Tumour Treating Electric Fields for Non-invasive Treatment of Brain Cancer

This studentship is for a graduate to join our multi-disciplinary research group investigating a new safe treatment for cancer of the brain. The graduate will enrol for a higher degree aimed at achieving a PhD within three years. The treatment involves the use of low-intensity Electric Fields which are known to prevent the uncontrolled division of cancer cells. This treatment, if optimised, could revolutionise the treatment of fatal brain tumours such as Glioblastomas. It may also extend to other types of cancers. Currently, a treatment is already approved in the USA (see https://www.optune.com/) and used together with chemotherapy drugs to slow down the progress of the cancer. The aim of this project is to maximise the efficacy of the Electric Fields so as to render the chemotherapy drugs unnecessary.

To achieve optimization of the electric fields we are currently exploring the effect on cells inside the eggs of the common fruit fly (Drosophila). These cells divide much faster than human cancer cells so allowing direct observation of the dividing process under a high-resolution microscope.

The project is in collaboration between the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (SECaM), Peninsula School of Medicine and our industrial partner Zimmer & Peacock Ltd. The project will involve design and development of electronics, electric field electrode systems and graphene sensors. You will also gain experience of behavioural assays, immunohistochemistry, expression of fluorescent proteins and confocal microscopy.