Resomelagon in rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular comorbidities
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 Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with excess cardiovascular morbidity that is not adequately addressed by current anti-inflammatory treatment. Resomelagon is a clinical-stage melanocortin receptor agonist with potential to promote resolution without broad immunosuppression. This project will evaluate its anti-arthritic and cardioprotective activities, identifying the immune mechanisms and biomarkers associated with joint resolution, macrophage reprogramming and cardiovascular benefit. The work will provide the doctoral candidate with direct experience of translational pharmacology and the evaluation of a clinical-stage therapeutic. The doctoral candidate will: Define the effects of resomelagon on inflammatory arthritis, systemic immune responses and cardiovascular comorbidities. Identify immune-cell trafficking, macrophage-reprogramming and resolution mechanisms associated with therapeutic response. Develop biomarker and PK/PD-informed strategies that support translation of resolution pharmacology to patient benefit. Training and research environment Translational and clinical pharmacology; experimental arthritis and cardiovascular models; immune-cell trafficking; macrophage phenotyping; specialised pro-resolving mediator analysis; biomarker development; PK/PD concepts; and biotechnology drug-development strategy. Candidate profile A background in pharmacology, immunology, clinical science, biotechnology or translational medicine, with enthusiasm for drug development and evaluation of clinical-stage therapeutics. 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