New expert-led consensus to shape the future of MND drug discovery and development research
6th December 2023
Scholarship can start in either October 2018 or March 2019.
Neuromuscular diseases are debilitating disorders. Diagnosing and treating these conditions can be difficult. Unfortunately, research into new treatments is hampered by a lack of ways to assess how a patient’s condition changes over time. Developing better methods for diagnosis and monitoring are important as they will drive improvements in both routine clinical care and future research.
Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a simple, non-invasive means of assessing muscle health in which a tiny, imperceptible electrical current is passed through the muscle. We have developed a novel approach to EIS which enables assessment of muscle architecture in greater detail than previously possible.
The aim of this project is to identify disease and track change over time using EIS. To do this you will apply advanced signal processing techniques to EIS data recorded from patients with neuromuscular diseases and develop automated algorithms for identifying different types of pathology. You will harness a data-driven personalised signature that can be followed in a patient during their illness. Through this work you will develop a new way for clinicians to diagnose and monitor patients with neuromuscular diseases.
This exciting PhD is a collaboration between scientists at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) and the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering. You will work closely with clinicians and engineers and so gain experience of multi-disciplinary team science.
The project will require candidates to have excellent mathematical and/or computational skills. It will be advantageous if the student has some familiarity with signal processing and statistical analyses.
Prospective candidates should have a good honours degree (Class 1 or 2:1) in Control, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or other related disciplines.
The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years. This includes Home/EU fees and a tax-free stipend at the UK Research Council rate (£14,777 for 2018/19). Due to funding restrictions this position is only available for UK nationals and non-UK EU students who have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship are eligible to apply.
For more information and to apply, click here