Unravelling the role of adipose tissue at University of Leeds

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr Giorgia Cioccoloni G.Cioccoloni@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name(s) & email address(s) (optional)

Dr James L Thorne J.L.Thorne@leeds.ac.uk

Professor Valerie Speirs (University of Aberdeen) valerie.speirs@abdn.ac.uk

Project summary

This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in the areas of cancer development, obesity and endocrine disruptors (i.e.bisphenols).

Women encounter xenobiotics through their surroundings and diet, leading to the exposure of substances that can induce external hormonal effects in the body. Categorized as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), bisphenols can disturb regular endocrine functions, with the extent and timing of exposure throughout a woman’s life playing a crucial role in the potential interference.

Despite the establishment of temporary tolerable daily intake levels, bisphenols exposure remains a health concern. In fact, they can operate through both genomic and non-genomic pathways, favouring cancer transformation. Adipose tissue acts as storage for lipophilic compounds like bisphenols, simultaneously regulating adipose tissue metabolic pathways, thereby providing fertile ground for the initiation and progression of breast cancer. 

Here we will demonstrate that bisphenol exposure induces breast cancer onset using adipocytes as a reservoir and regulating adipose tissue pro-oncogenic pathways. The successful PhD candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team and employ a diverse set of laboratory techniques—including confocal microscopy, cell transformation assays, comet assay, colony forming assay, mRNASeq gene expression—to identify pro-tumorigenic changes in human epithelial breast cells activated by the adipocytes-bisphenol axis.

For further information on the project and how to apply, please see the project page on the University website.

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition should normally have a bachelor degree in Nutrition, Biology, or other related science-discipline (first or upper second-class or equivalent). A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one of the following areas will be advantageous; nutrition, biology, molecular biology/medicine, cancer biology. Please note a Master’s degree is preferred but not required. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

Subject Area

Food Science and Nutrition