Postgraduate study at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) offers a range of postgraduate courses including three well-established MSc/MRes courses and a series of PhD research projects.
Our PhD projects benefit from an excellent multi-disciplinary research environment providing expertise across a broad range of fields together with a vibrant and supportive student community. You can also learn more below about our Doctoral Training Centre, launched in 2018.
MSc/MRes Courses
Our taught programmes focus on the most current and commercially relevant areas, helping to ensure our MSc graduates have the best possible start to their career, or achieve an important milestone in their existing one. In addition, the ICT provides a broader education relevant to all cancer researchers through activities that include a seminar series and subject-specific symposia, in which students are encouraged to have an active part. We also have links with numerous pharmaceutical and biotech companies, helping to ensure our MSc and MRes graduates are well placed to pursue careers in either academia or industry. See below for more information.
“It became my dream to study the design and synthesis of cancer drugs, and the course outline at Bradford was an excellent fit for what I was looking for. It's a world-leading programme and new cancer drugs are developed in my department.”
Shams Aliya, MSc Cancer Pharmacology
Postgraduate research
With our ‘concept to clinic’ ethos, PhD research projects cover all facets of cancer drug discovery and development, from target identification and validation, through development of hit and lead compounds through to evaluation of compounds in clinical trials.
The multi-disciplinary nature of the ICT, with biologists, pharmacologists and medicinal chemists working closely together on projects, is reflected in our PhD research where students have the opportunity to be trained in and utilise a range of techniques in their research.
This approach gives a wide appreciation of the area of cancer therapeutics, and makes our graduates well-placed to pursue careers in either academia or industry.
We encourage our PhD students to contribute as authors on scientific papers, and examples of recent publications where PhD students have contributed to the research include:
- Hypoxia modulates CCR7 expression in head and neck cancers
- Recent advances in the analysis of polysialic acid from complex biological systems
- Exploration of [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerisation methodology to prepare tetrahydroisoquinoline-based compounds with potential aldo–keto reductase 1C3 target affinity
" I have really enjoyed doing my PhD at the ICT. This experience has broadened my horizons and helped my professional development, so I am very happy to be one of the ICT team."
Aya Al-Kabariti, PhD student at the ICT
Currently available PhD programs
If you are interested in joining us at the ICT as a PhD student, then we have several projects currently available:
| Project title | Contact |
|---|---|
| Title 1: Investigation of antagonism of multiple RGD-binding integrins as a therapeutic strategy in advanced head and neck cancer | Dr. Helen Sheldrake |
| Title 2: Development of Naked Mole Rat Colonic Crypt Models to Use in the Search for Bowel Disease Preventatives | Dr. Steve Shnyder & Prof .Sherif El-Khamisy |
| Title 3: Biofilm disruption as an initial step in a novel strategy for treatment of chronic wounds based on multi-functional liposomal nanocarriers. | Dr. Xiangli Liu & Dr. Steve Shnyder |
| Title 4: Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT): Investigation of the role in acquired drug resistance in colon cancer. | Dr. Steve Shnyder & Dr. Sriharsha Kantamneni |
| Title 5: Synthesis and functional studies of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived from high oxidation state metal ions. | Dr. Sanjit Nayak & Dr. Kamyar Afarinkia |
| Title 6: Discovery of chemical and biological tools to probe hypoxic solid tumours. | Prof. Klaus Pors & Dr. Jacobo Elies Gomez |
| Title 7: Investigating the mechanism of action of dual antiangiogenic/ antineoplastic drugs using organotypic co-culture of fibroblasts and endothelial cells. | Dr. Jacobo Elies Gomez & Prof. Klaus Pors |
| Title 8: Aldehyde dehydrogenase expression and function in stem cells and cancer. | Prof. Klaus Pors |
| Title 9: Cytochromes P450 in cancer: opportunities for development of personalised medicine. | Prof. Klaus Pors |
| Title 10: Development of heterocyclic pharmacophores using diversity-oriented synthesis. | Prof. Klaus Pors |
| Title 11: Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel polysialyltransferase inhibitors as anti- metastatic agents | Prof. Robert Falconer & Dr. Steve Shnyder |
| Title 12: Polysialyltransferase as a target metastatic cancer | Prof. Robert Falconer & Dr. Steve Shnyder |
|
Title 13: Design, synthesis and evaluation of protease-activated anti-cancer prodrugs |
Prof. Robert Falconer, Prof. Paul Loadman & Dr. Steve Shnyder |
| Title 14: Targeting the MAPK scaffold protein KSR1 for the treatment of prostate cancer | Dr. Jurgen Muller & Prof Rob Falconer |
| Title 15: Exploring the role of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in stem cells of serous ovarian cancer | Dr. S Swaroop, Dr. G Grimaldi & Dr. ED Perkins |
| Title 16: Exploring chemoprevention: The impact of novel Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) on breast/prostate cells and onset of tumours | |
| Title 17: Pharmacokinetics Guided Natural Products Exploration for Drug Discovery, Development, Delivery and Therapy | |
| Title 18: Development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for oncology indications |
Prof. Klaus Pors, Dr Muhammad Wahajuddin & Prof. Robert Falconer |
| Title 19: Synthesis of anticancer alkaloids |
For more information please visit FindaPhD.com. Please visit the University of Bradford's postgraduate research pages to explore the benefits of a postgraduate degree and how to apply for a postgraduate degree.
The feeling of community, even if we all come from different backgrounds, is what makes the ICT a unique environment to pursue a PhD. Being surrounded by many scientists sharing space and expertise creates an inspiring atmosphere to conduct quality research, and a place for us to evolve and find our spot in the academic field.
Elisabet Batlle Rocafort, PhD student at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Doctoral Training Centre at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
An exciting new Doctoral Training Centre at the ICT was launched in October 2018 to train the next generation of cancer scientists. A major investment of £2m by Incanthera plc has enabled a series of new PhD studentships to be created over the next 10 years in the field of anticancer prodrug development, building on recent ICT success in this area.
The first three studentships were filled in October 2019. There are no current opportunities for studentships - the next call will be advertised here.
For more information contact Prof. Robert Falconer
Why study at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics Doctoral Training Centre?
- Our students will receive training at a leading UK research institute focused on cancer drug discovery.
- Become part of a multi-disciplinary research environment, with facilities for cancer drug design and synthesis, in vitro pharmacology, molecular biology and in vivo biology.
- Join an academic team with a track record of success in translational research, commercialisation, and delivering drug candidates to the clinic.
- The studentships are fully funded for 3.5 years, with fees, stipend, consumables and conference travel all included.
