Project description

Obesity has epidemic proportions in the UK as more than 60% of adults are overweight and 33% have fatty liver. Poor dietary habits (western diets) are the main contributors to obesity and liver steatosis, where lipid accumulation becomes toxic for hepatocytes leading to cell death and consequent inflammation. Autophagy, which removes intracellular components, is key to regulate lipid metabolism in hepatocytes and its impairment contributes to fatty liver. Importantly, the role of alternative cellular mechanisms of intracellular cargo degradation like LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), remains poorly studied in this context.

This project aims to define the mechanisms mediating the lipid update and metabolism in the liver in response to high fat diets. This will enable the PhD student to propose targets to preserve liver metabolic health and prevent disease progression associated to poor dietary habits, which will be investigated in this project.

This collaborative project provides the unique opportunity for the successful candidate to receive broad training on cellular and molecular biology techniques. The project will be supervised by two molecular biologists (Beraza and Rushworth) whose work have a strong translational aim. This team will train the PhD student in a series of preclinical in vivo models; molecular biology and immunology methodologies; and complex techniques like confocal microscopy and spectral flow cytometry.

This collaborative project will enable the student to work in different labs at different institutions (Quadram institute and University of East Anglia) and to present their results to wide-ranging audiences in conferences and meetings. The multidisciplinary nature of this project will contribute to build a broad network and will provide the student valuable transferable skills essential for the progression of her/his scientific career.

This project will be carried out at the Quadram institute, which combines research laboratories with clinical facilities, located at the core of the Norwich Research Park.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/.

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.

To maximise accessibility and attract students from underrepresented groups to our programme we have introduced bespoke templates for applicant Personal and Research statements which will enable every applicant to fully represent themselves through providing suitable examples and evidence. These forms are on the NRPDTP website and must be used for these sections of the application form.

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2025/6 stipend rate: £20,780), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

References

1. Wojtowicz EE, Hampton K, Moreno-Gonzalez M, Utting CL, Lan Y, Ruiz P, Beasy G, Bone C, Hellmich C, Maynard R, Acton L, Markham M, Troeberg L, Telatin A, Kingsley RA, Macaulay IC, Rushworth SA*, Beraza N*.

Low protein diet protects the liver from Salmonella Typhimurium-mediated injury by modulating the mTOR/autophagy axis in macrophages.

Commun Biol. 2024 Sep 30;7(1):1219. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06932-w. PMID: 39349819

*co-Corresponding author

2. Moreno-Gonzalez M, Hampton K, Ruiz P, Beasy G, Nagies FS, Parker A, Lazenby J, Bone C, Alava-Arteaga A, Patel M, Hellmich C, Luri-Martin P, Silan E, Philo M, Baker D, Rushbrook SM, Hildebrand F, Rushworth SA*, Beraza N*.

Regulation of intestinal senescence during cholestatic liver disease modulates barrier function and liver disease progression.

JHEP Rep. 2024 Jun 29;6(10):101159. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101159. eCollection 2024 Oct. PMID: 39314550

*co-Corresponding author

3. Quesada-Vazquez S, Bone C, Saha S, Triguero I, Colom-Pellicer M, Aragons G, Hildebrand F, Del Bas JM, Caimari A, Beraza N*, Escote X*.

Microbiota Dysbiosis and Gut Barrier Dysfunction Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Are Modulated by a Specific Metabolic Cofactors' Combination.

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Nov 8;23(22):13675. doi: 10.3390/ijms232213675. PMID: 36430154

*co-last author

4. Moore JA, Mistry JJ, Hellmich C, Horton RH, Wojtowicz EE, Jibril A, Jefferson M, Wileman T, Beraza N*, Bowles KM*, Rushworth SA*. J Clin Invest. 2022 Jan 6:e153157. doi: 10.1172/JCI153157. PMID: 34990402\

LC3-associated phagocytosis in bone marrow macrophages suppresses acute myeloid leukemia progression through STING activation.

Journal of Clinical Investigation 2022 Jan 6:e153157. doi: 10.1172/JCI153157. Online ahead of print. PMID:

34990402

*co-Corresponding author

5. Rai S, Arasteh M, Jefferson M, Pearson T, Wang Y, Zhang W, Bicsak B, Divekar D, Powell PP, Nauman R, Beraza N, Carding SR, Florey O, Mayer U, Wileman T

The ATG5-binding and coiled coil domains of ATG16L1 maintain autophagy and tissue homeostasis in mice independently of the WD domain required for LC3-associated phagocytosis.

Autophagy. 2019 Apr;15(4):599-612. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1534507. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Role of non-canonical autophagy in the liver response to unhealthy Western diets (BERAZA_Q26DTP)

Project description

Entry requirements

Funding

References