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Current PhD projects

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 sent to: edi-phd@ucl.ac.uk.

Browse by topic

Antibiotic resistance

New therapeutics for tuberculosis: identification and characterisation of cofactor biosynthesis pathways and their role during infection
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos

Rational design of future drug combinations as a strategy to combat antibiotic resistance and superbugs
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos

Exploring gene transfer in the whole oral microbiota metagenomics, oral microbiota, mobile genetic elements
Supervisor: Professor Peter Mullany

Novel approaches to understanding how the important nosocomial pathogen Clostridium difficile causes disease (Clostridium difficile, virulence, antimicrobial associated disease)
Supervisor: Professor Peter Mullany

Bacterial virulence

Identification of novel therapeutic targets in bacteria associated with healthcare infections such as staphylococcus aureus and 'superbugs' such as VRE and MRSAStaphylococcus aureus, MRSA, enterococci, VRE, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Novel approaches to understanding how the important nosocomial pathogen Clostridium difficile causes diseaseClostridium difficile, virulence, antimicrobial associated disease
Supervisor: Professor Peter Mullany

Biofilms

Constant depth film fermentor models of gingivitis and periodontitis
gingivitis, periodontitis, biofilms
Supervisor: Professor Dave Spratt

Development of new strategies for treating implant infections
biofilms, enterococci, periodontal pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, VRSA
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Synthetic biology to develop agents for disrupting medically important biofilms
molecular breeding, domain shuffling, enzymes
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Understanding biofilm regulation in Campylobacter jejuni
biofilms, signalling, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan

Bacterial vitamin biosynthesis pathways and their role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiome
Supervisor:  Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos

Biomaterials and composites for matrix tissue engineering
  • 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: Professor Jonathan Knowles

  • Large-scale synthesis of a novel microbial-derived polymer
  • Development of a biomimetic membrane for wound dressing
  • Long-term cell storage and delivery

Supervisor: Dr David Chau

Caries Microbiology

Novel signal transduction mechanisms in Streptococcus mutans
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan

Synthetic biology to develop dental plaque disrupting agents
molecular breeding, domain shuffling, enzymes
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Development of novel antimicrobial therapies

A synthetic biology approach to the development of phage therapy to bacterial diseases
phage, oral acquisition microflora, caries
Supervisor: Professor Peter Mullany / Dr Paul Ashley

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, enterococcus, VRE, virulence
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Development of novel antimicrobial agents and identification of antimicrobial agents produced by microorganisms novel antimicrobials, metagenomics, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Metagenomics for natural product discovery
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan

Biofilm disruption activities in natural environments
Supervisor: Dr Elaine Allan

Targeted photodynamic therapy for bacterial infections
photosensitizers, singlet oxygen, targeting molecules, MRSA, staphylococcus
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Endodontal microbiology

Constant depth film fermentor models of endodontal infections
Supervisor: Professor Dave Spratt

Molecular mechanisms of enterococcal resistance to root canal treatments and host defences
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Injectable, antibacterial, remineralising materials for tooth and bone repair

Self adhesive, re-mineralising, antibacterial dental restorative materials
dental restoration,  methacrylate, calcium phosphate, antibacterial release / action
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young / Dr Paul Ashley

Replacement of PMMA bone cement with a modified dental composite
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), bone cement, dental composite, strength, antibacterial
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young / Dr Lambis Petridis

Degradable composite bone cement development
calcium phosphate, degradable polymers, bone cement, drug release
Supervisor:  Professor Anne Young

Mucosal immunity

Mucosal immune response in health and disease
Innate, adaptive, immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors

Transcriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease
Transcriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics

Understanding epithelial immunity to bacterial and viral infection
Inflammation, toll-like receptors, inflammasome, autophagy, next generation sequencing

Understanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation
Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosis

Studying 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, macrophages

Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Oral Medicine

Development of patient-related outcomes (PRO) measures in oral mucosal diseases
Supervisor: Dr Stefano Fedele

Innate Immunity defects in oral mucosal disease
Supervisor: Dr Stefano Fedele

Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing the risk of jaw osteonecrosis in individuals exposed to bisphosphonates who undergo dental extractions
Supervisor: Dr Stefano Fedele

Mucosal immune response in health and diseaseInnate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors
Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Transcriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory diseaseTranscriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics
Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Understanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosis
Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Studying the role of probiotics in the regulation of mucosal inflammation and immunity
Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Migraine and oral health: are the two diseases linked?
Supervisor: Dr Yago Leira

The oral microbiome and cancer
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Defining the core outcome set in trigeminal neuralgia - the TRINCOS study
Supervisor: Professor Joanna Zakrzewska

Oral health and performance
  • 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

Investigations of the effectiveness of remineralising composites as a restorative material in children
pain management,paediatric dentistry, sedation, anxiety management
Supervisor: Professor Anne Young

Periodontal Microbioogy

Constant depth film fermentor models of ginigivitis and periodontitis
gingivitis, periodontitis, biofilms
Supervisor: Professor David Spratt

Identification of natural antimicrobial agents for the treatment of periodontal disease
periodontal pathogens, natural antimicrobials
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

The role of biofilms in infections of titanium surfaces
periodontal pathogens, implants, titanium
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Periodontitis and inflammatory bowel diseases: Exploring the nature of the association
Supervisor: Professor Jacopo Buti

Periodontology

Treatment of Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes
Supervisor: Professor Francesco D'Aiuto

Comparison of different modalities of periodontal therapy
Supervisor: Professor Ian Needleman

Physical activity, inflammation and periodontal health
Supervisor: Professor Ian Needleman

Mastication and periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie Suvan

Weight loss and periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie Suvan

Refined carbohydrate consumption and periodontal inflammation
Supervisor: Dr Jeanie Suvan

Mechanisms of endothelial inflammation/damage in periodontitis
Supervisor: Dr Marco Orlandi

Periodontology and Dental Implantology

Characterisation of periosteum-derived grafts for periodontal repair/regeneration
Supervisor: Dr Maja Sabalic

Regulation of cementum development and repair
Supervisor: Dr Maja Sabalic

Development of a smart investigational product dispenser for clinical trials
Supervisor: Dr Maja Sabalic

Prosthodontics

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 Needleman

Bacterial vitamin biosynthesis pathways and their role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiome
Supervisor: Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos

The oral microbiome and cancer
Supervisor: Dr Sean Nair

Browse by supervisor

Dr Elaine Allan
  • Understanding biofilm regulation in Campylobacter jejuni biofilms, signalling, virulence
  • Signal transduction in bacterial virulence
  • Novel signal transduction mechanisms in Streptococcus mutans
  • Metagenomics for natural product discovery
  • Finding new antibiotics: mining natural environments for biofilm disrupting activity

 

Professor Jacobo Buti
  • Periodontitis and inflammatory bowel diseases: Exploring the nature of the association.

About Professor Buti

Dr David Chau
  • Modification of biomolecules for the development of new/novel biomaterials
  • Development of advanced, in-vivo-in-vitro-like, tissue engineered models and constructs
  • Advanced drug delivery systems, (bio)pharmaceutics and dosage design forms
  • Smart, cell-/drug-incorporated, wound dressings and therapeutic bandages
  • Development of desiccation-tolerant human (stem) cells for long-term storage 
  • Translational 'green' and 'white' biotechnology for regenerative medicine and bioprocessing applications

About Dr Chau

Professor Susan Cunningham
  • Develop a patient information programme for pre-surgical orthognathic patients and determine its efficacy on the reduction in anxiety and enhancement of satisfaction over the peri-operative period.
  • Orthodontic treatment information provision in the digital age.
  • A randomised controlled clinical trial to compare two techniques for the management of class II malocclusion.

About Professor Cunningham

Professor Francesco D'Aiuto
  • Treatment of Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes
  • Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography as a diagnostics tool for dentistry and its applications to enamel and soft tissues defects or loss

About Professor D'Aiuto

Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos
  • New therapeutics for tuberculosis: identification and characterisation of cofactor biosynthesis pathways and their role during infection
  • Rational design of future drug combinations as a strategy to combat antibiotic resistance and superbugs
  • Bacterial vitamin biosynthesis pathways and their role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiome

About Dr Evangelopoulos

Professor Stefano Fedele
  • Development of patient-related outcomes (PRO) measures in oral mucosal diseases
  • Innate Immunity defects in oral mucosal disease
  • Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing the risk of jaw osteonecrosis in individuals exposed to bisphosphonates who undergo dental extractions

About Professor Fedele

Professor Jonathan Knowles
  • 3D Bioprinting for custom fit maxillofacial implants using new degradable polymers
  • Bioprinting of functional tissue constructs in 3D: Use of hydrogels for assembly of complex tissues
  • Degradable microcarriers for stem cell expansion and formation of new hard tissue organoids
  • Degradable glass fibres for the regeneration of muscle and ligament
  • Repair of nerve tissue injuries using degradable glass fibres as guidance cues.

About Professor Knowles

Dr Rachel Leeson
  • Oral Cancer Prevention, Control and Strategies in Ecuador. Implementation of the first National Guidelines and prevention plans.

About Dr Leeson

Dr Yago Leira
  • Migraine and oral health: are the two diseases linked?

 

Dr Federico Moreno Sancho
  • Clinical effectiveness of vertical ridge augmentation modalities.

 

Professor Peter Mullany
  • Exploring gene transfer in the whole oral microbiota 
  • Metagenomics, oral microbiota, mobile genetic elements
  • Novel approaches to understanding how the important nosocomial pathogen Clostridium difficile causes disease

About Professor Mullany

Dr Sean Nair

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

Development of new strategies for treating implant infections 
biofilms, enterococci, periodontal pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis

Synthetic biology to develop agents for disrupting medically important biofilms 
molecular breeding, domain shuffling, enzymes

Development of novel antimicrobial agents and identification of antimicrobial agents produced by microorganisms
novel antimicrobials, metagenomics, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins

Targeted photodynamic therapy for bacterial infections
photosensitizers, singlet oxygen, targeting molecules, MRSA, staphylococcus

Molecular mechanisms of enterococcal resistance to root canal treatments and host defences

Identification of natural antimicrobial agents for the treatment of periodontal disease
periodontal pathogens, natural antimicrobials

The role of biofilms in infections of titanium surfaces
periodontal pathogens, implants, titanium

About Dr Nair

Professor Ian Needleman
  • The natural history of the dental pellicle and its relationship to dental erosion in elite sport
  • Oral health and performance in elite sport 
  • Comparison of different modalities of periodontal therapy

About Professor Needleman

Dr Linh Nguyen
  • Biomaterials systems for enhancing bone regeneration and anti-inflammatory activities.
  • The combination of electrospun membranes and porous hydrogel as new tool for guiding tissue regeneration of oral mucosa.
  • Injectable hydrogel for enhancing the delivery and targeting of drug/biological agents.
  • Development of enzymatic in situ formed hydrogel as bioink.
  • Thermo-responsive carriers for cell expansion and harvesting.
  • Cell expansion and harvesting on new micro-/macro-carriers.

About Dr Nguyen

Dr Marco Orlandi
  • Mechanisms of endothelial inflammation / damage in periodontitis

About Dr Orlandi

Professor Susan Parekh
  • Assessment of Acceptability of Wand for paediatric dental patients

About Professor Parekh

Professor Lambis Petridis

Replacement of PMMA bone cement with a modified dental composite polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
bone cement, dental composite, strength, antibacterial

The influence of implant-abutment corrosion products on cell metabolic pathways implant abutment
dental implants, corrosion, peri-implantitis, bone loss

About Professor Petridis

Dr Alessandro Poma

TBC

About Dr Poma

Professor Stephen Porter
  • Development of patient-related outcomes (PRO) measures in oral mucosal diseases
  • Innate Immunity defects in oral mucosal disease
  • Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing the risk of jaw osteonecrosis in individuals exposed to bisphosphonates who undergo dental extractions

About Professor Porter

Dr Maja Sabalic
  • Characterisation of periosteum-derived grafts for periodontal repair/regeneration
  • Regulation of cementum development and repair
  • Development of a smart investigational product dispenser for clinical trials

About Dr Sabalic

Professor Andrew Smith
  • Mucosal immune response in health and disease
  • Innate, adaptive, immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors
  • Transcriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease
  • Transcriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics
  • Understanding epithelial immunity to bacterial and viral infection
  • Inflammation, toll-like receptors, inflammasome, autophagy, next generation sequencing
  • Understanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation
  • Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosis
  • Studying 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, macrophages
  • Mucosal immune response in health and disease
  • Innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors
  • Transcriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease
  • Transcriptomics, inflammation, human disease, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics
  • Understanding the mechanisms driving oral inflammation
  • Innate immunity, inflammation, toll-like receptors, human disease, probiotics, dysbiosis
  • Studying the role of probiotics in the regulation of mucosal inflammation and immunity

About Professor Smith

Dr Jeanie Suvan
  • Mastication and periodontitis
  • Weight loss and periodontitis
  • Refined carbohydrate consumption and periodontal inflammation

 

Professor Anne Young

Investigations of the effectiveness of remineralising composites as a restorative material in children 
pain management, paediatric dentistry, sedation, anxiety management

Self adhesive, re-mineralising, antibacterial dental restorative materials
dental restoration, methacrylate, calcium phosphate, antibacterial release / action

Replacement of PMMA bone cement with a modified dental composite
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), bone cement, dental composite, strength, antibacterial

Degradable composite bone cement development
calcium phosphate, degradable polymers, bone cement, drug release

About Professor Young