Specialised pro-resolving mediators as regulators of haematopoiesis in rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease
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 Chronic inflammatory diseases alter bone-marrow output, creating circulating myeloid cells that can perpetuate systemic inflammation and cardiovascular injury. Specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are active regulators of immune-cell development and function, yet their role in controlling haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease is not understood. This project will identify disease-associated defects in bone-marrow resolution pathways and test whether selected SPMs restore balanced haematopoietic output and reduce systemic inflammation. The doctoral candidate will: Determine how SPM pathways regulate haematopoietic stem and progenitor-cell activity and inflammatory versus reparative myeloid-cell production. Identify bone-marrow resolution defects in rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease using experimental and translational systems. Test whether selected SPMs can restore balanced myeloid output and provide biomarkers of altered haematopoiesis. Training and research environment Isolation and phenotyping of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells; multiparameter flow cytometry; colony-forming assays; bone-marrow and myeloid-differentiation models; experimental arthritis and cardiovascular disease; SPM pharmacology; transcriptomic profiling; and translational biomarker development. Candidate profile A background in immunology, haematology, cell biology, pharmacology or molecular medicine. Experience with flow cytometry, primary-cell culture or molecular biology, and a clear interest in bone-marrow biology, inflammation and lipid mediators, are desirable. 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 j.dalli@qmul.ac.uk