PhD: Mapping Brain Disorder Biology to Find Drug Targets

A fully funded GW4 BioMed3 PhD at the University of Bristol, using genetics and single-cell data to find where brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, go wrong and which genes are worth targeting with new drugs. Open to UK and international applicants. See more funded PhDs.

Drug development for complex brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease has a poor track record, and many companies have pulled back from CNS work as a result. A big part of the problem is late-stage failure. Compounds often do exactly what they were designed to do, but that action does nothing for the disease, which shows how little we understand the underlying biology. Targets with strong genetic support are estimated to more than double the chance of success, and this project sets out to find them. Supervised by Dr Daniel D’Andrea in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, the project asks which brain regions, cell types and molecular pathways are disrupted in genetically complex brain disorders, and how that can be used to prioritise new therapeutic targets. It builds on the supervisors’ own experience of drug target prioritisation for a multinational pharmaceutical company.

What you’ll do

• Build a pipeline for quality control, processing and analysis of published single-cell RNA sequencing datasets
• Apply it to adult human brain data to map region- and cell-type-specific gene expression
• Use statistical genetics (common and rare variant enrichment tests) and structured Gene Ontology analyses to pinpoint the regions, cell types and processes disrupted in disease
• Combine disease genetics with functional data to rank candidate drug target genes

You’ll start with schizophrenia, where the genetic data is well powered, as training in the methods. After that, the direction is yours: a cross-disorder analysis, a closer look at specific cell types such as glia or the blood-brain barrier in a condition that interests you, or an expansion into neurodevelopmental cell types.

Who should apply:

You’ll need a first or upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in medical sciences, computing, mathematics or the physical sciences, or be about to get one. A lower second is considered only alongside a master’s. Relevant non-academic experience counts too. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to meet the University of Bristol’s requirements by the start of the programme.

Funding:

The studentship covers UK tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI national minimum, £21,805 a year for 2026/27, updated annually. Up to £5,000 a year is available for research training and support. International applicants are fully funded, with the GW4 partners covering the fee difference, but must pay their own visa, healthcare surcharge and relocation costs. International places are capped at up to 30% across the partners each year.

How to apply:

The closing date is Monday 26 October 2026. For informal enquiries, email GW4BioMed@cardiff.ac.uk.