PhD Studentship

at  Trinity College Dublin

PHD PROJECT TITLE: UNDERSTANDING INFLAMMATORY FORMS OF CELL DEATH IN SEPSIS

Sepsis is a condition defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to infection. There are 11 million deaths annually due to sepsis. Despite decades of work to develop better treatments, clinical trials of new drugs have failed. Antibiotics and support of the circulation remain the cornerstone of sepsis treatment. However, these treatments often fail, resulting in a sepsis mortality rate of 20% in Ireland. Multiorgan failure in sepsis is due to impaired integrity of the vasculature resulting in reduced barrier function, increased oedema, and intravascular clotting. These mechanisms place endothelial cell death centre stage of organ dysfunction in sepsis. Unfortunately, our understanding of cell death in endothelial cells is lacking. The aim of this project is to explore inflammatory forms of cell death in endothelial cells such as pyroptosis and necroptosis following infection with sepsis causing pathogens such as E. coli and candida albicans. In addition, cytoprotective mechanisms will also be explored to determine if these forms of cell death can be blocked to improve the outcome of sepsis.

Please refer the Job description for details