PhD Programme in Cancer Studies
Cancer Studies PhD and Clinical Fellowship Programme
This 4 Year PhD and 3 year Clinical Fellowship Programme functions as a focal point for promoting international quality basic and clinical research within Cardiff University. The establishment in 2009 of the Cardiff Cancer Research UK Centre reflects the high standard of basic and clinical science within Cardiff University and aims to drive the knowledge that has been gained to patient benefit. Cancer Research UK funds a number of PhD Studentships and Clinical Fellowships within the programme.We have a fully funded Cancer Research-UK Clinical Research Fellowship available each year as part of the multi-million pound clinical training programme to encourage clinicians into an academic research career.
The next PhD studentship is expected to be available for an October 2014 start, subject to funding, and details of how to apply will appear on this page from November 2013 and on FindaPhD.com. Clinical Fellowships will be highlighted on this page and advertised on jobs.ac.uk and in BMJ online as they become available.
The fellowships are for 3 years and the successful candidates will be offered a salary commensurate with the NHS clinical scale and will be expected to complete a PhD within this period.
Entry Requirements for Clinical Fellows:
Clinical Fellows: Trainees should be interested in a clinical academic career, and have:
- a current Core or Specialty Training Programme position
- evidence of high academic distinction and potential (e.g. First or Upper Second Class in BSc, research papers etc.)
- research experience within an undergraduate BSc or MSc project
- evidence of achievement of Core/Specialty Training Competencies by the time of appointment (ARCP or RITA)
Why study Cancer Biology at Cardiff?
Multinucleate Reed-Sternberg cell seen in classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Cardiff University is pioneering an integrated approach to cancer research with the cancer charity Cancer Research UK by establishing a cross-disciplinary Cancer Research Centre. This PhD training programme aims to produce the future leaders of cancer research and is a central feature of the new Centre. Medical research is entering a new phase of development that presents unparalleled research opportunities for basic science and its exploitation to benefit health. To meet these challenges it is evident that researchers need to appreciate the basic, translational and clinical aspects of the topic. A broad grounding and awareness of emerging technologies, good skills in informatic and an understanding of the challenges in the clinic will be of key importance. Cardiff University, with its significant strengths across these disciplines, is well placed to design and administer a research-training programme and develop cancer researchers, who will eventually specialise in specific topics in basic, translational or clinical research, yet will have an unrivalled understanding of the wider perspective of cancer research.
Cardiff’s PhD and Clinical Fellowship Programme in Cancer Studies brings together research groups that span different disciplines in cancer research to train and supervise postgraduate researchers and clinicians in areas that underpin the strategic goals of the Cardiff Cancer Research UK Centre. All cancer studentship supervisors will have substantial financial support that has been won in peer-reviewed competitions. Thus, students have a great opportunity to take part in cancer research that is of the highest international standard, that is likely to result in publication in top scientific journals.
Conformal treatment of the spine improved by use of high energy proton beams
Advantages of the Programme
Candidates invited for interview will have the opportunity to meet a number of prospective supervisors and to choose the project that most suits their interest from a set of high quality scientific questions. During the first Year 1 you will develop research techniques and skills and will have the opportunity to attend training courses in molecular/biochemical techniques; informatics and pharmaceutics. This will be accompanied by tutorials that will address specific areas of cancer and focus on new conceptual questions, recent progress or technical/clinical challenges. The objective is to make each postgraduate researcher aware of the current state of knowledge, technical limitations and emerging areas issues for future development. The programme is designed to ensure an excellent PhD experience and to prepare you for an outstanding future.
4 field radiotherapy beam arrangement to treat a patient with cervical cancer
Why a PhD in Cardiff?
Cardiff is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, with all the social facilities of a modern capital. The pedestrian-only city centre and the nearby newly refurbished waterfront ‘Cardiff Bay’ district host many department stores and designer-label shops. Delicatessens and restaurants provide food and ingredients from many continents. There is a good mix of social and cultural venues for all tastes, including plays at the New Theatre and the Sherman Theatre, Opera and plays at the Wales Millennium Centre, film, plays and art at the Chapter Arts Centre and daily concerts at St. David’s Centre. For the sports fan, there is the Millennium Stadium, the Glamorgan Cricket ground, the Cardiff City football club and the Ice Hockey Rink. Last, but not least, there are plenty of friendly bars and clubs where you can celebrate the successes of your PhD research work, as well as recharge your batteries after the occasional setback! For those wanting a quieter pace of life, Cardiff is home to several beautiful parks, and is only a stone’s throw away from the tranquillity of the Wales heritage coastline and countryside including the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Use of PET scanning in early interim response assessment following chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma
Cardiff School of Medicine: Institute of Cancer and Genetics
More information about postgraduate research in the Cardiff School of Medicine's Institute of Cancer and Genetics can be found here:
http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/cancer-genetics/research/postgraduate-research/
Some examples of the groups involved in cancer research at Cardiff can be found here :
- Professor Alan Clarke
- Dr Duncan Baird
- Professor Ray Waters
- Dr Andrea Brancale
- Dr Andrew Westwell
- Professor Malcolm Mason
- Dr Steven Knapper
- Dr Richard Darley
- Professor Alan Burnett
- Professor Chris McGuigan
- Professor Robert Nicholson
- Dr Alex Tonks
- Professor Robert Mansel
- Dr Zara Poghosyan
- Professor Julian Sampson
- Professor Paul Smith
- Professor Jerry Cheadle
- Dr Simon Reed
- Dr Richard Clarkson
- Cancer Immunology at Cardiff University
- Professor Trevor Dale's lab