PhD Studentship - Identifying the Efficacy of Medical Dermatology Therapies using Artificial Intelligence

Award summary

To deliver real and meaningful changes in patient safety for those with Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTCs).

www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/news/5-3million-investment-for-patient-safety-research

100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend of £19,237. Successful international applicants will be required to fund the difference between home and international fees.

Overview

This studentship will be based in The Newcastle NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaborative (PSRC), this research theme embraces the exceptional capacity of artificial intelligence (AI) to spot patterns in vast collections of electronic health records (http://ai-multiply.co.uk/). Our primary objective is discerning risk patterns at both population and individual patient levels, providing a new lens to view and understand patient health. Key areas of focus will include understanding the trajectories and care pathways of MLTCs in Medical Dermatology. 

Four of the most common Medical Dermatology diseases are eczema, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and acne. We have developed standard ways to treat these conditions but not all patients respond, and some patients develop side effects. If we could identify which patients respond well to certain therapies, and which patients develop side effects with therapies, we could improve the quality of care by providing optimal treatment choices with the lowest risk of side effects (SE). Better knowledge of treatment responses and SE may also allow us to reduce unnecessary clinic visits and tests, thereby improving the efficiency of the NHS. 

We will investigate whether we can predict which patients are more likely to respond to therapy or develop SE using AI. A range of AI models will be tested. Additionally, we recognise the importance of “explainable AI”, which helps us understand the “inner workings” of such models. We will therefore determine which patient factors contribute to making these predictions. 

This studentship will provide unparalleled opportunities for post-graduate training and interdisciplinary working. 

Number of awards: 1

Start date: September 2024

Award duration: 3 years

Sponsor:

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)  

NuTH and Newcastle University 

Supervisors

Professor Nick Reynolds 

Dr Philip Hampton   

Eligibility criteria

A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject (e.g. computer science, health sciences, epidemiology, statistics, psychology, maths, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, allied health). A Masters with strong research training element would be highly advantageous.

If your first language is not English you need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (at least 5.5 in all sub-skills) or equivalent language qualification.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) 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  
• Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  
• Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  
• Search for the ‘Course Title’ use the programme code: 8317F  
• Research Area: Leave Blank 
• Select ‘PhD in the Faculty of Medical Sciences (full time) - Pharmacy’. NB: Reference to Pharmacy is for administrative purposes only. You then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:  
• A ‘Personal Statement’ (mandatory field) - upload document or write statement directly into the application form  
• The studentship code PH052 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  
• When prompted regarding your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should outline which Theme you are interested in. You do not need to upload a research proposal. 

Contact details: PSRC@ncl.ac.uk

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