Cancer Studies PhD/MD/MSc by Research - University of Birmingham

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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.

Course fact file

Type of Course: Doctoral research

Study Options: Full time, part time

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

Contact

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Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences Graduate School: Professor John Gordon

If you complete our contact form we will respond to your enquiry within two business days.

Alternatively, you can contact us on +44 (0)121 414 5005 or by email: mds-phd@contacts.bham.ac.uk

School of Cancer Sciences

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Course details

Details

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

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.

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

How to apply

Learn more about applying

Apply for the PhD full-time or part-time
Apply for the MSc by Research 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

Contact

Read FAQs for this programme

Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences Graduate School: Professor John Gordon

If you complete our contact form we will respond to your enquiry within two business days.

Alternatively, you can contact us on +44 (0)121 414 5005 or by email: mds-phd@contacts.bham.ac.uk

School of Cancer Sciences

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Related news and events

Overview

Research interests

Research interests of staff

Integrins; tetraspan proteins and cell signalling
Contact: Dr Fedor Berditchevski
Biochemical studies of adenovirus transforming proteins; post-translational modification of proteins; apoptosis
Contact: Dr Roger Grand
Urological malignancies; boron neutron capture therapy
Contact: Professor Nicholas James
Cancer clinical trials and biomarkers
Contact: Professor Philip Johnson
T cell responses and haematological malignancies; viral infections of the immunocompromised host; graft-versus-leukaemia
Contact: Professor Paul Moss
NMR and cell signalling
Contact: Professor Michael Overduin
Metabolomics; NMR
Contact: Dr. Ulrich Günther
Biology and immunology of Epstein-Barr virus
Contact: Professor Martin Rowe
Contact: Professor Alan Rickinson
Human papillomaviruses; epithelial cell biology
Contact: Dr Sally Roberts
Oncogenic viruses; Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus; virus immune modulation
Contact: Professor David Blackbourn
Viral vectors; gene therapy of cancer
Contact: Dr Peter Searle
Genetic predisposition to cancer in man; ataxia telangiectasia; DNA damage response genes
Contact: Professor Malcolm Taylor
Molecular basis of T cell and NK cell receptor recognition
Contact: Dr Ben Willcox
Adenovirus gene regulation of tumour suppressors
Contact: Dr Andy Turnell
Regulating the cellular response to DNA damage
Contact: Dr Grant Stewart
DNA damage response genes in lymphoid malignancies
Contact: Professor Tatjana Stankovic
Signalling events in oesophageal carcinogenesis
Contact: Dr Chris Tselepis
Epigenetics, HPV and EBV
Contact: Professor Paul Murray
Contact: Professor Ciaran Woodman
Brain tumours and metabolomics
Contact: Dr Andrew Peet
Neuroblastoma and genomics
Contact: Dr Carmel McConville
Leukaemia – phase l and ll studies
Contact: Dr Pamela Kearns
Gynaecological oncology and minimal invasive radical surgery
Contact: Dr Sudha Sundar
Liver transplant pathology; hepatobiliary pathology. Mechanisms of immune damage and growth factors in liver disease
Contact: Professor Stefan Hubscher
Lymphoma biology; oncogenic herpes viruses
Contact: Professor Paul Murray
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
Professor Dion Morton
Mrs Olga Tucker
Mr Simon Bach
Dr Glenn Matthews
Dr Martin Chidgey

Related research

Research in the School of Cancer Sciences

Contact

Read FAQs for this programme

Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences Graduate School: Professor John Gordon

If you complete our contact form we will respond to your enquiry within two business days.

Alternatively, you can contact us on +44 (0)121 414 5005 or by email: mds-phd@contacts.bham.ac.uk

School of Cancer Sciences

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Course details

Employability

Following graduation, Postgraduate Researchers in the College MDS gain employment in a variety of areas though with a majority continuing in research, mostly in Academia but also in the Health, Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnology sectors. Others pursue careers in Education, Publishing, Intellectual Property Protection, Technology Innovation, Business, and more besides.

Contact

Read FAQs for this programme

Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences Graduate School: Professor John Gordon

If you complete our contact form we will respond to your enquiry within two business days.

Alternatively, you can contact us on +44 (0)121 414 5005 or by email: mds-phd@contacts.bham.ac.uk

School of Cancer Sciences

Follow us on Twitter

Research interests