Platelet-Rich Fibrin as a Therapeutic Strategy for the Management of Peri-Implantitis Defects

Project details

First supervisor:  Dr Emily Lu

Second supervisor:  Professor Luigi Nibali

Funding available:  Self-funded PhD students only. Students will need to self-fund or gain sponsorship for clinical PhD annual fees shown at this page plus bench fees of £5,000-£8,000 per year.

Duration of award:  3 years

Mode of Study:  Full-time

Eligibility: Home, EU & Overseas

Start date:  October 2026

Application deadline:  

1 June 2026 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2026 for Home fee status

Reference number:  2026/DOCS/EL2

Project description

This project addresses the urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for the management of peri-implantitis, a highly prevalent condition associated with severe biological and functional consequences if left untreated. The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) S3 guidelines highlight the current lack of clear, reliable, and predictable treatment protocols for managing peri-implant defects. Recent randomised controlled trials indicate that the adjunctive use of bone grafts does not confer a clear advantage over open flap debridement (OFD) alone in peri-implantitis therapy. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous platelet concentrate, offers multiple biological advantages, including the promotion of tissue regeneration and wound healing. The PhD study will test the hypothesis that the use of PRF in the surgical management of peri-implantitis will improve outcomes at 12 months.

Person specification

• Periodontist/ Dentist
• Research commitment
• Previous research experience

Research training

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive, hands-on research training covering the full lifecycle of clinical research. This includes instruction in clinical trial design and methodology, such as randomisation, blinding, protocol development, and outcome measure selection, alongside formal training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to ensure ethical conduct, participant safety, and data integrity. Students will gain experience in regulatory and governance processes, including ethics, regulatory approvals and trial registration, participant recruitment, informed consent, and study visit management. Training will also encompass standardised clinical data collection, including training in compliance with the Human Tissue Act (HTA), intervention delivery and monitoring, safety and adverse event reporting, and data management in collaboration with statisticians. In addition, the student will receive training in microbiome analysis, bioinformatic analysis, running molecular assays, including immunoassays, including single-plex and multiplex bead-based platforms. They will develop skills in interdisciplinary teamwork and in disseminating research findings through scientific presentations and peer-reviewed publications, providing a strong foundation for future careers in clinical research or academic practice.

To view entry requirements and further general information, see Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD prospectus page.

Next steps

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss projects with the first supervisor prior to submitting an application. 

Please apply online at apply.kcl.ac.uk following these steps:

1. Register a new account/login.
2. Once logged in, select Create a new application.
3. Enter ‘Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time)/(Part-time)' under Choose a programme. Please ensure you select the correct mode of study.
4. Select a start date from the list.
5. Please note: Applicants must include the project reference number (2026/DOCS/EL2) in the 'Research proposal' and 'Funding (point 5)' sections of the application.

Contact for further information

Name: Dr Emily Lu

emily.lu@kcl.ac.uk

Related Centre: Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions

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