School of Biosciences

4 Year PhD and Clinical Fellowship Programme in Cancer Studies

This 4 Year PhD and Clinical Fellowship programme functions as a focal point for promoting international quality basic and clinical research within the Cardiff Cancer Research UK Centre. The establishment in 2009 of the Cardiff CR-UK Centre reflects the high standard of basic and clinical science within Cardiff University and the aim of driving the knowledge that has been gained to patient benefit.

Supported by Cancer Research UK

Fees: UK and EU students fully paid, non-EU students extra fee will apply.


Stipend:

Non-clinical fellows: starting at £15,430 per annum (subject to review).

Clinical fellows: will depend on status of clinical training.

Entry Requirement:

Science Graduates: First or Upper Second Class in a relevant area (e.g. biochemistry, anatomy, genetics, physiology, natural sciences).  This is a training doctorate, previous research experience is not essential.

Clinical Fellows: Trainees should be interested in a clinical academic career, and have

• a current Core or Specialty Training Programme position
• evidence of high academic distinction and potential (e.g. First or Upper Second Class in BSc, research papers etc.)
• research experience within an undergraduate BSc or MSc project
• evidence of achievement of Core/Specialty Training Competencies by the time of appointment (ARCP or RITA)

Further information on how to apply.

Why study Cancer Biology in the Cardiff Cancer Research UK Centre?

Multinucleate Reed-Sternberg cell seen in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Cardiff University is pioneering an integrated approach to cancer research with the cancer charity Cancer Research UK by establishing a cross-disciplinary Cancer Research Centre. This clinical and non-clinical PhD training programme aims to produce the future leaders of cancer research and is a central feature of the new Centre. Medical research is entering a new phase of development that presents unparalleled research opportunities for basic science and its exploitation to benefit health. To meet these challenges it is evident that researchers need to appreciate the basic, translational and clinical aspects of the topic.  A broad grounding and awareness of emerging technologies, good skills in informatic and an understanding of the challenges in the clinic will be of key importance. Cardiff University, with its significant strengths across these disciplines, is well placed to design and administer a research-training programme and develop cancer researchers, who will eventually specialise in specific topics in basic, translational or clinical research, yet will have an unrivalled understanding of the wider perspective of cancer research.

Cardiff’s PhD and Clinical Fellowship Programme in Cancer Studies is being developed to bring together research groups that span different disciplines in cancer research to train and supervise postgraduate researchers and clinicians in areas that underpin the strategic goals of the Cardiff CR-UK Centre. All cancer studentship supervisors will have substantial financial support that has been won in peer-reviewed competitions. Thus, clinical and non-clinical PhD students have a great opportunity to take part in cancer research that is of the highest international standard, that is likely to result in publication in top scientific journals.

Conformal treatment of the spine improved by use of high energy proton beams

Why take Cancer Studies as a 4 year Programme?

Our 4 year Programme provides a broader and more in-depth practical and theoretical grounding in Cancer Biology than conventional 3 year programmes.  During the first semester of Year 1 you will receive formal lectures in current research techniques and skills, including molecular/biochemical techniques; informatics, pharmaceutics, evidence analysis and clinical aspects of cancer. This will be accompanied by tutorials that will address specific areas of cancer and focus on new conceptual questions, recent progress or technical/clinical challenges. The objective is to make each postgraduate researcher aware of the current state of knowledge, technical limitations and clinical issues where future progress may be made. 

In the second part of Year 1, you will take two three-month rotation projects in internationally renowned labs of your choice. During the lab rotations, you will carry out research, gain knowledge of the questions addressed by the lab, and acquire direct experience of the relevant techniques. Lab rotations will help you to reach an informed choice of the cancer biology area and supervisor you will choose for your full PhD project during Years 2 to 4. Throughout all the years you and your colleagues will participate in weekly seminars and presentations at journal clubs.  The programme is designed to ensure an excellent PhD experience and to prepare you for an outstanding future.

4 field radiotherapy beam arrangement to treat a patient with cervical cancer

Structure of Year 1

Structure of Years 2–4

Why a PhD in Cardiff?

Cardiff is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, with all the social facilities of a modern capital.  The pedestrian-only city centre and the nearby newly refurbished waterfront ‘Cardiff Bay’ district host many department stores and designer-label shops. Delicatessens and restaurants provide food and ingredients from many continents.  There is a good mix of social and cultural venues for all tastes, including plays at the New Theatre and the Sherman Theatre, Opera and plays at the Wales Millennium Centre, film, plays and art at the Chapter Arts Centre and daily concerts at St. David’s Centre. For the sports fan, there is the Millennium Stadium, the Glamorgan Cricket ground, the Cardiff City football club and the Ice Hockey Rink. Last, but not least, there are plenty of friendly bars and clubs where you can celebrate the successes of your PhD research work, as well as  recharge your batteries after the occasional setback! For those wanting a quieter pace of life, Cardiff is home to several beautiful parks, and is only a stone’s throw away from the tranquillity of the Wales heritage coastline and countryside including the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Use of PET scanning in early interim response assessment following chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma

Some examples of the groups involved in cancer research at Cardiff can be found here :

• Professor Alan Clarke
• Dr Duncan Baird
• Professor Tim Maughan 
• Professor Raymond Waters 
• Andrea Brancale 
• Andrew Westwell 
• Professor Malcolm Mason 
• Dr Steven Knapper
• Dr Richard Darley
• Professor Alan Burnett
• Chris McGuigan
• Robert Nicholson 
• Dr Alex Tonks 
• Professor Robert Mansel
• Dr Zara Poghosyan
• Professor Julian Sampson
• Professor Paul Smith
• Professor Jerry Cheadle
• Dr Simon Reed
• Cancer Immunology at Cardiff University
• Professor Trevor Dale's lab

Department of Medicine: Oncology and Palliative Care

Student welfare and progress

On enrolment you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will follow you throughout the four years of the course providing both academic advice and overseeing your general welfare. You will initially be assigned the Schools of Biosciences as your ‘Home Department’. In Years 2-4 the student ‘Home Department’ will be that of your project supervisor.

Your progress will be monitored by a dedicated committee that will include the Programme Director, the Programme Deputy Director and The Director of Postgraduate Studies of the chosen School. You will be part of the larger cancer research community of academic researchers, postdocs and other neuroscience PhD students in the Cancer Research UK Centre. A key feature of the PhD and Clinical Fellowship Programme in Cancer Studies will be the flexible entry route for Clinical Fellows. The Programme aims to attract a wide range of clinicians with varied backgrounds who are inspired to undertake basic research. Cardiff is looking to offer 2 year (MPhil/ MD) or 4 year (PhD) Clinical Fellowshipswith an optional (up to) 12 month extension at the end of the PhD to allow Fellows to transfer smoothly back into clinical practice.  In order to maintain clinical skills, each Clinical Fellow will also undertake one clinical session/ attachment per week tailored to their PhD specialist area.

Career advice will be provided at the start of Year 4 to ensure proper progress to a suitable employment.

For further information, please contact:

Non-clinical fellows:

Prof. Trevor Dale
Email: daletc@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)29 2087 4652

Clinical Fellows:

Dr Eve Gallop-Evans
Email: eve.gallop-evans@velindre-tr.wales.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)29 2031 6246