This PhD opportunity is being offered as part of the LSTM and Lancaster University Doctoral Training Partnership. Find out more about the studentships and how to apply.
| Abstract | Low birth weight and poor maternal nutrition are major causes of infant mortality in malaria-endemic regions. While malaria infection itself plays a clear role, emerging evidence suggests that some antimalarial drugs can also influence maternal metabolism and nutrient absorption—some improving outcomes, others potentially worsening them. The mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown.
This innovative PhD project will use human intestinal and placental organoid systems—miniaturised, functional models of human tissues—to explore how antimalarial drugs affect gut and placental health under conditions of good and poor nutrition. The student will investigate how drug exposure alters epithelial structure, nutrient transport, and immune responses, using high-content imaging, transcriptomics, and quantitative data analysis to uncover the biological pathways involved. Working across the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and KEMRI–CGHR in Kisumu, Kenya, the student will receive world-class interdisciplinary training in organoid biology, pharmacology, bioimaging, and computational analysis. They will develop skills to integrate experimental and clinical data, contributing to global efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes. |
| Where does this project lie in the translational pathway? | T1 – Basic Research / T2 Human / Clinical Research |
| Methodological aspects | • Organoid Modelling: Generation of human intestinal and placental organoids from primary tissue sources to model maternal nutrient uptake and placental function • Drug Exposure Experiments: Testing antimalarial chemotherapies (single and combination regimens) to assess impacts on barrier integrity, inflammation, and metabolic activity • Quantitative Imaging: Use of confocal microscopy and automated image segmentation to derive high-dimensional metrics of cellular morphology and function • Multi-Omics Profiling: Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data to identify pathway-level responses to treatment • Data Science Pipelines: Development of reproducible computational workflows in Python/R for image feature extraction, pathway enrichment, and network analysis • Translational Integration: Comparison of experimental outcomes with clinical and nutritional datasets from maternal health studies in Kisumu |
| Expected outputs | • Mechanistic understanding of how antimalarial drugs affect gut and placental health. • Quantitative biomarkers of nutrient transport and epithelial integrity. • Peer-reviewed publications in translational pharmacology and global health journals. • An open-source quantitative imaging and transcriptomic analysis pipeline. • Strengthened LSTM–KEMRI partnership in maternal–child translational research. |
| Training opportunities | The student will receive cross-disciplinary training in:
• Human organoid culture and organ-on-chip technologies. |
| Skills required | Applicants should hold a strong background in biomedical sciences, pharmacology, or bioengineering, with enthusiasm for interdisciplinary global health research. Experience with cell culture, microscopy, or bioinformatics is advantageous. Analytical thinking, adaptability, and collaborative skills are essential. |
| Key Publications | 1. Barsosio, Hellen C et al. The Lancet, Volume 403, Issue 10424, 365–378. 2. Kim S, Naziripour A, Prabhala P, Horváth V, Junaid A, Breault DT, Goyal G, Ingber DE. EBioMedicine, 2024. 3. The Lancet. 2023 Mar 25;401(10381):1020–1036. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02535-1 |
| Subject Areas | Malaria, Chemotherapeutics, Malaria in Pregnancy |