PHD PROJECT TITLE: Insights into liver transplantation and blood transfusion using registry data: statistical methods and applications

 

We are delighted to advertise a funded PhD opportunity in the Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, for entry in September 2020 on the above topic. This project will be co-supervised by Prof Ruth Keogh (LSHTM), Prof Linda Sharples (LSHTM), and Dr Elisa Allen (NHS Blood and Transplant) and the student will be encouraged to spend time at NHS Blood and Transplant as part of their research.

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Organ transplants are used to treat a number of conditions when patients have reached disease end stages. While randomized trials have been performed in some transplant areas, evidence from trials concerning the benefits of transplant, and for whom, is limited. The need for use of registries and big data to improve understanding in transplantation research has been highlighted, requiring use of state-of-the art statistical methods. This project brings the opportunity to use linked registry data from NHS Blood and Transplant to answer key questions about liver transplantation and blood transfusion. NHS Blood and Transplant’s (NHSBT) unique curation of national blood donor, blood transfusion, organ donor and organ transplantation registries enables the novel interrogation of data cross cutting transplantation and transfusion research. The project will investigate the risks and benefits of liver transplantation and the impact on patient outcomes of receiving a blood transfusion. The anticipated impact will be enhanced understanding of the transplant pathway, aiding decision making for both patients and clinical teams.

 

This project is funded through the MRC London Intercollegiate Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with 3,900 students and more than 1,000 staff working in over 100 countries. The Department of Medical Statistics is a leading innovative centre for biostatistical methodology relevant to medical research and for broad-based applied research in epidemiology and clinical trials. The PhD programme and the environment provides world class integrated skills training and career development opportunities. The funding includes fees, stipend and generous training allowance. This funding is open to UK and EU applicants and further information on eligibility is available here http://mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/eligibility-criteria/.

 

We particularly invite applications from candidates with an excellent undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics or a related field and an MSc in medical statistics or a related field.

 

Potential applicants should please contact Ruth Keogh (ruth.keogh@lshtm.ac.uk) to find out more about the project and for questions and discussion.