PhD Studentship - Genetic and Therapeutic Determinants of Adverse Drug Reactions in Cardio-Renal Diseases

Overview

This interdisciplinary PhD project at the University of Exeter, within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, asks why people with cardiometabolic diseases follow different health trajectories despite similar treatment. The student will investigate how genetic variation, prescribing and patient characteristics influence treatment response, drug safety and health.

Using health data science techniques developed by the Exeter AGE Group, the student will analyse linked genomic and clinical records from cohorts of millions of people, including UK Biobank and Our Future Health. The focus is on newer therapies such as SGLT2 inhibitors and DOACs, and the findings could help prevent adverse outcomes such as falls and kidney injury, informing precision medicine and NHS clinical guidance. Training and career development are built into the project.

What you get

The project is one of up to 18 MRC-funded studentships offered through the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme, with a start date of October 2027. The studentships last four years. Funding covers UK tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council national minimum, which is 21,805 pounds per year for 2026/27 and is updated annually. Up to 5,000 pounds per year is also available for research training and support costs.

Who can apply

The studentships are open to UK and international students. This project competes for a place with projects across the whole MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award, in which 18 studentships are available across the partnership.

Key dates

The closing date is 21 October 2026, and the studentship begins in October 2027.