101
RESEARCH DEGREES
The Doctor of Medicine Degree scheme provides opportunities for
clinically qualified candidates to undertake a two-year (Doctoral
MSc in Biomedical Science (by Research)
Level) research project at Lancaster. Our links with the Division of
Medicine at Lancaster, Liverpool Medical School and many NHS
Director of Studies: Dr Paul McKean.
trusts provide a wide range of opportunities for medically-related
Duration: 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time.
research. Candidates are supervised by both an academic member
Entry Requirements: Applicants should hold an upper second class
of staff in Biomedical and Life Sciences, or Medicine, and a clinical
honours degree, or its equivalent, in biology, biochemistry, molecular
supervisor.
biology or related subject.
Assessment: Coursework as appropriate, and dissertation.
RESEARCH AREAS
IELTS: 6.5
Research focuses on the study of molecular and cellular aspects of
Funding: Please see page 196. human health and disease using a range of biochemical and
Further Information: www.lancs.ac.uk/shm/bls/ cellular approaches to complement studies in model organisms.
Key areas of research include the molecular pathology of neurode-
.lancs.ac.uk/shm/bls/
This degree provides a means by which you can gain an in depth generative disease, fundamental mechanisms underlying
knowledge of a particular area of biomedical research and become carcinogenesis, molecular microbiology, corneal transparency and
www
familiar with general and specific research methods and laboratory dysfunction, cell cycle control and division, structure and function
practice. This is achieved by 9 months full-time work in a of proteoglycans, developmental genetics of Drosophila and
laboratory as part of an established research group and some direct research into healthy aging.
learning of research methods by participation in the graduate
training programme. This is followed by a 3 month writing up Academic staff investigating various aspects of neurodegenerative
period, when a thesis will be produced, which will be the means by diseases include Prof David Allsop, Dr Fiona Benson, Dr Ed Parkin
which the degree is assessed. and Dr Gavin Brown. Prof Allsop has a long-standing interest in
Alzheimer’s disease, particularly studying unusual protein deposits
MPhil/PhD that accumulate in the brain. One aim of his research is to develop
methods to enable early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Prof
Entry Requirements: Applicants should hold an upper second class Allsop and Dr Benson are also studying the mechanisms of protein
honours degree, or its equivalent, in an appropriate subject. aggregation and cytotoxicity, processes that are fundamental to
Assessment: Original research and thesis. understanding disease progression in Parkinson’s disease and motor
IELTS: 6.5
neuron disease. The aim of these studies is to develop methods to
Funding: Research Councils, Lancaster University, Charities.
prevent protein aggregation which may alleviate symptoms of
Further Information: www.lancs.ac.uk/shm/
these devastating diseases. Dr Parkin is specifically interested in the
role of proteolysis in neurodegerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
Applications are welcomed for PhD and MPhil degrees in any of
and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
our main areas of research.
Prof Trevor McMillan, Dr Jane Owen-Lynch, Dr Howard Lindsay, Dr
As a research student, you will be directly involved in the
Fiona Benson, Dr Sarah Allinson and Dr Clive Price are engaged in
Biomedical and Life Sciences
mainstream research of the School. You will receive specialised
various aspects of cancer research. This includes carcinogenesis
training relevant to your research topic and methodology, and will
induced by UV, ionising radiation and chemicals, and the molecular
be encouraged to take part in a range of more generic courses
mechanisms of leukaemogenesis. Dr Benson and Dr Allinson’s
such as teaching skills, statistical methods, computing and
research is focused on studying the fundamental mechanisms of
languages. You will also be encouraged to attend and present
homologous recombination and base excision repair employed by
lectures and posters at conferences both within the UK and
human cells for repairing DNA damage, pathways essential for
overseas; recently, students have attended conferences in the USA
maintaining genome stability. Dr Price and Dr Lindsay study cell
and Australia as well as various European countries.
cycle control in model organisms such as yeast and Xenopus cell
free egg extracts. One focus of this research is to gain a greater
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
understanding of the relationship between DNA damage and cell
division, termed checkpoint control. This work utilises genetic,
Director of Studies: Dr Paul McKean.
biochemical and cell biology approaches to study the function of
Duration: 24 months full-time.
the relevant proteins
Entry Requirements: Applicants must (i) hold a medical or dental
qualification which is recognised by the General Medical/Dental
Dr Karen Wright and Dr Rachel Rigby’s research is focused on
Council for the United Kingdom, (ii) must have held this qualification
Health and Medicine:
understanding the physiology of the gastrointestinal epithelium as
for at least three years by the date of submission, and (iii) must be
well as pathological conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease
employed during their period of registration in appropriate clinical or
and cancer. Dr Wright’s research interests span the cellular and
scientific work in hospitals or institutions associated with the
university, within the local NHS region.
molecular mechanisms of the cannabinoid system in gastrointesti-
Assessment: Original research and thesis.
nal epithelium and the translational aspects of realising the
IELTS: 6.5
therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in diseases such as Crohn’s
Funding: See page 196.
Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and colorectal cancer. She is currently
Further Information: www.lancs.ac.uk/shm/bls/
developing a new model of intestinal tissue culture in partnership
with physicians, surgeons and pathologists at the Royal Lancaster
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