The role of phosphatases in melanoma metastasis and therapy resistance
Closing date: 04/04/2025
CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Non-Clinical PhD Scholarship: The role of phosphatases in melanoma metastasis and therapy resistance
Lead Supervisors: Dr Rebecca Lee
Co-Supervisors: Dr Adam Hurlstone, Dr Kerrie Marie
Applications Deadline: Friday 4th April 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 28th April 2025
Non-Clinical Studentship start date: September 2025
Project Keywords: Melanoma, Resistance, Metastasis
Research Opportunity: Non-Clinical Studentship leading to the award of PhD
Project Outline
Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer associated with an incidence of ≈17500 patients and 2300 deaths per year in the United Kingdom. Adjuvant therapy with either immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI; anti-PD-1 therapy with nivolumab/pembrolizumab) or targeted therapy (TT; dabrafenib plus trametinib) in BRAF mutant patients has improved both relapse-free and distant metastasis-free survival although the survival benefit is less clear. Despite these significant improvements in melanoma therapy, up to 30% of patients with stage 3 disease will develop distant metastases and in those patients who develop advanced melanoma, approximately half will die, therefore it is critical to better understand mechanisms behind melanoma metastasis and therapy resistance.
This exciting project will interrogate novel models of metastasis in melanoma which are also known to be targeted therapy (TT) resistant. These include circulating tumour cell xenograft (CDX) models derived from patients with highly aggressive melanoma. The aim of the project will be to characterise and perturb a novel target of metastatic progression and drug resistance. The student will develop techniques in assessing metastatic potential, drug response both in vitro and in vivo, siRNA screens and mass spectrometry.
We are looking for a hard-working, focused, ambitious person to join our excellent, friendly, inclusive and collaborative team. Our laboratory makes use of a broad range of in vitro and in vivo techniques to study melanoma, with the aim of developing novel therapies for patients. We would be particularly happy to receive applications from individuals with a strong academic track record and Masters-level and/or other laboratory research experience in cancer biology.
The project will provide comprehensive training in tumour biology, pre-clinical models and data analysis, positioning the candidate for an exciting future in cancer biology, drug target discovery and validation.
Applications for this project are now open. Please complete your application on the Windsor Fellowship website.
About Dr Rebecca Lee (project Lead Supervisor)
Rebecca Lee is a clinician scientist at the University of Manchester and a consultant medical oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. She completed her PhD in the laboratory of Richard Marais where she worked on cell signalling, targeted therapy drug resistance and helped to develop patient derived mouse models. Her postdoctoral clinical fellowship was in the laboratory of Erik Sahai at the Francis Crick Institute interrogating the tumour microenvironment. She has also developed several clinical trials translating her work to the clinic. She has recently been awarded a Wellcome Trust Fellowship examining liver metastasis and immune therapy resistance.
Key information
Before submitting an application, please ensure you have read the information below about the funding arrangements and eligibility for Non-Clinical Studentships.
We also encourage you to get in contact with the lead supervisor to discuss the project and any particulars.
Further information is available on the Non-Clinical PhD Studentships webpage.
Our Non-Clinical PhD Studentships are usually funded for four years, with funding covering:
- Project running costs
- University tuition fees university tuition fees (at the UK rate, with some scholarships available for high-performing EU/International candidates)
- An annual stipend of £21,000 to help with living costs
Studentships are highly competitive and so we encourage you to contact any supervisors who you are interested in working with before applying for our Non- Clinical PhD Studentships.
International Candidates
The University of Manchester aims to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
We are able to offer a limited number of bursaries to high-performing EU and international candidates, covering PhD fees only. Bursaries do not include financial support for visa/health surcharges.
We assess each EU and international candidate’s suitability for a bursary at the application and interview stages.
This programme is aimed at students from Black heritage backgrounds pursuing a PhD in cancer-related fields. This scheme is open to people who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including a mixed background, for example: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black backgrounds).
The funding for this studentship covers students with UK Home tuition fee status only. However, the CRUK Manchester Centre are able to offer a number of overseas fee scholarships to candidates deemed appointable at interview. These scholarships cover fees only and do not cover health/visa surcharge costs.
The standard CRUK Manchester Centre PhD programme and studentship academic eligibility criteria are:
- A first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university) in a relevant subject.
- Appropriate research experience as part of, or outside of, an undergraduate or masters degree course in a relevant subject.
- Appropriate English language skills.
Applications for this programme are now open. Please follow the steps below to complete your application:
Step 1: Contact the MCRC Training team to discuss your suitability for your chosen project.
Step 2: Visit the Windsor Fellowship website for further details and to log your application with them.
Step 3: Please then submit a full application for a BLiC PhD on The University of Manchester application portal.
Key dates
- Applications open: Monday 3rd March 2025
- Application deadline: Friday 4th April 2025
- Interviews: Week commencing 28th April 2025
- Start date: September 2025
Useful Links
Submit your application
Interested in applying for this opportunity? Go to the Windsor Fellowship website to submit your application.
Non-Clinical PhD Studentships
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Contact Dr Yasmin Noori Jenaghard, Postgraduate Programme Manager.
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