Using extracellular vesicles to develop a management decision aid for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Pulmonary Fibrosis

About the Project

We are seeking talented, motivated students with a passion for research in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome to join Dr Rahul Mahida’s team in the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham. Applicants should have a first or upper second-class degree in a relevant scientific discipline, and who are self-funded or have typically applied for, or secured funding for their studies from their government, employer or associated charitable organisations.

THE BIRMINGHAM ACUTE CARE RESEARCH GROUP

Dr Mahida is an Associate Professor in the Birmingham Acute Care Research (BACR) group at the University of Birmingham. His translational research focuses on the role of inflammatory pathways, biomarker identification, extracellular vesicles and macrophage dysfunction in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

ARDS is a devastating hyper-inflammatory disorder of the lungs which can be precipitated by various insults, the most common being sepsis. Patients with ARDS require prolonged invasive ventilation and have a high mortality (~40%). Of survivors, 10% develop pulmonary fibrosis sequelae. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARDS, with prior studies indicating they can transfer pro-inflammatory signals (microRNAs, metabolites, proteins) rapidly between organ compartments and contribute to organ failure. This study aims to recruit critically ill sepsis patients with and without ARDS from the ICU, and pulmonary fibrosis patients, collect their blood and urine samples from which EVs will be isolated, and collect physiological/clinical data longitudinally. EVs will then be characterised in terms of size profile, concentration and surface markers indicating cell or origin. EV cargo will be assessed via a multi-omics approach: small RNA transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. These multi-omic data will be analysed and correlated with clinical phenotype and outcome to develop a robust prognostication model and potentially offer insights guiding use of targeted therapies in both ARDS and Pulmonary Fibrosis.

The Institute of Inflammation and Ageing is embedded within the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which hosts the largest single-site ICU in Europe and one of the largest regional Interstitial Lung Diseases services in the UK. This enables access to large patient cohorts for clinical, translational and data based studies. PhD projects, using these approaches, answering clinically and/or translationally relevant research questions are available to self-funded or scholarship-funded graduates interested in joining BACR.

Applicants with research experience and/or Master’s degree should apply directly to the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing for a 3 or 4 year full-time PhD. This route requires applicants to submit a drafted research proposal.

Applicants will need to submit the following documentation during the application process.

• Detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities and why you wish to undertake a PhD in the team;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• Copies of your degree certificates with transcripts written in English;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.
• Evidence of scholarship application/funding or independent funding.

Funding notes:

Applicants are invited from self-funded or scholarship-funded graduates ONLY

Applicants will be self-funded or will have typically applied for, or secured funding for their studies from their government, employer or associated charitable organisations.

Overseas graduates require IELTs of 6.5 overall.

Applying directly to the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing for either a 3 or 4 year full-time PhD.

Project supervisors

Dr Rahul Mahida

Dr Rahul Mahida is an Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine within the Department of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham. He holds an MBBS from Newcastle University (2010) and a PhD in Translational Respiratory Immunology from the University of Birmingham (2020). Dr Mahida is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His clinical expertise is further supported by a Specialty Certificate in Respiratory Medicine obtained in 2017. Dr Mahida's research is translational in nature, focusing on the role of inflammatory pathways and macrophage dysfunction in the pathogenesis of both acute respiratory diseases, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia, and chronic conditions like pulmonary fibrosis. He has a specific interest in the role of extracellular vesicle-mediated immune dysfunction in these diseases, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. In addition to his academic role, Dr Mahida serves as an Honorary Consultant in Respiratory and General (Internal) Medicine at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He is actively involved in teaching, supervising BMedSci and MBChB intercalation projects, and delivering lectures on respiratory medicine to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Research interests

Dr Mahida's translational research focuses on the role of inflammatory pathways and macrophage dysfunction in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory diseases, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia, as well as chronic respiratory diseases like pulmonary fibrosis. He has a particular interest in extracellular vesicle-mediated immune dysfunction in these conditions, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies.