PhD Gastroenterology

Overview

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology builds on a long and prestigious history and remains a leading international centre for research into the fundamental principles of human physiology.

Laboratory research is based mainly on the University campus in the Henry Wellcome Laboratory of Molecular & Cellular Gastroenterology. We also conduct clinical research and trials at the Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital.

Our focus is on “translational” research: taking advances in basic medical research out of the laboratory and into the hospital clinic ‘from the bench to bedside’. This involves a whole range of experimental techniques, from mechanistic studies involving cell-lines through to patient studies and clinical trials.

Our research interests

Investigations in humans and animals which define the biology of GI disease and provide the scientific foundation for the development of new or improved therapies.

Research themes

Our research areas specifically focus on:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers - molecular pathogenesis; regulation of apoptosis in the GI tract; the gastrin family of peptides; epithelial glycobiology; development of biomarkers
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – role of immune cells; bacterial factors; the development and assessment of novel therapies
• Gastric physiology and response to NSAIDs
• Gut microbiota, enteric infection and bacteraemia
• Volatile Organic Compounds in GI disease
• Development and imaging of 3-D ‘mini-gut’ models.