PhD in Cardiovascular - Ageing and The Cardiopulmonary System in Leeds United Kingdom | University of Leeds

Pursuing a research degree in the Faculty of Biological Sciences allows you to acquire and refine skills as an autonomous investigator in your selected discipline. Guided by your principal supervisor and additional co-supervisors, you'll conduct pioneering research on specific biological challenges while joining a vibrant research network employing cross-disciplinary methods to address contemporary scientific inquiries. During your PhD journey, you'll not only deepen your expertise in your specialized area but also cultivate broader competencies through structured training initiatives, seminar participation, and conference engagements.

Advancing age significantly elevates risk for most cardiovascular conditions. This correlation stems partly from the progressive nature of many heart and vascular disorders. Even in healthy individuals, aging leads to diminished vascular and cardiac performance, with marked decreases in peak cardiac output and aerobic capacity becoming particularly evident after age 70. Our primary objective focuses on decreasing cardiovascular disease prevalence and severity while enhancing life quality for older populations. Our comprehensive research methodology ranges from analyzing electrical signals in individual heart cells to assessing cardiovascular performance in living organisms. We strive to pinpoint critical factors altered by normal aging or progressive cardiovascular conditions, then devise interventions to counteract functional impairments and support healthy longevity. Our investigations utilize both animal models and human subjects, supplemented by sophisticated computational modeling across multiple scales.