PhD Studentship: The Influence of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on the Development and Prevention of Skin Cancers

Background: biomedical application of fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acids

Dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oils has been shown to have various beneficial effects against inflammation and inflammatory diseases, as well as anti-tumour effects.

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are used in many biomedical applications. They have been shown to induce the cell death pathways in cancer cells and sensitize the cell membrane to anti-cancer drugs and treatments.

Omega-3 fatty acids affect parts of cell function, including replication, cell cycle, and cell death. The unsaturated fatty acid makes the membrane of the cancer cell less rigid and more sensitive to anticancer drugs, it has the potential to enable tumour cell self-destruction, reducing cancer progression.

This self-destruction of the cells is known as apoptosis (a type of programmed cell death). This is an integral part of treating cancer and the aim of most cancer therapeutics. Emerging evidence suggests omega-3 fatty acids can be used alone or in combination with other types of therapy.

A new area of research: skin cancer

A new emergent area of research is the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on skin cancers, particularly malignant melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that appears in the melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment.

This form of cancer is aggressive and is very metastatic, so once the cancer spreads, the treatment options become very limited, making melanoma the deadliest form of skin cancer. This cancer arises from DNA damage, usually triggered by ultra-violet (UV) light exposure, which mutates DNA and causes immunosuppression. This then allows the melanoma to grow and metastasize.

PhD aims and partnership

This PhD aims to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on skin cancer, primarily melanoma, to advance understanding of the molecular mechanism of the omega-3 fatty acid-mediated anti-cancer responses, towards developing new therapeutic strategies.

The PhD is a collaboration between supervisors from Loughborough University (UK) and the University of New South Wales, Sydney (Australia), funding is secured for a complementary PhD based at the University of New South Wales, which will investigate the molecular mechanisms by which fish oil-derived fatty acids influence oxidative stress, inflammation, antioxidant activity and impact on gut microbiota composition and pain biomarker modulation.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Ratcliffe

Secondary supervisor: Professor Karen Coopman and Dr Martin Lindley (University of New South Wales)

Entry requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve a first or upper second degree (or equivalent) in relevant bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, bioscience, life sciences, science or engineering disciplines.

Fees and funding

The studentship is for 3 years full time, or 6 years part time, and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum (full time) for the duration of the studentship, plus university tuition fees.

How to apply

All applications should be made online via the above ‘Apply’ button. Under programme name, select AACME/Chemical Engineering. Please quote the advertised reference number: AACME-24-018 in your application.

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