PhD Studentship: Understanding the Health Benefits of Exercise Within the Paradigm of Small Extracellular Vesicle Crosstalk

About the project

Exercise represents a crucial element of health and wellness. The integrated response to the energy demands of movement produce adaptations associated with improved health and wellbeing that are incompletely understood. An intriguing observation we have made of late is that exercise stimulates the appearance of 20-300nm sized vesicles (small EVs) containing important regulatory proteins, raising the possibility that this process may facilitate some of the systemic adaptations to, and health benefits of, regular physical activity. In addition, we have shown that small EVs released during exercise have preferred localisation to the liver and importantly, weekly doses of small EVs from exercising rodent donors improve liver function in a preclinical rodent model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). These initial findings have highlighted the possibility that small EVs provide a delivery mechanism of regulatory proteins to the liver and provides a mechanistic link between regular exercise and prevention/treatment of disrupted liver metabolism.

The aim of this project is to characterise the release and metabolic significance of small extracellular vesicle secretion, with a particular focus on liver health. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments, the dynamics of sEV release and metabolic impact will be investigated, incorporating cutting edge characterisation methods and ‘omics’ based investigative approaches.

Particularly useful resources for contextualising the project are the article 'The Mysterious Interior World of Exercise' and Dr Martin Whitham's recorded lecture 'Extracellular mediated tissue cross talk during exercise'.

Entry Requirements Applicants

Will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in a relevant subject. A Masters MSc degree is preferred.

Who can apply? 

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:

• • Black African
  • Black Caribbean
  • Black Other
  • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
  • Mixed – White and Black African
  • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)

3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

Recipients of these scholarships will receive a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £19,237 per year for the 2024/25 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £4,786 per year.

Scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities.

Contact the lead supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor, Dr Martin Whitham (m.whitham@bham.ac.uk), to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.

References:

Whitham, M., et al (2018) Extracellular vesicles provide a means for tissue cross talk during exercise. Cell Metabolism 27(1) 237-251.

McIlvenna, L. C. et al. (2023) Single vesicle analysis reveals the release of tetraspanin positive extracellular vesicles into circulation with high intensity intermittent exercise. Journal of Physiology 601, 5093–5106.

For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please click above 'Apply' Button.

Advert information