PhD/MPhil Pharmacology

University of Manchester

Our PhD/MPhil Pharmacology programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Pharmacology. Our pharmacology research focuses on a range of topics. These include:the pharmacology of drug efflux transporters, particularly ABCB1 P-glycoprotein, ABCG2 breast cancer resistance protein and ABCC multidrug resistance-associated transporters;developing complex, physiologically-relevant in vitro cell systems to investigate transport, metabolism and delivery of therapeutic drugs;understanding the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms that regulate expression and function of drug efflux transporters, particularly in the blood-brain barrier;the role of blood-brain barrier drug efflux transporters in drug delivery to the central nervous system and the effects of inflammatory and degenerative conditions, eg Alzheimer's disease, on efflux transporter function;the biological role of lipid networks in health and disease, particularly their roles in inflammation, cellular communications and tissue responses;employing mass spectrometry-based lipidomic technology, in conjunction with functional, metabolic and signaling approaches to characterise lipid profiles in physiological and pathophysiological conditions;investigating the role of lipids in skin homeostasis and in response to inflammation, injury and wound healing;studying role of local hormones in diseases and conditions associated with the female reproductive tract (eg dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis and the detection and prevention of preterm labour);molecularly identifying and pharmacologically characterising receptors expressed in the female reproductive system;understanding the physiological and pharmacological characteristics of the placenta. These studies include the development of placental homing peptide-microRNA inhibitor conjugates for targeted enhancement of placental growth signalling;Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2022).