Exploring the role of hyaluronan in cognition across the lifespan

The project:

Good cognitive health, the ability to think, learn and remember, is of vital importance across species, contributing to a productive life and sense of wellbeing. Ageing is a major risk factor for poor cognition, which has a negative impact on quality of life. The hippocampus is a critical area of the brain associated with cognitive function and has been identified as a primary location mediating aspects of cognition vulnerable to ageing, such as spatial-dependent learning. Hyaluronan (HA), is a principal component of the extracellular matrix in the brain, with diverse functions dependent on its molecular weight; short HA chains exert stimulatory actions such as inducing proliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis whereas longer forms are more stabilising, facilitating adaption of networks, cellular maturation and conferring anti-inflammatory actions.

Despite growing evidence supporting the importance of HA in hippocampal-dependent cognition, understanding of how HA is regulated in the brain, and how it is affected by cognitive challenges and ageing, remains poor. This PhD studentship aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the observed gene expression changes to HA-related genes following spatial learning. They will determine if these are functionally relevant for adaptive learning, investigate the impact of age, and determine the translatability of these finding in the human population in collaboration with Prof. Esther Walton, University of Bath.

Please get in touch with any questions or to discuss the project further. Happy to talk about flexible working or any other accommodations that are needed to attract the best candidates. Applicants from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, especially those historically underrepresented in academia.

Deadline for applicants: 5pm on Monday, 4th November 2024

How to apply:

Please make an online application for this project at GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP: Student Application Form (Oct 2025/26) (jisc.ac.uk). Please select MRCNMH25Br Mifsud – Exploring the role of hyaluronan in cognition across the lifespan on project choice page. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be notified from Friday 20th November. Interviews will be held virtually on 23rd and 24th January 2025. Studentships will start on 1st October 2025. If successful, you will also need to make an application for an “offer to study” at University of Bristol. Instructions for doing this will be provided nearer the time.

Candidate requirements: Standard University of Bristol eligibility rules apply. Please visit PhD Veterinary Sciences Study at Bristol University of Bristol for more information.

Contacts: K.Mifsud@bristol.ac.uk or ew685@bath.ac.uk