Immunology PhD

Research overview

PhD programme allows students to undertake a substantial amount of independent research while gaining 20 credits of transferable skills training.

Given the broad range of interests of the academic staff, it is possible to conduct a research project in most areas of immunology. The project should be developed in discussion with the identified academic supervisor/s.

The programmes are flexible in nature and allow students to take some additional accredited taught credits, in consultation with their supervisor.

Research facilities

The Inflammation Research Group laboratories are based in the Life Sciences Building. We have state-of-the-art facilities for tissue culture, flow cytometry, high-throughput immunoassay and intracellular signalling studies which enable both basic and translational research at the cellular and molecular levels in a number of key inflammatory disorders.

Current areas of interest for the groups PI’s (Fairclough, Tighe and Todd) include: Immune modulation due to cigarette smoke, in relation to COPD, and biomarker exploration in allergic Asthma; Innate immune dysfunction in the rare autoinflammnatory syndromes, especially TNF receptor-associate periodic syndrome (TRAPS) and studies of immune system malfunctions with regard to improved diagnosis of common variable Immunodeficiencies.