GW4 BioMed3 MRC DLP PhD project: Synthetic heroin: understanding the dangers of nitazene drugs

About the project

About the Project This project is one of several in competition for funding from the GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme (DLP), which is offering up to 17 studentships for entry in September 2027. The partnership brings together the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter to develop the next generation of biomedical researchers. Students will have access to the combined research strengths, training expertise and resources of the four research-intensive universities. More information may be found on the DLP’s website . Please note that the application process may close early to either home or international candidates (or both) before the stated deadline if an unprecedented number of applications are received – check the DLP’s website for details and updates. Supervisory Team: Prof Chris Bailey (University of Bath) Dr Robin Corey (University of Bristol) Prof Eamonn Kelly (University of Bristol) The Project : Drug-related deaths are now at the highest ever recorded in the UK. In 2020 there were nearly 1,200 drug overdose deaths, the majority of which were opioid overdoses. Opioid drugs, such as heroin, act on muopioid receptors (MOPrs). MOPrs are widely expressed in the brain and, when activated, can cause analgesia, euphoria, and respiratory depression. Historically, heroin has been the most widely used opioid drug on the street. However, there has been a recent rise in the availability ofsynthetic opioids, particularly the class of drug known as ‘nitazenes’. These have already been the cause of fatal overdoses and their use is predicted to rapidly rise [1], potentially leading to future public health crises. However, the pharmacology of nitazenes is poorly understood: how they interact with MOPrs, and what the implications are for risk of overdose and treatment of overdoses. This project aims to investigate the neuropharmacology of nitazenes using an interdisciplinary approach. The supervisory group will consist of 3 academics: Chris Bailey (Bath), Eamonn Kelly (Bristol) and Robin Corey (Bristol) with complementary expertise in a range of in silico, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo techniques to investigate the actions of nitazenes at a receptor, cellular and system level. Conventionally, agonists at receptors were thought to differ only in terms of their affinity (how well they bind to the receptor) and their efficacy (how well they activate the receptor). Recently, we have shown that the effects of different agonists at opioid receptors can also depend on how they bind to the receptor [2], and whether the cell is depolarized or not [3]. Further, MOPrs are present in neurons both presynaptically (on nerve terminals) and postsynaptically (on cell bodies and dendrites). We have preliminary evidence that different agonists can preferentially signal through presynaptic receptors, due to presynaptic receptors being more mobile than postsynaptic receptors [4]. And other studies have shown that the specific G-protein signalling induced by different agonists can affect pre- vs. post-synaptic signalling [5]. This pre/post-synaptic ‘bias’ can have profound effects on the agonist’s effects in the whole animal [5, 6]. This project will focus on determining the pharmacodynamic characteristics of nitazenes by using brain slice electrophysiology to determine their actions and presynaptic and postsynaptic MOPrs, in neurons responsible for the rewarding and respiratory depressant effects of opioids [7]. Additional insight will be gathered using in silico molecular dynamics studies [2, 8] and in vitro cell-based signalling assays [9] with the PIs in Bristol. Further, the effects of nitazenes in the whole animal will be assessed using in vivo behavioural assays of reward/addiction and respiratory depression [10, 11]. This project will give the student high-quality training in a broad range of techniques, all aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment of nitazenes at the receptor, cellular and whole-animal level. The ultimate goal will be to understand the relative harms of nitazenes and inform novel approaches to decrease those harms. Requirements: Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a first or upper second-class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of medical sciences, computing, mathematics or the physical sciences. Applicants with a lower second-class degree will only be considered if they have a grade of Merit or above in a master’s degree. Academic qualifications are considered alongside significant relevant non-academic experience. Non-UK applicants will also be required to have met the English language entry requirements of the University of Bath. Enquiries and Applications: Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Prof Bailey: C.P.Bailey@bath.ac.uk Formal applications must be submitted direct to the GW4 BioMed3 DLP using their online application form . A list of all the projects and details on how to apply are available DLP’s website . You may apply for up to 2 projects and submit one application per candidate only. APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 17:00 (GMT) ON 21 OCTOBER 2026. IMPORTANT: You do NOT need to apply to the University of Bath at this stage – only those applicants who are successful in obtaining an offer of funding from the DTP will be required to submit an application for an offer of study from Bath. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Research areas