PhD Studentship (CASE Studentship), University of Manchester

Via www.jobs.ac.uk. A PhD Studentship entitled 'Role of urotensin II in the progression of diabetic nephropathy' is available in the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester. Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of diabetes and the principal cause of end stage renal disease (renal failure). A number of hormones are thought to play a role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, including the peptide urotensin II. Initially identified as the most potent vasoconstrictor hormone discovered to date, urotensin II is now known to have complex effects on both the vasculature and the kidneys. We have shown that it contributes to the regulation of renal function, as well as having fibrotic actions.

In patients with diabetic nephropathy, plasma and urinary urotensin II concentrations are elevated, as are renal expression levels of the urotensin II receptor. Experimentally animals with sub-total nephrectomy, which mimic human renal failure, also have elevated levels of urotensin II and its receptor in the kidney. What is unclear is how urotensin II contributes to the progression of renal failure in diabetic nephropathy. The project will use two animal models of diabetic nephropathy - sub-total nephrectomy in the rat and the db/db mouse which develops diabetes and renal failure spontaneously - to study the activity and expression of urotensin II as the disease progresses.

For further details and to download an application form, click on the link below. The PhD studentship is due to commence in September/October 2010.

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