Investigation of signalling from the microenvironment in metastasis of invasive lobular breast cancer

I have successfully supervised 22 PhD and 3 MD students to completion of a thesis, 15 as main supervisor at the University of Manchester. Seven of these were clinical fellows who were very successfully trained in basic lab science. I currently supervise 11 PhD students, 4 as main supervisor. I view PhD training as the development of skills in basic and translational biomedical research including experimental design, methodologies, troubleshooting, organisation/planning, team work, oral and written communication, conference presentation and networking.

The lab is first and foremost a team that works together to do the best science. We train new members to work safely, respecting others work, and to perform their research to the highest standards of integrity.

We hold weekly lab meetings, which all the proposed supervisors attend, to discuss ongoing research and to enable advice and input from experienced colleagues. We want research results to be robust and reproducible and so we encourage open discussion of issues and challenges so that we can apply alternate approaches where needed.

We encourage PhD students to have ownership of their project but to work within the team ethos to gain from the experience of more senior scientists, clinical and student colleagues. Thus, independence is encouraged within this framework of critical advice and input into the research objectives and the experiments needed to address them through regular meetings with supervisors. Career development is crucial, and we would discuss career trajectories for research that will suit the student’s future interests.

This would be principally from the supervisory team but also by the student building their network of colleagues within Manchester Breast Centre and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, including the Christie Hospital.

A healthy approach to work-life balance is encouraged to promote enthusiasm for both professional and non-professional interests. We believe in working smart by being very efficient in use of time in the lab. This involves thinking hard about the right experiments and critically assessing progress through regular meetings with supervisors.

To apply to intercalate onto the PhD in Cancer Sciences component of the MB-PhD, you must meet the below criteria and satisfy the general requirements for permission to intercalate set by your institution, including passing all components of the MBChB at first attempt in the year prior to intercalation.

A University of Manchester MBChB student

• holding a BSc (hons) 2.1 or above in a relevant subject and in year 2 or year 3 of the MBChB or year 1 or year 2 of GEM; or
• currently studying in year 3 of the MBChB or year 2 of GEM

A University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons) student on the Manchester course pathway:

• holding or predicted a BSc (hons) 2.1 or above and be intending to intercalate straight onto the MB-PhD ahead of your arrival in Manchester or by no later than between year 3 and year 4 of the Manchester MBChB programme

A University of Leeds MBChB student:

• currently studying in year 3 of the MB ChB

International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the relevant academic eligibility criteria (including English Language).

The PhD component of the MB-PhD studentship is usually funded for three years, or four years in exceptional circumstances with prior agreement of MB-PhD Committee and supervisory team.

The studentship covers:

• An annual stipend of £21,000 per year to help with living costs
• Full funding for your PhD tuition fees (at the UK rate, with fee bursaries available for high-performing EU/International candidates)
• PhD project consumables and running costs, including costs for researcher development such as conferences and travel
• MBChB tuition fees (at the UK rate) for a maximum of four years

Here are our quick steps to apply for our MB-PhD:

1. Eligibility

First, you need to check you are eligible to apply for an MB-PhD. Please see the eligibility tab (above) to read all criteria. 

2. Contact supervisors

You can explore the range of MB-PhD opportunities that are open to application on our Research Opportunities webpage. 

We encourage you to contact the supervisor of any MB-PhD projects that you are interested in before starting your application. Having these conversations will help you to get a feel for the different research themes and projects on offer.  

3. Register

Register to apply for our MB-PhD opportunities using the Postgraduate Application Form. You must create an account to register. 

4. Create a new application

When you create a new application make sure you select the following: 

• Academic Career – Postgraduate Research
• Mode of Attendance – Full-time
• Program Description – search for MB-PhD and then select the MB-PhD Programme
• Candidates apply for the MB-PhD programme – under ‘Research Title’ list MB-PhD Programme. You can provide supervisor preferences/research interests in your accompanying supporting statement and these will be considered at and after interview
• If you are shortlisted, you’ll be interviewed by the MB-PhD Programme Directors and Education Committee before being accepted onto the programme “in principle”. You will be matched with a supervisor based on your interview performance and project/research preferences
• If successful at interview, you will be asked to meet with a nominated MB-PhD supervisor in the subsequent week for them to review and approve your PhD offer 
• For funding sources, please include the following information: 

– Select ‘Yes’ from the drop-down
– Type of Funding: University of Manchester Scholarship
– Awarding Body: Cancer Research UK MB-PhD
– Status of Funding – Awarded
– Funding Covers – Fully Funded
– Leave the remaining boxes blank

5. Supporting documents

Your application form must be accompanied by several supporting documents: 

CV 

This should include: 

• qualifications (GCSE, A-level or equivalent, and any higher education qualifications, including grades, and your current programme)
• academic prizes, research projects, and academics interests
• extracurricular interests, and activities and positions of responsibility relevant to your application

The information you provide in your CV will be considered in relation to widening participation, and/or university access policies, to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly. 

Supporting statements 

This should be 1,000 words maximum and include your reason for applying to the MB-PhD programme and your interest and suitability for the project. You can include project/research interest/s here and these will be considered at and post-interview. 

References 

You need to list two referees, one of which must be an academic referee from The University of Manchester, The University of Leeds or The University of St Andrews-Manchester pathway MBChB programme. 

This could be a: 

• Clinical debrief tutor
• PEP tutor
• Literature research project supervisor
• PPD tutor

References cannot be submitted by a supervisor named on the project you are applying for. 

Supporting documents can be uploaded and submitted with the online application form. 

If you have any issues, your supporting documents can be sent directly to the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team at admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk, CC’ing in mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk. 

6. Acknowledgement and review process

Once you have submitted your application form, we will email you with an acknowledgement. 

We will review your application after the application deadline and once we’ve received all your supporting documents. If successful at interview, we will also share your application with a nominated supervisor(s) to review. 

7. Interviews

7. Interviews

We will email you if you are invited to interview. 

Interviews will take place at the Oglesby Cancer Research Building in Withington in Spring 2025.

8. Applying to intercalate 

UoM MBChB students must complete an intercalation Expression of Interest form by Friday 24th January 2025 (we may be able to consider late applications to intercalate in exceptional circumstances). This form is available on 1MedForms via the following link: https://www.onemedforms.manchester.ac.uk/ 

UoL MBChB must apply to intercalate via UoL processes by Friday 24th January 2025.

University of St Andrews Manchester pathway students can contact mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk for guidance.

Key dates

• Intercalation deadline: Friday 24th January 2025
• Application deadline: Friday 7th March 2025
• Interviews: w/c 28th April 2025
• Start date: September 2025