Vitamin D as a Modulator of Macrophage Trained Immunity in Periodontal Disease
First supervisor: Dr Emily Lu
Second supervisor: Dr Subhankar Mukhopadhyay
Funding available: Self-funded PhD students only. Students will need to self-fund or gain sponsorship for non-clinical PhD annual fees shown at this page plus bench fees of £10,000 per year.
Duration of award: 3 years
Mode of study: Full-time
Eligibility: Home, EU & Overseas
Start date: June or October 2026
Application deadline:
June 2026 entry – 20 March 2026 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2026 for Home fee status
October 2026 entry – 1 June 2026 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2026 for Home fee status
Reference number: 2026/DOCS/EL1
Project description
Periodontitis is a global disease burden, underpinned by chronic inflammation, driven by microbial dysbiosis and an exaggerated host immune response, leading to irreversible destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. Emerging evidence have revealed that features consistent with trained immunity are present in periodontitis, including hyper-responsive circulating monocytes and altered neutrophil behaviour. In particular, monocyte-derived macrophages display a heightened inflammatory state, contributing to excessive cytokine release, oxidative damage, and osteoclast-mediated bone loss, yet the mechanisms sustaining this hyper-inflammatory phenotype remain poorly defined.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased severity of periodontal disease and increased tooth loss. Vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator that regulates epigenetic and metabolic pathways central to trained immunity; however, its impact on macrophage-trained immunity and its ability to reverse maladaptive immune memory remain unclear. This PhD project will test the central hypothesis that vitamin D modulates trained immunity in macrophages by reshaping their epigenetic and metabolic programming, thereby restoring a balanced inflammatory and antibacterial phenotype and enabling the therapeutic reversal of established trained immunity and periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss.
Person specification
- Research commitment
- Previous research experience
- Discovery scientist or dental clinician
Research training
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in core laboratory and translational research techniques, including eukaryotic cell culture, molecular biology approaches such as quantitative PCR and Western blotting, and the use of immunoassays, including single-plex and multiplex bead-based platforms. In addition, the candidate will be trained in animal handling and supported in working towards obtaining a UK personal animal licence. They will also develop skills in disseminating research findings through scientific presentations and peer-reviewed publications, providing a strong foundation for future careers in academic practice.
To view entry requirements and further information, see the Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD.
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:
- Register a new account/login.
- Once logged in, select Create a new application.
- Enter ‘Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time)' under Choose a programme. Please ensure you select the correct mode of study.
- Select a start date from the list.
- Please note: Applicants must include the project reference number (2026/DOCS/EL1) in the 'Research proposal' and 'Funding (point 5)' sections of the application.
Dr Emily Lu
emily.lu@kcl.ac.uk
Related Centre Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions
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