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 directed to the Research Student Administrator at edi-phd@ucl.ac.uk.

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 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

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 Nair

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

Biofilms

Project titles:

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

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: 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

Project titles:

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

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 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

Project titles:

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

Project titles

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

Project titles:

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

Project titles:

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 disease Innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, macrophage, Toll-like receptors Supervisor: Professor Andrew Smith

Transcriptomic analysis of oral inflammatory disease Transcriptomics, 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

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 Young

Periodontal Microbiology

Project titles:

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: Dr Jacopo Buti

Periodontology

Project titles:

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

Project titles:

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

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 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