3 year funded PhD

Anthocyanins are brightly coloured compounds responsible for most of the red and purple colours of fruits and vegetables like strawberries, blackcurrants aubergines, and also for flower colours. It has been shown that people who consume the most anthocyanins in their diet experience lower rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality and are less likely to develop hypertension. Furthermore, there are robust data of our own and others that demonstrate that dietary anthocyanins protect against CVD in preclinical animal studies. However, orally ingested anthocyanins are poorly bioavailable per se. Anthocyanins degrade in foods, the gut and in blood, and it is quite likely that their breakdown products contribute to the predicted health benefits. There is an urgent need for data from properly controlled human intervention studies that will provide direct evidence of the effect of consumption of anthocyanin-rich diets on human health.

In this project, the effects of anthocyanin consumption on vascular function and CVD risk will be assessed in a unique randomised controlled trial in which subjects will consume either an anthocyanin-supplemented or an anthocyanin-replete control diet. The effects of the diets on global gene expression profiles will be assessed and this data will be used to develop hypotheses concerned with the underlying molecular mechanisms by which anthocyanins (or their metabolites) affect vascular function and CVD risk.

The student will join an established research group with access to state of the art equipment and facilities for molecular and biochemical nutrition research including: mammalian cell culture; RNA/DNA manipulation; quantitative RT-PCR; flow cytometry; proteomics; metabolomics; analytical chemistry including HPLC with various detectors including triple quadrupole MS, NMR. There is expertise in human nutrition and the undertaking of intervention trials, statistically robust analysis of large transcriptomic datasets, biomarker analyses, molecular methods including qRT-PCR, use of cultured cell and tissue models, knockdown using iRNA, etc... The student will receive training in the techniques listed above and additional training in the statistical package ‘R’, use of software for analysing transcriptomic datasets, and cell transfection. In addition, the student will undertake the excellent NBI and CSED-provided training modules in various transferable skills and will be encouraged to undertake a broad and interesting transferable skills training programme. The student will become an integrated member of the Polyphenols and Health research group and contribute to regular group meetings. The student will also form part of a team of IFR researchers working on a European-funded project, and will have the opportunity to present their research at regular consortium meetings around Europe.

A 3 year European Union Framework 7 (ATHENA) funded studentship offering full funding to UK and EU nationals. The current stipend for 2010/11 is £13,590 per annum.

To apply please go to http://www.ifr.ac.uk/students/admissions.htm

Deadline: 15-04-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://www.ifr.ac.uk

Email: graduates.nrp@bbsrc.ac.uk

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on eurizons.eu

Eurizon.eu

Search

Last Insert

3 year funded PhD

Contacts: