Fully Funded PhD – Uncovering the Origins of Crohn’s Disease: How Does Gut Inflammation Begin?

Summary

The gut wall contains specialised immune structures called Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissues (GALT), which protect us from harmful bacteria. In Crohn’s disease (CD), however, GALT become dysregulated, forming microscopic ulcers that precede widespread inflammation throughout the gut.  Crohn’s disease affects around half a million people in the UK, causing debilitating symptoms and posing one of the most stubborn challenges in modern gastroenterology.

Despite their central role in disease initiation, remarkably little is known about what drives GALT to become overactive. This project will investigate the very earliest immune events at these sites, characterising how the mucosal immune system and the gut microbiome interact within GALT to trigger and propagate inflammation. The goal is to identify specific cellular or molecular targets that could form the basis of a new generation of therapies.

Project overview

This project is focused on basic biology of GALT in CD. You will work with clinical samples from Crohn’s disease patients, applying cutting-edge spatial, imaging, and immunological techniques to map immune cell behaviour within the gut wall in unprecedented detail. Mouse models of intestinal inflammation will complement this work, providing mechanistic insight into key findings from the human tissue studies.

Methods

• Immunofluorescence microscopy: visualising immune cell populations and their spatial organisation within gut tissue
• Spatial transcriptomics: profiling gene expression across tissue sections to understand how immune responses vary across microenvironments
• Spectral flow cytometry: deep phenotyping of immune cell populations from clinical samples
• Bioinformatics: integrating and interpreting complex multi-dimensional datasets
• Microbiology: characterising microbial communities associated with GALT sites

Training and career development

You will be based in the School of Infection & Immunity (SII) at the University of Glasgow, a world-leading research environment with outstanding infrastructure for mucosal immunology, spatial biology, and clinical research translation.

Over the course of your PhD, you will receive:

• Hands-on training in all techniques listed above, with dedicated support from experienced postdoctoral researchers
• Bioinformatics training tailored to the analysis of spatial and single-cell datasets
• Opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences
• Engagement with clinical collaborators, giving you exposure to translational and patient-facing research
• Mentorship focused on your longer-term career goals, whether in academia, industry, or beyond
• Support from a large network of highly collaborative immunologists and clinicians within the School of Infection & Immunity and the wider Glasgow research community

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for a curious, motivated scientist who is excited by the challenge of understanding human disease.

Essential:

• A first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in immunology, biochemistry, biomedical science, or a related discipline
• A strong interest in mucosal immunology and host-microbiome interactions

Desirable:

• Laboratory experience in immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, bioinformatics, or cell culture
• Familiarity with analysis of high-dimensional or imaging datasets

Funding Notes

UK tuition fees covered, total £15,906. Stipend for full PhD: total £77,676.