Functional Injectable Biomaterials for Spinal Disc Repair

This project is related to the assessment of a minimally invasive treatment for back pain called ‘nucleus augmentation’. The treatment involved the injection of a hydrogel into a damaged spinal disc to restore its biomechanics. The aim of the study is to examine how the performance of novel hydrogels developed at Leeds can be optimised for nucleus augmentation.<br /> <br /> Specifically, the project will focus on the functional performance under adverse loading conditions causing repeated high shear loading and herniation.  The three core objectives are (1) to develop a suite of in-vitro test methods to apply physiologically relevant shear loading to the disc. This will involve using our unique multiaxis spine simulator and developing protocols that generate the most adverse loading on the hydrogel-augmented tissue; (2) to evaluate how the hydrogel composition affects the performance, using the new testing methods developed; (3) to develop inclusion/exclusion criteria for the clinical use of the hydrogels. This will involve utilising advanced MRI sequences for characterising soft tissue structure/composition, and developing new methods (including AI-based approaches) to correlate tissue characteristics to the functional performance following nucleus augmentation.<br />

<p><strong>Background</strong><br /> Low back pain is the single largest cause of disability, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Degeneration of the intervertebral discs (the articulating soft tissues between vertebrae) is strongly linked to low back pain. Nucleus augmentation is an emerging new treatment for disc degeneration that involves injecting a hydrogel into the disc to restore biomechanical function. This cross-disciplinary PhD project will investigate how the performance of a novel hydrogel developed at Leeds can be optimised for nucleus augmentation to both withstand mechanical loading while preventing disc herniation.</p> <p><strong>Methodology</strong><br /> The PhD will involve a range of experimental methods including in-vitro testing using donated human tissue. There will be opportunities to use a range of specialist measurement and characterisation equipment, and to develop computational methods (including AI-related algorithms) to process and analyse the data.</p> <p><strong>Skills Required</strong><br /> The candidate should have a first degree in an engineering or related discipline with expertise in biomedical applications. Ideally they would have had some experience laboratory testing of tissues, of musculoskeletal biomechanics and/or data analysis using computational methods (e.g. in Matlab, Python, etc).</p> <p><strong>Industry/external partners</strong><br /> The project is multidisciplinary, involving a supervisory team from Engineering, Chemistry and Biology. There is potential for the biomaterials investigated in this project to be spun out, and you will have the opportunity to work closely with a wider team of researchers developing evidence to support patent applications and commercialisation activities.<br />  </p>

<p>To apply for this project you will need to <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">make a formal application for research degree study through the University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN. </p> <ul> <li>For <strong>‘Application type’</strong> please select <strong>‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’. </strong></li> <li>The <strong>admission year</strong> for this project is<strong> 2027/28 Academic Year.</strong></li> <li>You will need to select your <strong>‘Planned Course of Study’</strong> from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select <strong>‘EPSRC DLA (Engineering, Biological Sciences, Medicine)’ </strong></li> <li>The project start date for this project is <strong>01/10/2027</strong>, please use this as your <strong>Proposed Start Date of Research</strong>. </li> <li>Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <strong>‘Functional Injectable Biomaterials for Spinal Disc Repair’</strong> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/staff/192/professor-ruth-wilcox">Prof Ruth Wilcox</a> as your proposed supervisor.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Please state clearly in the finance section that the funding you are applying for is EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award 2027/28: Mechanical Engineering.</strong></p> <p>You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. </p> <p><strong>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of 18 November 2026 or at the point you submit your application:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</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 in the School of Mechanical Engineering should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. 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 supervisor or Admissions Team 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>A highly competitive EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (currently £21,805 in academic session 2026/27) for 3.5 years and rising annually, in line with standard UKRI rates. Training and support will also be provided.</p> <p>This opportunity is open to UK applicants only. </p> <p><br /> <strong>Competition funded  </strong></p> <ul> <li>"Competition funded" means that we advertise a larger number of projects than available awards. Not all projects advertised for this funding opportunity will receive funding. The selection panel will consider all applications received across the full range of advertised projects and select the awardee/s based on the strength of their application. </li> </ul> <p><br /> <strong>Eligibility Criteria </strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must be eligible to pay fees at the Home (UK) rate.</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /> <strong>Other Conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li class="MsoNoSpacing">Candidates who have previously been awarded a PhD or are currently registered on a PhD are excluded from applying. Those who were previously studying for a PhD but did not complete may be considered. </li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2027.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul> <p><br /> If you are unsure whether you are eligible for UK fees/funding, please see our <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate-fees/doc/fee-assessment">fee assessment page.</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>For further information please contact the PGR Admissions Engineering and Physical Sciences team on this email address: <a href="http://phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk/">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p>If you are interested in this project or have any questions, please do contact the project supervisor Prof Ruth Wilcox on this address: <a href="mailto:R.K.Wilcox@leeds.ac.uk">R.K.Wilcox@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>