Development of a bioelectronic system for applying chronobiology to improve the treatment of neurological disorders
About the Project
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of scientists studying bioelectronic systems to provide novel therapies by sensing and electrically stimulating the nervous system. The studentship is available from the start of academic year 2021/22 for 3 years and will be primarily supervised by Professor Tim Denison at the Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford (MRC BNDU).Bioelectronic systems are used currently for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson’s and epilepsy. While sleep disorders are a common co-morbidity of these neurological disorders, DBS does not currently account for diurnal or circadian rhythms in therapy optimization. Emerging data suggests that circadian rhythms, and chronobiology in general, might prove important in the treatment of disease states. Chronobiology is defined in this project as time-based cycles in physiology, arising from evolutionarily preserved internal temporal rhythms, along with their modulation upon anticipation of environmental change.The studentship will develop responsive brain stimulation algorithms that apply chronobiology using a novel DBS research system, the Picostim-DyNeuMo. The Picostim-DyNeuMo is a highly-configurable, implantable bioelectronic platform for studying human subjects with neurological disorders. This project is a collaborative effort with Bioinduction Ltd., and builds upon their existing Picostim implant. The DyNeuMo variant adds scientific instrumentation to this implant to determine how electrical stimulation impacts the nervous system and to develop novel stimulation strategies tailored to patient’s needs.The specific objective of this project is to characterize the impact of neural stimulation on subjects’ diurnal symptoms and side-effects, and thereby optimize responsive therapies with a consideration for chronobiology. Using the research toolkit provided by the Picostim-DyNeuMo system the DPhil student will 1) acquire and analyze data from the implant and characterize how physiological markers linked to symptoms, side-effects and sleep respond to stimulation, 2) model these responses and prototype therapy algorithms 3) working with clinicians, test circadian rhythm responsive stimulation protocols in investigational trials.For further details about the project, please contact Professor Tim Denison (timothy.denison@eng.ox.ac.uk) and see the MRC BNDU’s Studentships page: https://www.mrcbndu.ox.ac.uk/phdInterested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. control engineering, engineering science, biological or physical sciences, medicine, computer science, mathematics. Previous experience in brain computer interfacing, electronics or neuroscience research is desired.The MRC BNDU is uniquely multidisciplinary, integrating exceptional research programmes that span clinical, experimental and computational neuroscience and bioengineering. The collective aim of the MRC BNDU is to understand the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells that are critical for brain functions, and to exploit these to develop novel therapies for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The student will be exposed to systems-based medical device design and development (e.g. risk management, good design and manufacturing practice, and quality system considerations). For career futures, the student will be well-positioned to make a significant contribution in medical device design and translational research.This Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), a part of UKRI. All successful applicants are entitled to receive a tax-free stipend and, as a minimum, tuition fees paid at the Home level, regardless of whether they are Home or International students. For further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility, please see: https://www.ukri.org/our-work/developing-people-and-skills/find-studentships-and-doctoral-training/get-a-studentship-to-fund-your-doctorate/To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance at https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-clinical-neurosciences?wssl=1<trans oldtip=". On the application form, in the section headed " departmental="" studentship="" applications’,="" please="" indicate="" that="" you="" are="" applying="" for="" a="" and="" enter="" the="" reference="" code="" mrc="" bndu="" "'="" newtip="。在申请表上，请在“系学系学生申请”一节中注明你申请的是一名学生，并输入一名mrc bndu学生的参考代码。“">. On the application form, in the section headed 'Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code for a MRC BNDU studentship '21CLINNEURO01WEB'.The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Thursday 6th May 2021.Interviews for short-listed applicants will be held in late May 2021.
