Cancer Studies PhD/MD/MSc by Research

Summary

Cancer Sciences remains a major research strength within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, as evidenced by the fact that 80% of our RAE 2008 submission in the area of Cancer Studies was considered internationally excellent or world leading. Particular strengths include cancer cell signalling, the DNA damage response, gene and immunotherapy and cancer viruses.

Key facts

Type of Course: Doctoral research

Duration: PhD – 3 or 4 years full-time, 6 years part-time; MSc by Research – 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time; MD – 2 years minimum part-time

Start date: Research degrees may start at any time of the year, though for most this will be September 2012

Entry requirements

Learn more about entry requirements   

International students
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements

Standard English language requirements apply

Contact details

School of Cancer Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4474

How to apply

Learn more about applying

  • Apply for the PhD full-time or part-time
  • Apply for the MPhil full-time or part-time
  • Apply for the MD part-time

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

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Fees and funding

Standard fees apply, although in some projects a bench fee is also payable. 
Learn more about fees and funding

Scholarships and studentships
A number of studentships are available for PhD students each year, funded by major sponsors including Cancer Research UK (through the CRUK Cancer Centre), the MRC and the Leukaemia Research Fund, as well as national and local charities; home/EU students should contact the School directly for further information. For general scholarship enquiries email sfo@contacts.bham.ac.uk  

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

Programme overview

We offer a range of postgraduate education opportunities including both research and taught programmes. Opportunities are available on a full- or part-time basis leading to the qualifications of MD, PhD, MPhil, MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate. Continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities are also available as short study programmes.

Cancer Sciences remains a major research strength within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, as evidenced by the fact that 80% of our RAE 2008 submission in the area of Cancer Studies was considered internationally excellent or world leading. Following the RAE 2008 results, in The Research Fortnight’s University Power Ranking, Birmingham is named as the leading Cancer Studies centre outside London (only topped by the Institute of Cancer Research). Particular strengths include cancer cell signalling, the DNA damage response, gene and immunotherapy and cancer viruses.

The School of Cancer Sciences incorporates the following basic and translational research themes:

  • Structural Biology and Biomarkers
  • Cancer Cell Biology
  • Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
  • Cancer Clinical Trials (CRCTU)/Clinical Trials (BCTU)
  • Tumour Immunology and Immune Gene Therapy
  • Viral Oncology

Related links

School of Cancer Sciences website: www.cancersciences.bham.ac.uk

Research interests of staff

  • Integrins; tetraspan proteins and cell signalling
    Contact: Dr Fedor Berditchevski
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 2801
    Email: f.berditchevski@bham.ac.uk
  • Biochemical studies of adenovirus transforming proteins; post-translational modification of proteins; apoptosis
    Contact: Dr Roger Grand
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4483
    Email: r.j.a.grand@bham.ac.uk
  • Urological malignancies; boron neutron capture therapy
    Contact: Professor Nicholas James
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4097
    Email: n.d.james@bham.ac.uk
  • Cancer clinical trials and biomarkers
    Contact: Professor Philip Johnson
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3801
    Email: johnsonp@cancer.bham.ac.uk
  • T cell responses and haematological malignancies; viral infections of the immunocompromised host; graft-versus-leukaemia
    Contact: Professor Paul Moss
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 2824
    Email: p.moss@bham.ac.uk
  • NMR and cell signalling
    Contact: Professor Michael Overduin
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3802
    Email: m.overduin@bham.ac.uk
  • Metabolomics; NMR
    Contact: Dr. Ulrich Günther
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 8361
    Email: u.l.gunther@bham.ac.uk
  • Biology and immunology of Epstein-Barr virus
    Contact: Professor Martin Rowe
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 7144
    Email: m.rowe@bham.ac.uk  
    Contact: Professor Alan Rickinson
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4492
    Email: a.b.rickinson@bham.ac.uk
  • Human papillomaviruses; epithelial cell biology
    Contact: Dr Sally Roberts
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4481
    Email: s.roberts@bham.ac.uk
  • Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpes virus and viral immune modulation
    Contact: Dr David Blackbourn
    Tel: +44 (0)121 415 8804
    Email: d.j.blackbourn@bham.ac.uk
  • Viral vectors; gene therapy of cancer
    Contact: Dr Peter Searle
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4487
    Email: p.f.searle@bham.ac.uk
  • Genetic predisposition to cancer in man; ataxia telangiectasia; DNA damage response genes
    Contact: Professor Malcolm Taylor
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4488
    Email: a.m.r.taylor@bham.ac.uk
  • Molecular basis of T cell and NK cell receptor recognition
    Contact: Dr Ben Willcox
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 9533
    Email: b.willcox@bham.ac.uk
  • Adenovirus gene regulation of tumour suppressors
    Contact: Dr Andy Turnell
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4483
    Email: a.s.turnell@bham.ac.uk
  • Regulating the cellular response to DNA damage
    Contact: Dr Grant Stewart
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 7458
    Email: g.s.stewart@bham.ac.uk
  • DNA damage response genes in lymphoid malignancies
    Contact: Dr Tatjana Stankovic
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4496
    Email: t.stankovic@bham.ac.uk
  • Signalling events in oesophageal carcinogenesis
    Contact: Dr Chris Tselepis
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 2972
    Email: c.tselepis@bham.ac.uk
  • Epigenetics, HPV and EBV
    Contact: Professor Paul Murray
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4021
    Email: p.g.murray@bham.ac.uk  
    Contact: Professor Ciaran Woodman
    Tel: +44 (0)121 415 8237
    Email: c.b.woodman@bham.ac.uk
  • Brain tumours and metabolomics
    Contact: Dr Andrew Peet
    Email: acpeet@doctors.org.uk
  • Neuroblastoma and genomics
    Contact: Dr Carmel McConville
    Email: c.mcconville@bham.ac.uk
  • Leukaemia – phase l and ll studies
    Contact: Dr Pamela Kearns
    Email: p.r.kearns@bham.ac.uk
  • Gynaecological Oncology: Cytology, screening and development of predictive tests for diagnosis of pre-invasive disease and monitoring of therapy; preinvasive and invasive malignancy of the cervix; herpes virus; endometrial cancer; ovarian cancer: diagnosis and treatment; clinical trials; rare gynaecological tumours; vulval and vaginal malignancy.
    Contact: Professor David Luesley
    Tel: +44 (0)121 507 5337
    Email: d.luesley@virgin.net
  • Gynaecological oncology and minimal invasive radical surgery
    Contact: Dr Sudha Sundar
    Tel: +44 (0)121 507 5337
    Email: s.s.sundar@bham.ac.uk
  • Neuropathology; axonal cell growth; glial cell interactions; EBV and cerebral tumours; temporal lobe epilepsy
    Contact: Dr Peter Barber
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4028
    Email: p.c.barber@bham.ac.uk
  • Liver transplant pathology; hepatobiliary pathology. Mechanisms of immune damage and growth factors in liver disease
    Contact: Professor Stefan Hubscher
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4005
    Email: s.g.hubscher@bham.ac.uk
  • Lymphoma biology; oncogenic herpes viruses
    Contact: Professor Paul Murray
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4021
    Email: p.g.murray@bham.ac.uk
  • Transplantation pathology
    Contact: Dr Desley Neil
    Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4003
    Email: d.a.h.neil@bham.ac.uk
  • Surgery
    Contact:
    Professor Derek Alderson
    Email: d.alderson@bham.ac.uk  
    Professor Dion Morton
    Email: dion.morton@uhb.nhs.uk  
    Mrs Olga Tucker
    Email: o.tucker@bham.ac.uk  
    Mr Simon Bach
    Email: s.p.bach@bham.ac.uk  
    Dr Glenn Matthews
    Email: g.m.matthews@bham.ac.uk  
    Dr Martin Chidgey
    Email: m.a.chidgey@bham.ac.uk 

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