Cardiac and skeletal muscle progenitor cells - driving regeneration ability by tryptophan metabolites

The School of Biomedical Sciences invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2026/27. We especially welcome applications that connect to the School's core research areas, which include the mechanisms underlying diseases causing health problems in an ageing population.<br /> <br /> This core research area aligns closely with the research interests of this project’s supervisory team, who are well established in the investigation of the cellular mechanisms underlying diseases of the cardiovascular system - a principal cause of age-related morbidity and mortality.

<p><strong>Overview: </strong>This project will examine repair and regeneration in the heart and skeletal muscle, specifically the ways in which they can be influenced by protein metabolism. This will be focused on specific effects seen in patients due to current drug therapy and examine the fundamental aspects of cardiac and skeletal tissue maintenance that may be impacted by these drugs’ effects. The work will use our established techniques in: cell isolation from tissue samples and cell culture, along with analyses of gene and protein expression, cell signalling, viability, structure and function.</p> <p><strong>Background: </strong>The main route for tryptophan metabolism is the kynurenine pathway, named after a major metabolite in this pathway. It has been shown that tryptophan metabolism increases after cardiac injury and that interruption of the first step of the kynurenine pathway can impair regeneration of the injured heart (Zhang et al., 2022, Nat. Commun. 13:6371). This was shown to occur via two mechanisms, new cardiomyocyte formation and increased angiogenesis in the myocardium. Both of these are essential to drive repair of functional cardiac tissue: contractility is the essential ability of myocardium and it cannot happen without cardiomyocytes; in addition, these cells have a huge demand for oxygen and nutrients, so any contractile tissue will not function effectively without an extensive microvascular network to provide these.</p> <p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Our current translational research programme in heart failure patients has recently identified that specific drug agents increase levels of kynurenic acid (a non-toxic tryptophan metabolite) in muscle tissue, indicating that tryptophan metabolism can shift due to clinical treatment. This raises intriguing questions of how these processes may be linked such as whether responses in myocardial cells to this drug promote cardiomyogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition to cardiac dysfunction, patients with heart failure have secondary pathologies that contribute to disease progression, such as skeletal muscle dysfunction. We recently found that tryptophan metabolism in skeletal muscle biopsies of heart failure patients is disrupted via specific drug agents, and that this was closely linked to underlying skeletal muscle abnormalities (Wood et al., Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2024). Together, these findings highlight a potential and important role for the kynurenine pathway in regulating both cardiac and skeletal muscle pathology in health and disease.</p> <p><strong>This project: </strong>The aim of the project will be to identify the impact of kynurenine pathway compounds on properties of cardiac and skeletal muscle progenitor cells (satellite cells). This will be achieved by studying their titrated effects on cell viability, expression of key genes and proteins, and the link to tissue repair and regeneration. This will improve understanding of how tryptophan metabolites can influence striated muscle regeneration.</p> <p><strong>Research environment: </strong>These questions are ones which this supervisory team is uniquely set up to investigate, given the work done previously by the project’s lead supervisor in examining the role of kynurenine pathway compounds on neuronal cell viability (Smith et al., 2007, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 35:1287-1289; Smith et al., 2009, Neurotox. Res. 15:303-310; Darlington et al., 2010, Int. J. Tryptophan Res. 3:51-59), followed by extensive work on cardiac progenitor cell physiology and responses to damage (Ellison et al., 2011, J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 58:977-86; Ellison et al., 2013, Cell 154(4):827-42; Smith et al., 2014, Nat. Prot. 9(7):1662-1681; Smith et al., 2022, Sci. Rep. 12(1):10132; Walmsley et al., 2022, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23(19):11812; Walmsley et al., 2024, Curr. Res. Toxicol. 6:100167). This is in addition to the expertise of the co-supervisor in the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle pathology and regeneration (Cornelissen et al., Eur J Prev Cardiol 2025; Wood et al., Circ. Heart Fail. 2024; Wood et al., Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2024; Espino-Gonzales JACC Basic Transl. Sci. 2023; Gallagher et al., J. Sport Health Sci. 2023).</p> <p>This is an opportunity for a dedicated researcher to join this exciting collaboration to work amongst two research groups in order to address an important clinical problem in heart failure.</p>

<p>To apply for this project opportunity applicants should complete an <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/research-degrees/doc/how-to-apply">online application form</a> and attach the following documentation to support their application. </p> <ul> <li>a full academic CV</li> <li>degree certificate and transcripts of marks</li> <li>Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)</li> </ul> <p>To help us identify that you are applying for this project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;</p> <ul> <li>Select PhD in Biological Sciences as your programme of study</li> <li>Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert</li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>This project is open to applicants who have the funding to support their own studies or who have a sponsor who will cover these costs. </p> <p> </p>

<p>For information about the application process please contact the Faculty Admissions Team:</p> <p>e: <a href="mailto:fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk">fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>