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, live-cell imaging, and in vitro AD models, will be employed to unravel the underlying mechanism of neurodegeneration. By identifying key regulatory pathways and potential therapeutic targets, this study aspires to contribute to the development of innovative treatment strategies that can mitigate disease progression. To achieve the research goal, co-culture and 3D cell culture model of neuronal cells will be established to identify the role of pathological mechanisms when treated with nutraceuticals. This knowledge will be instrumental in designing novel pharmacological and gene-based interventions aimed at restoring cellular homeostasis, thereby improving clinical outcomes for AD patients. |
CSP9/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Novel Mechanisms Underlying Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors-Related Diabetes and Resistance in Cancer Treatment.
Professor Eiman Abdel Aleem
| Background: The immune system relies on T cells to fight cancer, with T cell activity controlled by immune checkpoints, including Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, PD-L1. These checkpoints inhibit T cells from eliminating cancer cells. Overexpression of PD-L1 by cancer cells allows immune escape, making PD-1/PD-L1 blockade a successful strategy in cancer treatment. However, clinical trials of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have been hampered by treatment resistance, and by diabetes. IGF-1R is implicated in treatment resistance and insulin receptor in diabetes. Understanding how PD-1/PD-L1 interacts with insulin receptor (IR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in cancer is critical for overcoming these issues. Based on preliminary findings from our lab. we hypothesize that the PD-L1-IR/IGF-1R interaction is responsible for treatment resistance and diabetes. Aims and objectives: The project's main goal is to characterize the PD-L1 interaction with IR/IGF-1R in breast cancer and its role in treatment resistance and diabetes. This will be accomplished through three objectives: Work packages: 1. Objective1/WP1: Identification of in-situ PDL-1-IR/IGF-1R binding in cancer cell lines and tissue sections using proximity ligation assays. 2. Objective2/WP2: Identification of putative binding sites of PDL-1 with IR/IGF-1R using proteomic, computational methods and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to mutate these sites to identify the essential ones. 3. Objective3/WP3: In silico screening for inhibitors that disrupt these interactions followed by validation through drug screening and mechanistic studies. Significance: This research will provide insights into treatment resistance and diabetes induction in cancer immunotherapy, potentially leading to new drug targets and strategies to prevent diabetes in patients undergoing PD-L1 inhibition. |
CSP10/AHLS/PhD Health Studies |
An Ethnographic Study of an Organisational response to Serious Youth Violence: Exploring the Micro-Mechanisms of Public Health Approach Implementation
Dr Felicity Morrow
| Serious youth violence (SYV) is an increasing concern in the UK, attracting growing media attention, particularly regarding knife crime. While overall crime rates continue to decline, SYV has been on the rise, with data indicating that both offenders and victims are becoming younger (Youth Endowment Fund, 2025). A public health approach acknowledges that SYV stems from a complex interplay of factors operating across different levels, including societal, community, relationships, and individual influences (Public Health England, 2019; Irwin-Rogers et al., 2020). Furthermore, a public health approach is an established approach to violence reduction which has generated significant and lasting reductions in SYV across cities such as Glasgow, Cardiff and Chicago. Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST) South Bank has been conducting an evaluation of Lambeth Made Safer which is a ten-year strategy adopting a public health approach to reduce SYV in Lambeth. The preliminary findings indicate a number of evidence gaps, for example, there is limited evidence capturing the delivery of sport programmes in Lambeth, despite their reported high impact in reducing SYV involvement. This proposed doctoral research aims build on the findings of the PHIRST evaluation by focusing in on these evidence gaps. It will also leverage established connections within the local authority and community to potentially facilitate access to a suitable data collection site and support with the development of a PPIE group. This ethnographic research would explore a community-based organisation which works to reduce and prevent SYV. The researcher would be embedded within the organisation, conducting observations, interviews, and artifact analysis in relation to their daily work (Emerson, Fretz & Shaw, 2001). This approach enables a "thick description" (Geertz, 1973, p10) of public health approach implementation mechanisms at a micro level, capturing individual actions within their situated context. Ethnography has been chosen for its ability to go beyond interview accounts, capturing the actual work being done through direct observation. An organisational ethnography will explore the lived experience of those accessing services and the professionals who support them, unpicking what works at this micro level. Given evidence that gender shapes experiences of violence, this PhD could further refine its focus by examining gender-specific interventions. |
CSP11/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Effects of ageing on neuromechanical coupling within mono- and bi-articular skeletal muscles and their adaptability to mechanical loading
Dr Gaspar Epro
| Human locomotion is controlled by a complex system of motors, e.g. muscles that cross either over single or multiple joints via tendons which transmit muscle generated forces to the skeletal system causing movement. The ankle joint, the primary origin of mechanical power and work for human locomotion, is synergistically controlled mainly by mono-articular soleus and bi-articular gastrocnemius muscles. These anatomical differences between these muscles directly affect the conditions for optimal performance based on the force-length relationship and can influence their adaptability to increased mechanical loading (e.g. exercise). Inhomogeneous adaptation within the muscle-tendon unit is primarily caused by the discrepancies in the adaption time course between muscle and tendon, however also imbalance in force production between the synergistic muscles has been suggested as another factor for the development of different pathological conditions. Taking into consideration that ageing is related to various degenerative changes in the neuromuscular system, it could affect also the coupling between activation and force-generating capacity (i.e. neuromechanical coupling). The proposed PhD project aims to investigate the neuromechanical coupling within mono- and bi-articular ankle plantar flexor muscles in young healthy adults, and whether it is disrupted due to ageing. Further, a 12-week resistance exercise will be performed to investigate whether the neuromechanical coupling within the triceps surae muscle is disrupted along the exercise period and hence increase the risk for musculoskeletal injuries. The proposed plantarflexion exercise intervention is closely linked to another proposed PhD project (Dr. Darren James) in the field of ligament tissue adaptation and injury prevention highlighting the interdisciplinary approach of the proposed investigation. The overall aim of the project is to improve our knowledge whether potential disruptions in neuromechanical coupling within the triceps surae play a role in the aetiology of different pathological conditions. |
CSP12/AHLS/PhD Health Studies |
The role of anti-racism in shaping upstream interventions to prevent serious youth violence: a case study
Dr Jessica T. Oha
| Violence is a public health (PH) issue: different forms share risk and protective factors, with consequences negatively impacting health and wellbeing. A PH approach to violence focusses in part, on prevention, with successful implementation in the USA, Scotland, Wales and elsewhere. UK Serious Youth Violence (SYV) is unequal: in 2023, highest rates were in London (25% of 13 to17-year-olds were victims), more than double rates in South-East England. Disproportionality in likely victims exist: 35% of homicide victims (16-24-years-old) identified as Black, over six times their population share (YEF, 2023). Due to these disproportionate outcomes - amplified in London whose population is the most ethnically diverse region in England and Wales (ONS, 2021) – understanding anti-racist approaches to preventative SYV interventions (e.g., sports and parenting programmes) is of importance and aligns with LSBU’s civic commitment to real-world research with impact. This PhD proposes a multi-centre case study to identify: (1) Aspects of anti-racism in upstream SYV interventions; and (2) Affective mechanisms (e.g., early socialisation), towards defining an anti-racist approach to SYV prevention and understanding how it produces change. This will contribute to the operationalisation of a debated principle which currently doesn’t have a clear definition and framework as applied to SYV, unlike the established PH approach. This study builds on the work of PHIRST South Bank, whose evaluation of Lambeth Council’s 10-year strategy to reduce SYV – for which I’m Principle Investigator – explores the role of an anti-racist approach in strategy development and implementation. It revealed strong commitment to the approach, but lack of clarity as to its definition, effecting implementation. Through this evaluation, we’ve built links with organisations delivering upstream SYV interventions (e.g., Race Equality Foundation), the Council, Health Determinants Research Collaboration unit and local community groups. These connections will facilitate multi-stakeholder PPIE and study participant recruitment, engagement and potential local implementation. |
CSP13/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Development of a 3D-Bioprinted Ulcerative Colitis Model for Improved Clinical Translation of Treatment Efficacy
Dr Julia Mantaj
| Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease of the colon and rectum and a lifelong condition involving inflammation of the gut. Despite the progress made in UC treatment, a significant proportion of UC patients do not respond to treatment leading to poor disease outcomes. More than 60% of UC patients show an inadequate or no response to their therapy. This treatment failure is mainly attributed to the lack of available human-relevant preclinical models that precisely mimic the in vivo disease. Major in vitro models utilised to investigate intestinal bioavailability and toxicity of drugs are 2D monolayers consisting of cancerous colorectal cells (e.g., Caco-2, HT-29). They are fast and inexpensive tools for providing insights into the bioavailability of drugs but lack the architecture of the native intestine and thus fail to mimic the complexity of the human intestinal physiology resulting in poor prediction of drug candidates in the drug development process. Therefore, this project aims to develop a 3D-bioprinted model for UC that mirrors the villi and crypt structures of the human colon and rectum as a tool to evaluate the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs on intestinal barrier function. In brief, 3D-bioprinting will be used to generate UC-like constructs with human-derived colorectal cells. Various techniques such as rheology, scanning electron microscopy, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction and confocal microscopy will be utilised to characterise cell-containing constructs and evaluate their barrier function. Anti-inflammatory drugs effective in treating UC and those that have no effect in UC treatment will be tested in the 3D-bioprinted constructs. The data obtained will be compared to existing 2D models (e.g., Caco-2, HT-29). Our human-relevant 3D-printed model of UC will have greater disease complexity and function compared to standard in vitro models and hence the potential to significantly improve the translation of preclinical drug testing into the clinic. |
CSP14/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Muscle-Strengthening - the ‘Forgotten Guideline’: Overcoming Barriers to Resistance Training in Middle-Aged Women
Dr Lisa Zaidell
| Increasing physical activity (PA) levels is a global health priority. PA is vital for healthy ageing, yet women participate less than men, with levels declining at mid-life. Combined with menopause, this increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis, making mid-life a critical intervention point. Resistance-training (RT) is known to lead to morpho-functional improvements of the musculoskeletal system to counteract the ill-effects of ageing, even in postmenopausal women. Despite this, only ~12% of middle-aged women engage in RT. Outcomes of RT are directly related to workload (i.e. intensity) however, high-intensity training can reduce adherence in women. Manipulating other training variables (e.g. time-under-tension, rest duration, volume) may optimise adaptations—yet this remains under-explored, with existing RT prescription based on male-focused research. This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of different RT protocols on health and function in middle-aged women. Aligned with the Stages of Change model, it will explore barriers/preferences for RT, alongside physiological responses, to inform RT prescription and public health policy, supporting increased engagement in women. This research consists of three interrelated studies using literature review, mixed methods, and experimental designs.
This multi-phase approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of RT engagement and effectiveness in middle-aged women. |
CSP15/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Computational targeting of S100B-P53 interaction as a strategy to restore p53 function in S100B-overexpressing cancers. Dr Mohammed Mansour
| P53 is a well-known tumour suppressor protein which plays a crucial role in regulating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis (programmed cell death), and DNA repair. In certain malignancies (e.g., malignant melanoma), the calcium-binding protein S100B binds to p53, inhibiting its tumour suppressive activities, thereby promoting tumour progression. This PhD project aims to screen 2016 FDA-approved drugs to explore novel inhibitor compounds able to disrupt the S100B-p53 interaction to restore p53 function in S100B-overexpressing cancers. Our approach will employ a combination of advanced computational tools for modelling of S100B-p53 interaction, screening FDA-approved drugs and molecular docking and dynamic simulation. In addition, we will evaluate the impact of candidate inhibitors using cellular assays to confirm binding specificity, functional restoration of p53 activity and regulation of p53 target gene expression. This research aligns with the aims of the Cancer Biology and Therapy research group at LSBU, to identify novel compounds which may provide the basis for future drug development against aggressive cancers such as melanoma. |
CSP16/AHLS/PhD Psychology |
Evaluating the Effect of MeNtal Health First AiD on Help-SEeking BehAViOurs of VeteRans: ENDEAVOR
Dr Ope Atanda
| Rates of mental ill-health among veterans appear to persist or increase over time, despite evidence that psychological approaches are effective in treating mental distress. Furthermore, while there has been a rise in the use of mental health services by military personnel, up to 50% of veterans do not seek help. Barriers to help-seeking for mental health issues include veterans’ negative attitudes towards help-seeking generally, their desire to manage problems themselves, lack of confidence in treatment success, lack of knowledge about treatment options and eligibility and concerns about judgement and discrimination. Psychological resilience is instilled and valued in military culture. Service personnel are trained and expected to cope with their emotions alone, consequently creating a stigma that anyone ‘seeking help’ for mental ill-health is weak, a failure and socially undesirable. Mental health literacy education is one approach to tackling barriers to help-seeking and increasing knowledge about treatment options. A widely used programme is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). In the armed forces community, participants receiving MHFA training reported increased knowledge about mental health and enhanced confidence and aptitude in identifying and supporting people with mental health problems. However, the effectiveness of MHFA in increasing help-seeking among veterans has yet to be investigated. An embedded mixed-methods design comprising a two-arm cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) with nested process and qualitative evaluations, preceded by a pilot study to test the study’s methods. Veterans attending breakfast clubs across the UK will be randomly allocated to the intervention (MHFA) or control arm (Peer support) after baseline measures have been taken, using computer-generated random numbers. The primary outcome measure 3 months post-intervention is veterans’ help-seeking behaviour measured by the Actual Help-Seeking Questionnaire [AHSQ]. Data will also be collected at 6-months and one-year follow-ups, with the project ending after two years. MHFA in increasing help-seeking among veterans has yet to be investigated. |
CSP17/AHLS/PhD Psychology |
Development of A Scale to Measure Rejection Sensitivity in close relationships Dr Preethi Premkumar
| Introduction Social rejection is common in different types of human interaction, such as between adolescent peers, on social media, and in families, educational and work settings. Sensitivity to rejection is linked to various psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and interpersonal conflict. Yet, an effective measure of rejection sensitivity (RS) in close relationships remains elusive. Downey and Feldman (1996; https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.70.6.1327) conceptualized Rejection Sensitivity (RS) as a cognitive affective processing disposition to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to rejection. Response to perceived rejection includes hostility, dejection, emotional withdrawal, and jealousy and inappropriate attempts to control the significant other’s behaviour. Besides, rejection sensitive individuals perceive and express relationship insecurity in close relationships. Aim The aim of the PhD is to develop a reliable and valid scale to measure RS in close relationships. Methodology Study 1 (Qualitative research design): data will be collected through interviews from 20 participants who are sensitive to rejection as measured by the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman). Participants will be interviewed. A thematic analysis will develop an initial pool of items, including 20-30 statements that include three RS dimensions, namely cognitive, behavioural and emotional. Study 2 (Survey-based design): A survey comprising the self-designed RS in Close Relationships scale, the ARSQ and other measures of social anxiety, depression anxiety and aggression will be administered to 500 participants in the general population. Factorial analysis will be used to study the factor structure of the RS in Close Relationships scale and its validity. Study 3 (Experimental design): The final version of the RS in Close Relationships scale will be used to asses’ participants from different demographic backgrounds. Participants will take part in a virtual-reality intervention for building relationships (Premkumar et al., 2024; https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1467141) to understand how RS influences social interactions in a virtual-reality environment. References Downey G, & Feldman SI (1996). Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1327-1343. Premkumar, P., Heym, N., Myers, J.A.C., Formby, P., Battersby, S., Sumich, A.L., Brown, D. J. (2024). Augmenting self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy for social anxiety with biofeedback: a randomised controlled trial. Frontier in Psychiatry: Psychological Therapy and Psychosomatics, 15, 1467141.
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CSP18/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences |
Recovery of DNA from latent Ear prints
Dr Rachel Bajwa
| Within Forensic Science the use of ear print evidence has emerged as a valuable tool in offering a method for identifying individuals based on the unique patterns found within ear prints. The development of the Forensic Ear Identification (FearID) system evaluates the strength of ear print evidence obtained at crime scenes (Alberink et al, 2007). Research in the area has focused on the classification and individualisation of ear prints (Meijerman et al 2004). The Mark Dallagher case ([2002] EWCA Crim 1903) highlighted the reliability of ear prints as evidence is still not regarded as established. DNA evidence was presented in the retrial that suggested the ear print could not have come from Dallagher, but recovery of DNA evidence from ear prints and its potential contamination from other sources is an area which is yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study seeks to fill a critical gap in forensic research by systematically examining the recovery of DNA from latent ear prints and conditions that impact the integrity of DNA recovery. The project aims to enhance the reliability and accuracy of ear print evidence analysis, thereby contributing to the broader field of forensic identification. This research will involve controlled laboratory experiments, analysis of DNA degradation, and the development of optimised recovery techniques. The study will also investigate the impact of various extreme conditions on the quantity of DNA obtained at the quantification stage of the DNA profiling process. Objectives
The results from the study would establish a methodology applicable to a more in-depth project looking recovery and enhancement of ear print evidence, linking the observed changes in recovery technique performance with DNA recovery. |
CSP19/AHLS/PhD Health Studies |
Occupational identity and the impact on health and wellbeing for older members of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities.
Dr Rebecca Swenson
| Occupational identity is a concept which considers how the engagement in activities is the primary way in which an individual both develops and expresses their identity and how an inability to engage in such occupations impacts identity and fundamentally one’s health and wellbeing (Christiansen, 1999). The engagement in meaningful occupations can help an individual manage challenging transitions in life such as aging or within the context of the LGBTQ+ communities, ‘coming out’. It is estimated that there are over 1 million adults aged over 55 who identify as LGBTQ+ living in the UK (Age UK, 2025). People within this demographic may have come out decades previously and helped secure the rights enjoyed by younger generations or may have just come out and self - and publicly - identified as a member of the LGBTQ+ communities. Such declaration of one’s identity can be liberating and joyful, however, older LGBTQ+ people can face stigma stemming from homophobia, transphobia and/or sexism that is compounded with ageism. This dynamic could influence where and how an individual may engage in meaningful occupations that allow an expression of self and as such significantly impact health and wellbeing. On a global scale, the rights of LGBTQ+ communities are under threat, and it is a demographic which is facing increasing levels of hate crimes. As such, research into how and where older LGBTQ+ people feel safe to express themselves through what they do and where they go is timely. The research will recognise the intersectionality of identity and encourage use of innovative approaches such as walking interviews to help better understand the transactional impact of environment and occupations on the notion of self. Acknowledging the ethos of ‘nothing about us without us’ it would be aimed to have an advisory committee made up of diverse LGBTQ+ individuals. Age UK (2025) Available at: LGBT+ rights for older people in partnership | Age UK (Accessed 04.03.2025) Christiansen, C.H. (1999) Defining lives: Occupation as identity: An essay on competence, coherence and the creation of meaning, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53 (6), pp. 547-558. |
CSP20/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences
| Developing targeted therapies for MAF-dependent multiple myeloma dependent Dr Valentina S Caputo Galarce
| Multiple myeloma is a cancer characterized by the malignant transformation of terminally differentiated plasma cells responsible to produce antibodies. About 50% of multiple myeloma patients exhibit chromosomal translocations that enhance the expression of oncogenes. As a result of the t(14:6) translocation, the MAF transcription factor is overexpressed, becoming a myeloma initiating and maintenance event. Our research has shown that the unique relationship between the plasma cell identity-defining transcription factor IRF4 and the oncogenic MAF are fundamental for myeloma progression. Understanding and targeting this t(4:6)-specific protein-protein interaction will allow us to predict and validate targeted therapies. Molecular modelling studies have simulated the interaction between both transcription factors, identifying contact regions and predicting key amino acids involved in them. These studies also suggest potential inhibitors of the protein-protein interaction. The objectives of this project are:
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CSP21/AHLS/PhD Human Sciences
| Bioengineering of bacterial spores for the development of the next generation of bacterial spore vaccine platform (InertSporoBeads).
Dr Joaquin Caro Astorga caroastj@lsbu.ac.uk
| Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted urgent global needs for scalable, thermostable, and easily deployable vaccines. Existing vaccine modalities, including mRNA and protein subunit vaccines, are constrained by cold chain requirements, manufacturing complexity, and costs for undeveloped countries. B. subtilis is a non-pathogenic, GRAS-status organism whose spores are robust, inexpensive to produce, and naturally suited for antigen anchoring on any of the multiple spore coat proteins. However, existing Bacterial Spore Surface Display (BSSD) vaccines have not reached clinical commercialization due to suboptimal immunogenicity, and regulatory concerns related to the release of genetically modified organisms due to the germination of the spores. Aim: Next generation of bacterial spore antigen display using the InertSporoBeads (ISBs) vaccine platform and assess its immunoreactivity in vitro. |