There is a variety of research activity taking place at the Institute. Below is a list of research areas, each with details of project titles within that area suitable for study at MPhil/PhD level.
To discuss any potential MPhil/PhD further, please do not contact potential supervisors directly. All enquiries should be directed to the Research Student Administrator
You can also browse PhD projects by supervisor
- Antibiotic resistance
Project titles:
New therapeutics for tuberculosis: identification and characterisation of cofactor biosynthesis pathways and their role during infection
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios EvangelopoulosRational design of future drug combinations as a strategy to combat antibiotic resistance and superbugs
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios EvangelopoulosExploring gene transfer in the whole oral microbiota metagenomics, oral microbiota, mobile genetic elements
Supervisor: Professor Peter MullanyNovel approaches to understanding how the important nosocomial pathogen Clostridium difficile causes disease
Clostridium difficile, virulence, antimicrobial associated disease
Supervisor: Professor Peter MullanyMacrolide resistance in the oral cavity: mechanisms and transfer
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan- Bacterial virulence
Project titles:
Identification of novel therapeutic targets in bacteria associated with healthcare infections such as staphylococcus aureus and 'superbugs' such as VRE and MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, enterococci, VRE, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairNovel approaches to understanding how the important nosocomial pathogen Clostridium difficile causes disease
Clostridium difficile, virulence, antimicrobial associated disease
Supervisor: Professor Peter MullanySignal transduction in bacterial virulence
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan- Biofilms
Project titles:
Constant depth film fermentor models of gingivitis and periodontitis
gingivitis, periodontitis, biofilms
Supervisor: Professor Dave SprattDevelopment of new strategies for treating implant infections
biofilms, enterococci, periodontal pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairMolecular mechanisms of biofilm formation
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, VRSA
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairSynthetic biology to develop agents for disrupting medically important biofilms
molecular breeding, domain shuffling, enzymes
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairUnderstanding biofilm regulation in Campylobacter jejuni
biofilms, signalling, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Elaine AllanBacterial vitamin biosynthesis pathways and their role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiome
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos- Biomaterials and composites for matrix tissue engineering
Project titles:
- Catalyst free synthesis of polyesters for tissue engineering
- Neurogenic and Osteogenic peptide delivery via polymer matrices
- Development of Degradable Fibres for Hard and Soft Tissue Engineering
- Silk fibroin and degradable polyurethane composites with improved mechanical properties
Supervisor: Profssor Jonathan Knowles - Caries Microbiology
Project titles:
Novel signal transduction mechanisms in Streptococcus mutans
Supervisor: Dr Elaine AllanSynthetic biology to develop dental plaque disrupting agents
molecular breeding, domain shuffling, enzymes
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair- Development of novel antimicrobial therapies
Project titles:
A synthetic biology approach to the development of phage therapy to bacterial diseases
phage, oral acquisition microflora, caries
Supervisor: Professor Peter Mullany / Dr Paul AshleyIdentification of novel therapeutic targets in bacteria associated with healthcare infections such as staphylococcus aureus and 'superbugs' such as VRE and MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, enterococcus, VRE, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairDevelopment of novel antimicrobial agents and identification of antimicrobial agents produced by microorganisms novel antimicrobials, metagenomics, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairMetagenomics for natural product discovery
Supervisor: Dr Elaine AllanBiofilm disruption activities in natural environments
Supervisor: Dr Elaine AllanTargeted photodynamic therapy for bacterial infections
photosensitizers, singlet oxygen, targeting molecules, MRSA, staphylococcus
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair- Endodontal microbiology
Project titles:
Constant depth film fermentor models of endodontal infections
Supervisor: Professor Dave SprattMolecular mechanisms of enterococcal resistance to root canal treatments and host defences
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair- Injectable, antibacterial, remineralising materials for tooth and bone repair
Project titles
Self adhesive, re-mineralising, antibacterial dental restorative materials
dental restoration, methacrylate, calcium phosphate, antibacterial release / action
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young / Dr Paul AshleyReplacement of PMMA bone cement with a modified dental composite
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), bone cement, dental composite, strength, antibacterial
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young / Dr Lambis PetridisDegradable composite bone cement development
calcium phosphate, degradable polymers, bone cement, drug release
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young- Mucosal immunity
Project titles:
Mucosal immune response in health and disease
Innate, adaptive, immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptorsTranscriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease
Transcriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformaticsUnderstanding epithelial immunity to bacterial and viral infection
Inflammation, toll-like receptors, inflammasome, autophagy, next generation sequencingUnderstanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation
Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosisStudying the role of probiotics in the regulation of mucosal inflammation and immunity Investigating how autophagy influences mucosal immune responses
Innate immunity, toll-like receptors, Nod-like receptors, epithelial cells, macrophagesSupervisor: Professor Andrew Smith - Oral medicine
Project titles:
Development of patient-related outcomes (PRO) measures in oral mucosal diseases
Supervisor: Dr Stefano FedeleInnate Immunity defects in oral mucosal disease
Supervisor: Dr Stefano FedeleEfficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing the risk of jaw osteonecrosis in individuals exposed to bisphosphonates who undergo dental extractions
Supervisor: Dr Stefano FedeleMucosal immune response in health and disease
Innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors
Supervisor: Professor Andrew SmithTranscriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease
Transcriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics
Supervisor: Professor Andrew SmithUnderstanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation
Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosis
Supervisor: Professor Andrew SmithStudying the role of probiotics in the regulation of mucosal inflammation and immunity
Supervisor: Professor Andrew SmithMigraine and oral health: are the two diseases linked?
Supervisor: Dr Yago Leira- Oral health and performance
Project titles:
The natural history of the dental pellicle and its relationship to dental erosion in elite sport Oral health and performance in elite sport Nasal, oral and gut microbiomes for elite sport performance and population health. Oral biomarkers for monitoring elite athlete performance and health Physical activity, inflammation and periodontal health Supervisor: Professor Ian Needleman - Paediatric Dentistry
Project titles:
Investigations of the effectiveness of remineralising composites as a restorative material in children
pain management,paediatric dentistry, sedation, anxiety management
Supervisor: Professor Anne YoungAssessment of Acceptability of Wand for paediatric dental patients
Supervisor: Dr Susan Parekh- Periodontal Microbiology
Project titles:
Constant depth film fermentor models of ginigivitis and periodontitis gingivitis, periodontitis, biofilms
Supervisor: Professor David SprattIdentification of natural antimicrobial agents for the treatment of periodontal disease
periodontal pathogens, natural antimicrobials
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairThe role of biofilms in infections of titanium surfaces
periodontal pathogens, implants, titanium
Supervisor: Dr Sean NairPeriodontitis and inflammatory bowel diseases: Exploring the nature of the association.
Supervisor: Dr Jacopo Buti- Periodontology
Project titles:
Treatment of Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes
Supervisor: Professor Francesco D'AiutoComparison of different modalities of periodontal therapy
Supervisor: Professor Ian NeedlemanPhysical activity, inflammation and periodontal health
Supervisor: Professor Ian NeedlemanMastication and periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie SuvanWeight loss and periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie SuvanRefined carbohydrate consumption and periodontal inflammation
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie SuvanMechanisms of endothelial inflammation/damage in periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Marco Orlandi- Periodontology and Dental Implantology
Project titles:
Clinical effectiveness of vertical ridge augmentation modalities.
Supervisor: Dr Federico MorenoCharacterisation of periosteum-derived grafts for periodontal repair/regeneration
Supervisor: Dr Maja SabalicRegulation of cementum development and repair
Supervisor: Dr Maja SabalicDevelopment of a smart investigational product dispenser for clinical trials
Supervisor: Dr Maja Sabalic- Prosthodontics
Project titles:
The influence of implant-abutment corrosion products on cell metabolic pathways implant abutment, dental implants, corrosion, peri-implantitis, bone loss
Supervisor: Dr Lambis Petridis / Professor Jonathan Knowles- Microbiome
Modelling the effect of functional foods and their active components on oral microbiome Studying the impact of the microbiome on oral mucosal inflammatory disease Investigating ways to manipulate the oral microbiome Investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of probiotics in oral health and disease Supervisors: Professor Andrew Smith and Professor Dave Spratt Nasal, oral and gut microbiomes for elite sport performance and population health.
Supervisor: Professor Ian NeedlemanBacterial vitamin biosynthesis pathways and their role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiome
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos