Research course

Pharmacology

Institution
The University of Manchester · Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Qualifications
PhDMPhil

Entry requirements

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Our PhD/MPhil Pharmacology programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Pharmacology.

Our pharmacology research focuses on a range of topics. These include:

  • The pharmacology of drug efflux transporters, particularly ABCB1 P-glycoprotein, ABCG2 breast cancer resistance protein and ABCC multidrug resistance-associated transporters;
  • Developing complex, physiologically-relevant in vitro cell systems to investigate transport, metabolism and delivery of therapeutic drugs;
  • Understanding the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms that regulate expression and function of drug efflux transporters, particularly in the blood-brain barrier;
  • The role of blood-brain barrier drug efflux transporters in drug delivery to the central nervous system and the effects of inflammatory and degenerative conditions, e.g. Alzheimer's disease, on efflux transporter function;
  • The biological role of lipid networks in health and disease, particularly their roles in inflammation, cellular communications and tissue responses;
  • Employing mass spectrometry-based lipidomic technology, in conjunction with functional, metabolic and signalling approaches to characterise lipid profiles in physiological and pathophysiological conditions;
  • Investigating the role of lipids in skin homeostasis and in response to inflammation, injury and wound healing;
  • Studying role of local hormones in diseases and conditions associated with the female reproductive tract (e.g. dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis and the detection and prevention of preterm labour);
  • Molecularly identifying and pharmacologically characterising receptors expressed in the female reproductive system;
  • Understanding the physiological and pharmacological characteristics of the placenta. These studies include the development of placental homing peptide-microRNA inhibitor conjugates for targeted enhancement of placental growth signalling.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • PhD
    full time
    36-48 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    part time
    72-96 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
  • MPhil
    part time
    24 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Email
admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk
Phone
+44 (0)161 275 5608