PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE BY ANALYSIS OF MATERNAL BLOOD

Details

We are searching for a candidate to nominate for a competitive British Heart foundation PhD studentship starting in February 2027.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect affecting almost 1% of pregnancies. Severe forms of CHD require neonatal surgery to preserve life and prenatal diagnosis improves outcomes. Pregnant women currently undergo an ultrasound scan at 20 weeks to detect anomalies, but not all cases are picked up at this time.

We are interested in the possibility that signals in maternal blood (extraceullar vesicles carrying micro RNA) could indicate the health of the unborn child and that these could form the basis of a future blood test. The aim of this project is to search for differences in the blood of mothers carrying CHD pregnancies and to perform cell/molecular experiments to understand the origins of these signals.

The successful candidate will attend Liverpool Women’s Hospital to collect maternal blood samples, and will also have the opportunity to attend neonatal cardiovascular surgery at Alder Hey hospital to collect further samples.

The research project will combine miRNA expression profiling of plasma extraceullar vesicles with in vitro cell-based assays.

The student will receive training in a broad range of technical skills including genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, extracellular vesicle techniques and flow cytometry, as well as training in data analysis, experimental design and the scientific method. The student will learn about ethics in clinical research and will interact with a patient advisory group.

Furthermore the student will join a vibrant community of doctoral researchers and will have the opportunity to present their work both to peers and at national meetings.

The Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science (HITS) and its Schools have dedicated Diversity and Inclusion (DI) Groups. The individual School Diversity & Inclusion Coordinators and the Faculty Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion lead collective action to promote and embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity. Some Schools are awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze or Silver in recognition of their respective equality initiatives and action plans. Also, Schools have proactive diversity and inclusion groups that are aimed to support staff and students by addressing the inclusivity requirements that are unique to each School, in alignment with the LJMU Diversity & Inclusion policies. Applicants are invited to visit the Faculty of HITS website https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties and follow the link to each School.

Funding Notes

The applicant must be eligible for UK Home Fee Status (sorry, no international applicants). To be competitive you should hold a 1st class BSc or an MSc. Publications or relevant RA experience a plus.

Funding will consist of full tuition fees for three years and the award of a living stipend at BHF rates. Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress.