(MCRC Clinical) From niche to clone: linking stromal–immune ecosystems to metastatic evolution in penile cancer

About the project

About the Project Penile squamous cell carcinoma is a rare cancer in which spread to the lymph nodes is the major determinant of survival. Yet we still cannot reliably identify which primary tumours will metastasise, meaning many patients undergo invasive nodal staging without metastatic disease being found. This project asks a fundamental biological question: why do some regions of a penile tumour acquire the ability to spread? The PhD will investigate how cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells shape metastatic evolution. The student will reanalyse published single-cell penile cancer datasets to identify conserved fibroblast programmes, then develop a seven-colour multiplex imaging assay and apply it to an established 52-patient cohort with existing spatial immune maps. These data will be integrated with spatial genomics from a unique tissue collection. Multiple mapped regions from primary tumours, together with matched lymph node metastases, will undergo low-pass whole-genome sequencing to reconstruct clonal relationships and determine whether tumour regions most closely related to metastasis occupy a distinct stromal and immune niche. The project is embedded within one of Europe’s largest specialist penile cancer services at The Christie and integrated with the University of Manchester and Manchester Cancer Research Centre. This provides access to rare clinical samples alongside expertise in tumour immunology, digital pathology, cancer genomics, bioinformatics and evolutionary analysis. The student will gain multidisciplinary training in single-cell data analysis, multiplex imaging, spatial pathology, tissue genomics, bioinformatics and tumour evolution, while developing an independent research question at the interface of laboratory science and clinical translation. We are looking for an ambitious, curious and collaborative researcher who wants to understand how cancers spread and use that knowledge to improve patient care. The project offers a supportive multidisciplinary environment and a strong platform for a future career in translational cancer research. Eligibility You must be a post-registration clinician and therefore must hold an MBChB degree or equivalent medical degree and ideally have a specialist post in a related subject, to apply for our Clinical Research Training Fellowships. It is generally expected that CRTFs will return to a training programme in the UK upon completion of their research degree. International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English language) before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility information can be found on the University's Country Specific information page. Before you Apply Applicants must make direct contact with preferred supervisors before applying. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to meet with potential supervisors, prior to submitting a formal online application. How to Apply Apply directly via this link: https://tinyurl.com/577zjazd or on the online application portal, select MCRC PhD Programme as the programme of study. You may only apply for one project within this scheme. Please ensure that your application includes all required supporting documents: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Supporting Statement Academic Certificates and Transcripts Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Further details are available on our website: CRUK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme | Biology, Medicine and Health | University of Manchester Application Timeline Applications open: Monday, 5 October 2026 Application deadline: Monday, 23 November 2026 Interview date: Week commencing 11 January 2027 Start date: September 2027 Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the University’s activities. The full statement can be found here: https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/getting-started/equality-diversity-inclusion/”

Research areas