MPhil/PhD, MD(Res) Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases in London United Kingdom | King's College London

The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases (WCARD) operates under the Division of Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN). WCARD's research concentrates on preserving nervous system health during aging by examining how neural activity alters during nerve and tissue damage, while exploring novel methods for neuronal repair. Our ultimate objective is to enhance life quality for individuals suffering from lifelong and age-related neurological disorders. Our work focuses on: i) uncovering physiological and molecular disease mechanisms, and ii) applying scientific insights to create innovative treatments that restore sensory function and improve injury recovery. Our four primary research areas include: 1) Chronic Pain: Identifying new neuronal and non-neuronal pathways to discover therapeutic targets. 2) Regeneration: Creating CNS injury treatments that address inflammation and glial scarring to boost natural repair. 3) Hearing: Investigating genetic factors in age-related hearing loss across species. 4) Migraine: Translating research on migraine mechanisms into clinical applications. All research groups welcome PhD candidates. We employ advanced techniques like electrophysiology, imaging (patch-clamp, fMRI, micro-PET), genetic activity markers, and computational biology (RNAseq, machine learning) using disease models (neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.) to drive drug discovery. Key advantages include: Collaboration with global neuroscience experts through seminars and partnerships A supportive research community Hospital and industry partnerships PhD training in both specialized and transferable skills Teaching opportunities for undergraduate programs Recent decades have brought significant breakthroughs in nervous system biology, pain mechanisms, and regeneration limits - creating opportunities for clinical translation. Our goals are to: Deepen understanding of chronic pain/migraine causes and develop targeted therapies Investigate neuronal signaling to alleviate pain from nerve damage Pioneer nervous system repair strategies through cell survival and anti-inflammatory approaches.