Supervisors: Dr Patrick Lewis, Claudia Manzoni (UCL)

Department: Comparative Biomedical Sciences  

Project Details:  

The 14-3-3 family of proteins bind to other proteins within the cell, regulating activity and cellular localization. Research over the last decade has linked 14-3-3 proteins to a number a neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this project is to establish a comprehensive map of how the the 14-3-3 proteins interact with the pathways that lead to neuronal death in the human brain, and to use this as a tool to gain a deeper understanding of the pathobiology of these disorders.

The project will involve bioinformatic analysis of the 14-3-3 proteins and human neurodegenerative disorders, with cell based experiments to test key observations from in silico predictions.  

References

1. Giusto, E., Yacoubian, T.A., Greggio, E. et al. Pathways to Parkinson’s disease: a spotlight on 14-3-3 proteins. npj Parkinsons Dis. 7, 85 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00230-6  
2. Manzoni, C., Lewis, P.A. & Ferrari, R. Network Analysis for Complex Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Genet Med Rep 8, 17–25 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40142-020-00181-z Hagberg H, Mallard C, Rousset CI, Thornton C. Mitochondria: hub of injury responses in the developing brain. 
3. Gu, Q., Cuevas, E., Raymick, J. et al. Downregulation of 14-3-3 Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease. Mol Neurobiol 57, 32–40 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-019-01754-y

Requirements:

Essential 

• Must meet our standard MRes entry requirements.

Desirable 

• Some background/understanding in bioinformatics or neuroscience
• Good organisational skills and enthusiasm 

This can be taken full-time or part-time (12 months FTE) project commencing in October 2026, based at RVC's Camden campus. 

Partially funded: The MRes student will be expected to meet their course fees and living expenses. All other project costs will be met by the supervisor.

International applicants are welcome to apply but must be able to fund the difference between "Home" and "Overseas" tuition fees. Please note that EU/EEA and Swiss national students may no longer be eligible for the “Home” rate of tuition fees, dependent on personal circumstances (including immigration status and residence history in the UK) and UK government rules which are currently being developed. For up-to-date information on fees for EU/EEA and Swiss national students following Brexit please see our  fees and funding page.

How to Apply

Deadline: 8th May 2026

For more information on the application process and English Language requirements see How to Apply. 

Interviews will take place remotely (Teams, Zoom etc) within 4 weeks of the closing date. 

We welcome informal enquiries - these should be directed to plewis@rvc.ac.uk