The Radcliffe Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford is a large multi-disciplinary Department that links high quality basic biological science with medical applications. RDM scientists were rated at the highest level in both basic science and clinical research across a wide range of fields in the last UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
The department has internationally renowned programmes in a broad spectrum of sciences related to medicine, including:
Cardiovascular Medicine
Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
Genes, Genetics & Genomics
Haematology & Pathology
Immunology
Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells
Acute Stroke
Oxford in Your Day
These themes span the translational research spectrum, from basic biological research through to clinical application.
We are committed to training the next generation of scientists in biological and clinical sciences through our graduate programme at the University of Oxford. Our PhD Scholars Programme is open to outstanding candidates of any nationality. It provides fully-funded awards for students wishing to undertake a 4-year DPhil in Medical Sciences or Cardiovascular Medicine.
Students are full members of the University of Oxford, have their College and University fees paid (home/EU or overseas) and receive a generous stipend of £18,000/annum. These awards allow students to carry out research in a single laboratory for the full 4 years.
Further details on the application process and the wide range of projects are available on the RDM website. Individual supervisors can also be contacted by email about their projects.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon (midday) on 9th January 2015
Interviews will take place on 28th & 29th January 2015
Offers will be made in early February 2015
The Radcliffe Department of Medicine actively promotes a family friendly working environment.
DPhil Projects List
The majority of applicants to the DPhil in Medical Sciences and the DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine apply to work with a specific PI on a predefined project. The project list below shows projects available for entry in October 2015. The list can be resorted by supervisor or research theme or filtered by research theme.
We encourage applicants to contact their prospective supervisors to discuss projects and their suitability to carry out research in advance of application. In any particular year, some Principal Investigators choose not to advertise any projects. If you are particularly interested in working with a specific PI and no project is listed, please contact them directly to enquire as to whether they will be offering projects or accepting students in October 2015.
If you are applying for a project and are seeking funding, please see our funding overview for further information.
Please note that all projects are provisional and may be revised before you start or during the period of research owing to developments in the field and refinement of research topics.
Risk stratification and personalised management support in heart failure
The provision of evidence-based care to heart failure patients is a growing challenge to health systems worldwide. It has been suggested that IT- supported systems of care that enable patients and their caregivers to monitor and manage their own health may improve patient outcomes and increase the capacity of health systems to provide chronic care more efficiently.
The SUPPORT-HF (Seamless User-centred Proactive Provision Of Risk-stratified Treatment for Heart Failure) is a study of IT-supported home monitoring and management in heart failure. The system is based on a tablet PC which is wirelessly connected to several sensors. These are used to measure blood pressure, heart rate, weight, blood oxygen level, drug adherence, activity patterns as well as patient reported outcomes. The home monitoring data is also being linked to patient’s records to retrieve additional information about test results and treatment plans.
We have now completed the first stage of the study, which has established a high standard of usability and strong patient adherence of the tele- health platform. We are now starting the second phase of the study as a randomized trial of about 200 patients to test the feasibility and safety of remote drug management in this patient population.
A DPhil student is sought to derive and validate an adaptive early risk prediction and clinical decision support algorithm, which is to enhance the SUPPORT-HF tele-health system. This work will use multiple data sources from both observational datasets (e.g. Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)) as well as interventional studies (SUPPORT-HF 2 randomized trial), to detect patterns of variation that correlate with health and adverse clinical outcomes. Where appropriate, evidence-based treatment recommendations are to be enhanced by information about intervention costs and patient preferences. As part of a background research, a review of existing clinical decision support systems as well as the personalisation of care with the use of ICT is to be performed.
Training Opportunities
This is an interdisciplinary project with involvement of researchers across several departments of the University. The learning opportunities available are wide-ranging and may involve learning and applying advanced statistical methods, as well as learning about complex intervention trials, implementation research and cardiovascular medicine.
The George Institute provides an exceptional educational environment with expert individual supervision and support from several of experienced and enthusiastic researchers with backgrounds in clinical medicine, statistics, epidemiology and engineering.
Theme
Bioinformatics, Statistics & Computational Biology and Evidence-based Practice, Epidemiology & Health
The Radcliffe Department of Medicine (RDM) is a large multi-disciplinary department with research interests that span the translational spectrum, from basic biological research through to clinical application. We are able to offer research degrees in a broad range of sciences related to medicine, ranging from cardiovascular, diabetes, endocrinology, and stroke research, to molecular medicine, immunology, haematology and pathology, including programmes in stem cell & regenerative medicine.
We offer two DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees, which are the University of Oxford equivalent of a PhD. The DPhil in Medical Sciences covers all areas of RDM research. Complementing this, our DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine covers the entire spectrum of cardiovascular research. In keeping with our focus on translational research, applications are welcomed from both basic scientists and clinicians for either programme.
A DPhil typically lasts 3-4 years, depending on the project and the student. We have considerable experience supervising clinicians who hold 3-year fellowships and tailor research projects for such students accordingly. Students are admitted to work on a specified research project in a single laboratory, with close supervision from one or more of our PIs and their team.
DPhil Projects
The majority of our applicants apply to undertake a project advertised on our DPhil Project List, which is refreshed in September each year. The projects listed span the research that is being done in RDM. Please be aware that it is usual for projects to be modified during the early stages of research. We actively encourage DPhil students' input in refining the parameters of their research.
A small number of applicants have their own plans for a research project or develop a research project in collaboration with a proposed supervisor which is not on the DPhil project list. (This is sometimes called a 'direct application'.) In such cases, you must contact your proposed supervisor in advance of application in order to discuss whether the project is viable within their laboratory and whether available funding will be sufficient to cover research costs. Your initial email should contain your curriculum vitae and names and addresses of referees. If your prospective supervisor indicates that he/she is able to supervise your project then you should apply online in the usual way. Your application will go through the standard Departmental selection process; your supervisor's acceptance does not constitute acceptance onto the programme.
Eligibility for funding is unaffected by which type of application you make.
Fees and Living Costs
Before being admitted to the University, students must demonstrate their ability to cover their fees and livingcosts. You will be asked to complete a financial declaration to show that you understand the costs involved and that you have plans in place to finance yourself through your studies.
Funding
Most of our students, whether basic scientists or clinical fellows, are fully funded. The Department is able to offer full funding at a generous level for basic scientists and our PIs have considerable experience in supporting clinicians in their applications for Clinical Research Fellowships (CRF).
In order to be considered for Departmental funding schemes your application must be received by theJanuary deadline each year. We are able to consider applications from applicants with external funding at other times of the year.
Making an Application
You must submit your application online using the University's application form. If you are applying for a funded place you must submit your application, including all supporting materials and references, by the deadline in early January. You can find more information on making an application on our how to apply page.
If you are an international student, you may need to provide evidence of your English language abilities in order to secure a place.
All students are also members of a college. You do not need to specify a college preference, but you are welcome to do so. Please be aware that an offer of a place on the DPhil programme will not constitute a guarantee that you will be offered a place in your first choice college.
The Radcliffe Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford is a large multi-disciplinary Department that links high quality basic biological science with medical applications. RDM scientists were rated at the highest level in both basic science and clinical research across a wide range of fields in the last UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
