Beyond bone health: a multidisciplinary approach to define the functional effects of vitamin D ongenomic stability (FoodBioSystems DTP)

This exciting collaborative project offers the opportunity for you to develop multidisciplinary skills in research studying a novel mechanism of action of vitamin D in human health. You will work under the supervision of a team of leading scientists at both the University of Surrey and the University of Reading and develop expertise in human nutrition, molecular and cellular biology, and mathematical modelling of biological systems.

Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health concern. In the UK, 13-21% of people aged 11 to 64 are vitamin D deficient as assessed based on the minimum vitamin D status required for bone heath. The situation is similar or worse in many other countries. Furthermore, higher vitamin D status may be necessary to reap the full health benefits of its many other biological effects. However, the mechanisms by which vitamin D exerts these other effects and the levels of vitamin D in the body needed to fully activate these processes are not fully understood.

This project will focus on one such biological activity; the capacity of vitamin D to help protect cellular DNA. This is important for health because accumulation of DNA damage is associated with the aging process and increased cancer risk, as well as increased risk of other non-communicable diseases. The capacity of vitamin D to improve the protection of cellular DNA has been demonstrated in skin cells in culture and in skin in situ. This observation suggests vitamin D may serve a central function in a protective feedback loop because most vitamin D in humans is synthesized in skin via the action of UV light from the sun. However, UV also damages cell components, including DNA. Therefore, high vitamin D levels in skin may act as a signal of UV exposure, triggering adaptations to better protect the cells from the damaging effects of the UV. Importantly, vitamin D also protects skin cells against other sources of damage such as nitrosative and oxidative stress. Exactly how this protection is achieved, and whether it is unique to skin cells, is unknown as is whether the protection could be achieved by increased dietary vitamin D intake without the inherent risks of UV light exposure.

We hypothesize vitamin D protects against DNA damage in skin and other tissues by modulating cell proliferation/cycling and enhancing DNA repair. In this project, you will test this hypothesis using a multidisciplinary strategy to gain new insights into the functional effects of vitamin D on genomic stability in cells in culture and assessing the relevance of those findings in human populations by taking advantage of a sample bank available from a large vitamin D supplementation study.

The Universities of Surrey and Reading provide a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities. We see our postgraduate researchers as an integral part of our research community, collaborating and innovating together with academics at all levels. We want the most talented researchers from diverse backgrounds to join us, bringing new ideas and perspectives. We will help you make the most of your potential, removing barriers where we can and supporting you with dedicated career guidance. We offer sector leading researcher development training and mentoring, and dedicated employability support.

About the FoodBioSystems DTP

The FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) brings together six university partners: University of Reading, Cranfield University, University of Surrey, Queen’s University Belfast, Aberystwyth University, and Brunel University London. The Partnership’s vision is to develop the next generation of bioscientists with in-depth knowledge and technical expertise of food systems and biological processes across the Agri-Food system from pre-farm to post-fork. They will become the urgently needed experts - able to transform the food value chain and address challenges of sustainability, efficacy, authenticity and safety in food production systems whilst delivering better nutrition and concomitant health benefits for society. The DTP is currently advertising 36 projects. From these, it is expected 24 studentships will be awarded to the strongest application to start their studies in October 2022.

Applicants should hold a minimum of a BSc honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant Life Science subject, have a particular interest in cellular/molecular biology and nutrition and be confident and competent in mathematics to at least A level standard. We will also consider graduates in relevant Physical Sciences who have a good understanding of the concepts for the mathematical modelling elements of this project and who can also demonstrate a good understanding of biology, to at least A level standard, as well as particular enthusiasm to learn more about human biology and nutrition.

This studentship is available for UK and international students.

IELTS requirements: The standard requirement is for a score of 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category, in an IELTS Academic test taken in the last 2 years. 

Department of Nutritional Sciences.

References

• Reichrath J and Rass K Adv Exp Med Biol 2014. 810: 208-33
• Gordon-Thomson C et al. Adv Exp Med Biol 2014. 810: 303-28
• Vodenkova S et al Nature Protocols 2020 15: 3844-3878
• Healing E et al. Nucleic Acids Res 2019 47: e61.