Funded Opportunities at NDCN
Mabel Churn Scholarship in Ophthalmology
Every three years, St Cross College plans to invite applications for the Mabel Churn Scholarship from successful applicants normally resident in the UK who have an offer to begin studying at the University of Oxford for a DPhil research degree in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN) in any area of retinal research.
Applications are now invited for funding from applicants due to begin studying in October 2025
The Scholarship will cover the full cost of the annual course fee for both Home/Republic of Ireland and overseas students plus an annual maintenance stipend at the standard UKRI rate together with a grant of up to £500 per annum for travel and research expenses, and is tenable for three years coterminous with full fee liability.
To be considered for this Scholarship, applicants must have applied to study for a Clinical Neurosciences DPhil by Friday, 16 May, 2025. No separate application is required and all eligible offer-holders will be considered for this award.
SCHOLARSHIP IN PROGRESSIVE SUPRANUCLEAR PALSY (psp)
Developing biomarkers for improved PSP diagnosis and treatments
PSP is a rare brain disorder causing rapidly progressive disability and reduced life expectancy. This project aims to improve earlier diagnosis and treatment for PSP, and will benefit from a national network for Parkinson’s Plus Syndromes including PSP, currently being set up through the MRC funded ExPRESS study (Early assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s Plus Related Syndromes; PI Prof Huw Morris, UCL, Oxford co-I Prof Michele Hu).A major challenge to developing clinical trials for PSP is the lack of robust biomarkers to accurately diagnose the condition early enough for disease modifying treatments to be beneficial for the individual. Emerging technologies including digital smartphone tests, saccadometry, advanced MRI brain scans, specialist spinal fluid and blood tests will be evaluated early in patients recently referred by their GP with a movement or cognitive disorder.
We are seeking a clinically qualified doctor, with prior neurology experience to lead this project based at the Oxford University Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application to the DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences by 16th May 2025, to begin study in October 2025.
On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, you must indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code for this studentship '25NDCN02'.
Please note that this studentship covers UK home fees and basic clinical salary, while an offer of a place is dependent on a college place being available.
Supervisors: Prof Michele Hu and Prof Chrystalina Antoniades
If you have any questions in relationship to this scholarship, please contact michele.hu@ndcn.ox.ac.uk or chrystalina.antoniades@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
MRC CORE THERAPEUTIC GENOMICS PROGRAMME
Peptide-mediated delivery of CRISPR-Cas genome editors in the eye.
Delivery of CRISPR editing systems in vivo is a major challenge for clinical translation and therapy development. Specific to the eye, adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have limited cargo capacity, induce long-term expression of the editor, which is undesirable, and can be associated with inflammatory adverse effects. Therefore, there is a great need for an improved CRISPR delivery system for the neurons of the retina where most inherited retinal degenerations occur.
Recently our collaborators from the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), have developed a new technology based on cell-penetrating peptides coupled with ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex and demonstrated efficient gene editing in lymphocytes and central nervous system neurons with low toxicity (see Foss et al. Nat Biomed Eng 2023 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-023-01032-2 and He et al. Chem Sci 2020 https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/sc/d0sc00929f). In this DPhil project, we aim to explore novel delivery methods for therapeutic gene editing and specifically test this approach in retinal organoids and mouse models of retinal degeneration.
Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic, Assoc. Prof. Kanmin Xue, Prof. Robert E MacLaren.
NDCN scholarships
NDCN offers a number of fully-funded scholarships for students, funded from a variety of sources including Department funding, the Wellcome Trust, MRC, and the Clarendon Fund. If you apply to the December deadline then your application will be automatically included for consideration for one of these awards. Most scholarships are awarded between February and June.
iCASE 2025/26
Please follow this link for information on the MRC Enterprise studentship programme 2025 (Industrial case Awards) and for information on how to apply please follow this link. Applications must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Tuesday 3 December 2024.