Advanced Bioscience of Viral Products
The CTP in Advanced Bioscience of Viral Products (ABViP) is a 4-year, comprehensive, multidisciplinary training programme designed and led by gene and cell therapy company Oxford Biomedica in collaboration with the University of Oxford and University College London. The programme aims to deliver the next generation of bioscience leaders to advance research on the underpinning bioscience of viral products for future gene therapies and vaccines.
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John Cairns / UOXF
This DPhil course will take a holistic approach to the science underpinning the successful development of new viral vector products including an understanding of the fundamental cell biology, bioprocessing considerations, improving our knowledge of the process/product, understanding how these aspects can be translated and advanced in an industrial setting and identifying how these fit into the wider regulatory context.
Students will work in interdisciplinary teams across the cohort, integrating activities, sharing knowledge and disseminating research findings within the academic/industrial/clinical communities and to the public. All students on this course will undertake a placement with an industrial partner as part of their studies.
Four fully-funded studentships are available for students based at the University of Oxford, one for each project advertised below and starting in October 2024.
This BBSRC CTP ABViP Studentship is available to UK and Overseas (including EU) students. Full maintenance (stipend & fees) is available to UK and Overseas students for the duration of the four-year DPhil programme. Additional funds will be made available for research consumables. Note that up to a maximum of one fully-funded studentship allocation is available for Overseas students across the four University of Oxford ABViP projects being offered in 2024/25. The annual tax-free stipend in 2024 will be no less than £20,622pa which includes a top up by Oxford Biomedica.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact the supervisor(s) of their chosen project(s) to discuss their application. Contact details can found in the project descriptions below.
Applications must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Friday 1st December 2023.
Further details about the ABViP programme and how to apply can be found on the ABViP home page.
Projects
Details of the four available projects for 2024/25 can be found below:
- ABViP 2024_01 - Characterisation of adenovirus vector vaccine particles for improved antigen delivery
Lead supervisor: Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine - ABViP 2024_02 - Development of Lentiviral Vectors to Induce Transient Cell Activation and Proliferation of Naïve T Cells
Lead supervisor: Professor Omer Dushek, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology - ABViP 2024_03 - Hitching a ride with a humanized retroelement
Lead supervisor: Professor Stephen Hyde, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS) - ABViP 2024_04 - Cross-vector comparison in understanding the innate-adaptive pathways underpinning viral vector induced T cell responses
Lead supervisor: Dr Anita Milicic, Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine