PhD in Investigating the use of Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy Technology to determine if virus-induced cell changes (transfection, infection) can be detected

Research theme: Analytical Science 

This 4 year PhD project is fully funded by EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. This project is for UK applicants. The successful applicant will receive an annual tax free stipend set at the UKRI amount (£19,237 for 2024/25) and tuition fees will be paid. 

This project is a collaboration between FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB), and the departments of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy at the University of Manchester. The project aims to apply state of the art vibrational spectroscopic tools to help to widen our understanding of established processes associated with the production of Cell & Gene Therapy biologics. Industry standard assays to detect transfection and infection events in gene therapy processes typically have long run times and often have large margins of error. Identifying a simple, quick method to detect these events and further understanding would enable more effective decision-making through informed in-process analysis and a provide a more comprehensive understanding of the final viral quality.

FDB have established platform processes for the production of AAV, Adenovirus and Lentivirus, utilising HEK293 and HEK293T cell lines. FDB have also developed cell-based assays to determine infection and transduction efficiencies.

Initial studies will focus on establishing the production and analytical cell lines and establishing whether IR spectroscopy can detect transduction and infection events in industry relevant platform processes (AAV, Lentivirus, Adenovirus). In addition a novel technique Optical Photothermal infrared spectroscopy will be applied to look at sub cellular details. This is a relatively new technique which breaks the diffraction limit of IR microscopy3

For the AAV production cell line, further studies will utilise IR spectroscopy to examine the secretion efficiencies of a number of AAV serotypes (AAV5, AAV8, AAV9, AAV2) with the view to increase the understanding of AAV production and potentially improve secretion through further development of cell growth and transduction conditions. Improvement of AAV secretion will allow FBD to remove a cell lysis step, streamlining the AAV platform process. This work may cover both transient transfection and producer cell lines. There is also scope to further investigate and develop transfection and infection conditions for lentivirus and adenovirus, respectively with the aim to improve efficiencies and titre. The project will be based in Manchester but will involve periods of study at the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies site in Billingham

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s degree in a relevant science or engineering related discipline. Ideally they should have a strong background in biological sciences, instrumentation and data analysis. The project is interdisciplinary so the student should be able to work independently but also interact with chemists, chemical engineers, biologists and industry partners who will be involved in this research. The project will be based in Manchester but will also involve extended placement visits to the Fuji site in Billingham. If you wish to discuss this project further, please contact peter.gardner@manchester.ac.uk

To apply, please  contact the supervisor; Prof Gardner - peter.gardner@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

Advert information