Graduate School

Biomedical Sciences research overview

Our students are engaged in a variety of research projects, supervised by academic specialists in their fields. You will join a lively research culture and have the opportunity to work in a range of research disciplines including Neuroscience, Respiratory Diseases and Molecular Medicine.

We aim to involve you fully in our research programmes by providing research and professional training, offering high-quality supervision, and also by giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and transferable skills in ways that will equip you for a wide range of careers.

Whether you have come straight from first degree study, are returning to study, are a mature student or are looking to develop your professional skills and whether you are from Britain, the European Union or the rest of the world, we are certain you will find Portsmouth a welcoming and enjoyable place to work and study.

For more information about how to apply please contact the Faculty of Science using the Contact us page.

If you have any questions about studying for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth, please complete our enquiry form.

Key Facts

RAE rating: Allied Health Professions and Studies is one of the University's strongest areas of research; in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, Portsmouth was in the top three for funding in England in this subject area. Our researchers are contributing to the Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences (IBBS), where the majority of the research was rated internationally excellent or world-leading (3* and 4*).

Academic staff: 48 academics and 15 research staff, please see link to staff list webpage.

Postgraduate research students: 108 (PhD, MD and Prof Doc)

Internal links:The School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences has close links with the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Health Sciences and Social Work.

External links:International collaborative research is underway with laboratories in Brazil, Canada, China, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Eire, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Thailand, USA and Venezuela.

The School has links with many regional, national and international bodies and receives support from: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), NHS, the Wellcome Trust, the European Union, The Royal Society, The Leverhulme Trust, Unilever, Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), The Tweed Foundation and many specialised charities.

Resources

The School offers excellent state-of-the-art research facilities including a new microscope suite (see University of Portsmouth'sImaging Centre (UPIC) with a wide range of instruments. Our up-to-date sophisticated software programs for the complete range of microscopes also permit extensive flexibility for biomedical research programmes. In addition, there are high quality cell culture facilities, a range of molecular biology laboratories and radioisotope facility and many more specialist items.

European Xenopus Resource Centre
The European Xenopus Resource Centre is funded by the Wellcome Trust, BBSRC and NC3Rs to support researchers using Xenopus models. Researchers are encouraged to deposit Xenopus transgenic and mutant lines, Xenopus in situ hybridization probes, Xenopus specific antibodies and Xenopus expression clones with the Centre.

Research Centres

Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS)
The Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS) serves as a focus for multidisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences, including both fundamental studies and applied research in the molecular biosciences. Molecular biology is supported by a dedicated molecular modelling centre, a 600 MHz NMR facility, and apparatus for DNA profiling and array analysis, while mass spectrometer and gas chromatography/mass spectrometers are available for detailed sample analyses. A further highlight is the European Xenopus Resource Centre funded by the Wellcome Trust, which opened in April 2007.

University of Portsmouth Imaging Centre (UPIC)
UPIC was created in 2006 as a facility to bring together the wide variety of advanced microscopy techniques available in the Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science. The Centre has a purpose-built Microscopy Imaging Suite (St. Michael’s Building), which houses the atomic force microscope, live cell imaging microscope, total internal reflectance microscope and laser capture micro dissection apparatus. Various other microscopes, including three confocal instruments, are located close by in dedicated rooms.

Research Areas

Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Neuro-Oncology Group
The Cellular and Molecular Neuro-oncology Research Group, which was established at Portsmouth following the re-location of Professor Geoff Pilkington from King's College London in 2003, has focussed its research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms which underlie the migration of tumour cells and their invasion of normal brain tissue

Cellular Neurophysiology
Our research centres on glial cells. Glia are the most abundant cells in the brain. They provide neurones with a stable environment in which to function and have critical roles in all brain diseases. Any strategy which aims to promote brain repair will involve glia and will need an understanding of their neuroprotective and neurodestructive functions (Verkhratsky and Butt, 2007. Glial Neurobiology: A Textbook, Wiley, Chichester).

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory Immunopharmacology group
The group is investigating mechanisms and biomarkers of lung inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis, asthma and COPD, and novel strategies to improve inhaled drug delivery in these patients. In collaboration with the University of Southampton, the group is jointly developing novel inhibitors of neutrophil elastase, a key mediator of tissue damage in the lung.

Allergy and Inflammation group
The group's research focuses on the early life onset of allergic disease and mechanisms of airway inflammation. The research achievements of the group include: the development and delivery of major epidemiological studies; immunological and pharmacological investigation of airways inflammation; health technology assessments; and systematic reviews.

Molecular Medicine

Molecular Medicine
The last decades of rapid developments in biomedical sciences radically changed many previously accepted opinions and approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A new branch of medical science, based upon the analysis of the structure and function of genes and proteins - molecular medicine - has emerged. Research within the Molecular Medicine group is directly related to the basic scientific problems of medicine. The major areas of interest are: neuromuscular physiology and pathology, ATP receptor functions and gene targeting for therapeutic purposes. /p>

Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Research within this IBBS division is directly related to the scientific basis of medicine. The major areas are: Oncology(in particular neuro-oncology, prostate, breast and lung cancer and melanoma) and Neurosciences, where research concentrates on various aspects of glial, neuronal neuromuscular cell biology as applied to medicine.