PhD Studentship: NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) - Postdiagnosis Physical Activity and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Outcomes

Award summary

100% tuition fees (paid at home rate) and a minimum annual stipend of £18,622 (2023/ 2024 UKRI rate) with support for research costs. International candidates will be required to fund the difference between the home and international fees. 

Overview

Primary liver cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. It is the fastest-growing cause of cancer death in England, with a 10-year survival rate of only 8%. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. HCC occurs most often in people with chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis caused by viral hepatitis, alcohol, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). 

Most patients present with advanced-stage HCC. The first-line treatment for these patients is systemic therapy. However, only patients with good physical fitness are candidates for systemic therapy, and even among those patients, only a minority (25-30%) benefit from it. Therefore, we need to find better treatment options for patients with advanced HCC. 

Physical fitness predicts overall survival in patients with advanced HCC receiving systemic therapy. Early evidence from observational studies using questionnaires suggests that post-diagnosis physical activity is associated with improved survival and response rates to treatment. 

Recent advancements in wearable devices allow physical activity to be recorded with high precision. These devices can also provide additional information about the volume, pattern, and variability of movement, which may be important for survival outcomes in HCC. 

The main aim of this PhD studentship is to conduct a prospective cohort study to explore the association between device-based physical activity and HCC outcomes, including overall survival, progression-free survival, and candidacy for second-line treatment. 

Number of awards: 1

Start date: September 2024 

Award duration: 3 years 

Application closing date: 25th June, with interviews expected to take place on Friday 5^th July 

Sponsor: NIHR Newcastle BRC 

Supervisors:

Dr Sam Orange 

Professor Helen Reeves 

Dr Lisa Alcock 

Dr Silvia Del Din 

Eligibility criteria:

You must have or be expected to gain a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. A master’s qualification will be advantageous.

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each subsection. International applicants may require an ATAS clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

In ‘Course choice’ tab, put ‘Postgraduate Research’ in 'Type of Study', ‘Full Time’ in ‘Mode of Study’, ‘2024’ in ‘Year of Entry’, code ‘8848F’ in ‘Course Title’, blank in ‘Research Area’. Press ‘Search’, select ‘PhD in biomedical, nutrition and sport sciences (PHSI) FT’, and save selection.

Either upload a document or write into ‘Personal Statement’. Put code PH051 in ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’. When prompted for research proposal, select ‘Write Proposal’. Type in the title of the research project from this advert. A research proposal is not required.  Please upload a covering letter, CV and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.

Degree transcripts/certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualification if completed must be uploaded.

Contact details: sam.orange@newcastle.ac.uk

Advert information