Cancer diagnostics development (Proof of Concept award/ HEIF funding)

Masters by Research

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Key facts

Start dates

September 2025 / October 2025

Application deadline

Monday 16 June 2025 

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 1 year

More details

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants with settled or pre-settled status
No bursary attached. Funding is for university course fees only.
University fees and consumables relating to the project will be met by the University for the one year funded Studentship. 

This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.

Overview

The “blood biopsies” market for diagnosing, monitoring, and recurrence of cancer was valued at $8.74bn and offers the potential to save millions of lives through early cancer detection and treatment strategies. Dr Ryan Pink’s lab is focused on the early detection of cancer extracellular vesicles in patient blood for diagnosis and prognosis. This commercially lead project will focus on the development of novel methods to improve cancer detection from patient blood samples through molecular biology techniques and modern sequencing technologies.

The successful candidate will be focused and inquisitive, able to follow a protocol tightly, have good documentation skills, and work well in a team. They ideally will have lab experience in standard molecular biology techniques such as cell culture and plasma handling, nucleotide extraction, microscopy, and a general understanding of sequencing, though much of this can be taught to someone with the right intellectual background.

How to apply

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a lower second-class honours degree or above from a Higher Education Institution in the UK, or acceptable equivalent qualification.

Eligibility is for Home fee status candidates only due to the conditions of the project funding.

Funding is for course fees, and consumables relating to the project, only.
Candidates are responsible for funding their living costs for the duration of the MSc by Research programme.
Visit this webpage for further information on fees and living costs.

English language requirements

EU applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent), with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

Application process

Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for further information.

Interview details: Interviews will be held online and are expected to take place on 2 July 2025     

Director of Studies: Dr Ryan Pink

Project Contact: Dr Ryan Pink

Tuition fees

2025 / 26
Research degree fees and project costs
University fees and consumables relating to the project will be met by the University for the one year funded studentship

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2025 / 26
Research degree fees and project costs
University fees and consumables relating to the project will be met by the University for the one year funded studentship

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk