PhD Studentship: From Variants to Placental Function: Using Cell-free DNA to Dissect the Functional Genomics of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Overview

Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term delivery, foetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia impact nearly 30 percent of pregnancies, causing substantial effects on quality of life. These complications lack clear biological understanding and are difficult to detect prior to clinical symptoms. Although genome-wide association studies have linked multiple genetic loci to these conditions and perinatal traits, the functional consequences of these variants remain unclear. While placental tissue is generally impractical to access due to miscarriage risks, maternal circulating cell-free DNA contains a large proportion derived from the placenta, serving as a minimally invasive biomarker. This studentship investigates the use of cell-free DNA sequencing to track placental gene activity throughout pregnancy and explores how genetic variants modulate placental function.

What you get

The funding associated with this studentship provides coverage for Home tuition fees along with a Doctoral Stipend for a duration of up to 4 years.

How to apply

Applications close on the key date listed.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2027-01-05.