Meet Vlasios Gourgiotis

Why did you choose to do an MB-PhD?

Since I have always been very academically driven and passionate about medical research, doing a PhD early on in my studies was the perfect choice for me. The MB-PhD programme combines medical training with research, allowing you to earn both a medical degree and a PhD. It’s a great way to integrate clinical practice with scientific study.

I had the opportunity to meet my project lead supervisor, Professor Kevin Couper, and his lab group prior to applying, which made my decision a lot easier. I found Professor Couper’s PhD project really interesting and novel and was keen to apply.

What are you responsible for?

My project focuses on brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma, a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. I am trying to understand how small proteins in our immune system can be used to help fight against glioblastoma cells.

My project involves various standard lab experiments, such as Western blots, in-vivo experimental work and computational methods. Currently, I am responsible for maintaining healthy cells and tissue cultures so I can carry out experiments in the lab to see if cytokines, small proteins in our bodies, can be manipulated to make cancer cells more visible to our immune system and therefore be used as a cancer treatment.

Another big responsibility is to keep all my supervisors updated regarding the progression of my project, as the supervisory panel is rather diverse and split across various buildings and campuses.

As a Student Rep and Student Ambassador, I am also responsible for answering students’ enquiries and supporting them as much as possible.

What does your typical week look like?

The most exciting part of being an MB-PhD student is that every week is different! I work quite independently and have the flexibility to arrange my work and experiments to suit my plans and schedule.

I personally like to arrive at the lab quite early and crack on because I like to go to the gym in the evenings. Every second Tuesday we have a lab meeting, which I find exciting as we talk about our projects, progress and plans. Wednesday mornings are the most challenging as I have water polo training at 8am so the day can be very long!

Weekends are great for a lie-in and to catch up on some admin work. I believe a healthy work-life balance is essential so on days that are less busy, I like to catch up with friends, enjoy my hobbies or even do some reading.

What’s the best part of your MB-PhD?

My PhD project is focused on brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma and immunology. The best part is that it perfectly combines wet-lab skills and computational work, giving me experience in various crucial research skills.

What’s the most challenging part of your MB-PhD?

There is a lot of reading that needs to be done. The literature is vast, ever-expanding and sometimes contradictory, therefore narrowing down what literature you need for your project can be challenging. But I’ve found it’s best to be open to new ideas, speak to your supervisor, and read, read, and read some more! It only gets easier.

What advice would you give to others who want to study an MB-PhD?

If you like science, research and academia, then I would definitely recommend applying for this programme. I know it is very competitive and it may seem daunting at first but the staff at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre are incredibly helpful and on-hand throughout the application process to make it as smooth and easy as possible.

Here are my top tips for anyone considering applying for an MB-PhD:

• Meet the lab group! I cannot stress that enough. The project might sound amazing and interesting but you will be working with your supervisor and lab group for the next three years so it’s important you’re a good fit.
• Consider why you want to pursue a PhD. Clarifying your motivations will help you stay focused.
• Look into different MB-PhD programmes across the country to find one that aligns with your interests and make sure you are eligible to apply.
• Build connections with Faculty and other researchers early on. Networking can provide really value insights and mean you have someone to go to for advice on your own research.
• Be flexible with your research interests; they may evolve as you gain more experience, and be open to new ideas and topics.
• Juggling both medical training and research can be challenging. Developing resilience will help you navigate setbacks.
• Participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences to enhance your knowledge and connect with others in the field.

Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from current MB-PhD students or alumni. Their insights can be invaluable as they may have experienced exactly what you’re going through. I am always happy to answer questions from any prospective or current MB-PhD students.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I want my project to leave a big footprint behind and have a translational impact. However, looking at the bigger picture, I want to be remembered as being a good, caring doctor and for the research I help produce in the future, hopefully as a professor.

If you weren’t doing an MB-PhD what else would I be doing?

I would probably be in my 4^th year of my MBChB medicine degree at The University of Leeds. However, even if I hadn’t chosen to do an MB-PhD, I would have still tried to get research experience through clinical audits and projects as my goal has always been to be an academic doctor.

To contact Vlasios with any queries about our MB-PhD programme, please email MCRCReps@Manchester.ac.uk.

Find out more about our MB-PhD programme and view our MB-PhD projects for 2025 entry.