Aggression and Irritability in Neurodevelopmental Conditions: A Translational Approach
Start date: February 2019
Award: 1 fully funded Home/EU studentship by Sackler Centre for Translational Neurodevelopment and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science
Project:
Aggression is a common form of challenging behaviour among individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia and psychopathy. Aggressive behaviours have a serious negative impact on both affected individuals and their families. Aggressive behaviour often leads to removal from education-based settings, and entry into the criminal justice system - yet we lack effective treatments. Given the worldwide increase in the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders, development of effective interventions is urgently needed. However, the search for therapies is hampered by our poor understanding of causal mechanisms.
In the translational programme of research in the Sackler Institute at KCL, we combine human and rodent studies to examine neurobiological underpinnings of NDD-associated aggression. We are pleased to offer a PhD opportunity to join our team and work in either/or both humans and rodents to examine the brain biology of aggression in NDD. We use MRI as a translational tool to examine brain structure, function and biochemistry in-vivo. Thus, we aim to define the brain systems involved in aggression in NDD in our patient populations and then establish whether these signatures can be recapitulated in mice carrying risk genes (e.g. Neuroligin 3 or Neurexin-1a knock-out animals which are highly aggressive) for NDD. Subsequently, ex-vivo work on animal models will allow us to confirm the cellular basis of what we see in the living brain and generate novel treatment targets.
By bridging the gap between basic and clinical research, this innovative multidisciplinary project provides unmatched breadth and depth of skills training and has the potential to rapidly impact upon our understanding and treatment of aggression associated with NDDs.
The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's, the largest academic psychiatric community in Europe links with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to access approximately 30,000 outpatients. Thus, working here provides exposure to a unique resource of basic science and clinical expertise for the student. The Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences is equipped with state of the art imaging facilities, including two GE 3T MRI clinical research scanners and support from a dedicated team of engineers, physicists, statisticians, radiologists, and image analysts. The student will have comprehensive training, including in imaging, biomarker characterisation, data acquisition, computation and analysis as well as specific training in clinical ethics, recruitment and assessment.
Supervisors:
Dr Nigel Blackwood, Dr Grainne McAlonan, Dr Marija Petrinovic
Entry requirements: Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree with 2:1 honours. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters with Merit.
Award types and eligibility:
Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment and FANS departmental studentships are based on MRC rates stipend currently £16,777 per annum.
This studentship is for Home/EU fee status students.
How to apply:
Applicants must complete and submit an online admissions application, via the admissions portal by midnight (23:59 GMT) on 31st August 2018.
On the ‘Choosing a programme’ page, please select ‘Research degrees’ and enter the keywords Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time). Further information can be found here.
In your application, you will be asked to include:
- Academic Transcripts – where applicable, academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application
- Details of your qualifications (you will need to attach copies)
- Details of previous employment
- A personal statement describing your interests and why you wish to apply for this project. Please include this as an attachment rather than using the text box.
- Academic References – all admissions applications require two supporting references. If the applicant is relying on his/her referees to submit references directly to the College after he/she has submitted his/her admissions application, then the applicant must ensure that their chosen referees are made aware of the funding deadline.
In the Funding section, please tick box 5 and include the following reference: NB-FANS-2018
Please note there is no need to complete the Research Proposal section in your application as the project has already been set.
You are welcome to email Dr Grainne McAlonan (supervisor) for more information regarding the project and studentship.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Lauren Soules, the Postgraduate Research Adminitrative Assistant.
References must be received by the deadline for the applicant to be eligible.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: 31st August 2018 (23:59 GMT).
Interviews: Will be notified by email
Further information:
About the IoPPN
Studying at the IoPPN
Research degrees at the IoPPN
KCL Researcher Development Programme