Cardiac-cell metabolism in inflammatory arthritis
Queen Mary University of London
Not stated
- Funding
- Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
- Application deadline
- 1 October 2026
About the project
About the Project Inflammatory arthritis substantially increases cardiovascular risk, including heart dysfunction, yet the molecular links between chronic joint inflammation and the failing heart remain poorly understood. Cardiac macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells are central regulators of tissue homeostasis, metabolic adaptation and repair. This project will investigate how chronic arthritis alters their metabolism and function before and after cardiac dysfunction emerges, and whether targeted metabolic intervention can prevent arthritis-associated cardiovascular damage. The doctoral candidate will: Define temporal changes in cardiac macrophage, fibroblast and endothelial-cell states during inflammatory arthritis and evolving cardiac dysfunction. Establish how mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and metabolic rewiring shape cardiac inflammation and tissue remodelling. Test whether targeted metabolic and pro-resolving interventions can protect the heart while controlling joint inflammation. Training and research environment Experimental arthritis and cardiovascular models; echocardiography; cardiac immunology; multiparameter flow cytometry; mitochondrial and oxidative-stress assays; qPCR and RNA sequencing; metabolomics and lipidomics; and translational analysis of patient samples. Candidate profile A strong background in immunology, cardiovascular biology, pharmacology, metabolism or molecular medicine. Experience in cell biology, flow cytometry or experimental models is advantageous. Candidates of any nationality are welcome to apply. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain by October 2026, a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) that permits doctoral enrolment at QMUL. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree, must be proficient in English, and must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their principal activity in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment. Application information For more information, please visit: https://harpnet.eu/recruitment/ For any queries related to the applications please contact: info@harpnet.eu or m.perretti@qmul.ac.uk