Available

Project number:

2025_A03

Start date:

October 2025

Project themes:

Omics and Bioinformatics, Neuroscience and Mental Health

Main supervisor:

Reader in Bioinformatics

Co-supervisor:

Shi-Yan Ng, PhD (A*STAR joint-first supervisor) 

Senior Principal Scientist I, IMCB A*STAR 


Alan Hodgkinson, PhD (second internal academic supervisor) 

Senior lecturer, King’s College London

A comprehensive investigation of the role of mitochondrial variation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis utilising large scale genomics and stem cell models

Background Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive paralysis, leading to death from respiratory failure within 2-5 years. Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles responsible for regulating a number of key processes, and their malfunctioning is one of the earliest pathophysiological in ALS. Mitochondria possess their own DNA distinct from the nuclear genome, and despite their central role in ALS, efforts in investigating mitochondrial DNA variation in the context of ALS have been very limited. Novelty & Importance This project proposes a novel comprehensive approach to study the role of mitochondrial variants in the pathogenesis of ALS, which has potential to discover new insight into the biological basis of this disease and to highlight new treatment avenues. Aims & Objectives This project aims to elucidate the role of mitochondrial DNA variation in the pathogenesis of ALS. We will achieve this by 1) utilising large-scale genomics datasets of thousands of people with ALS and controls, to identify mitochondrial mutations associated with disease risk or distinct clinical outcomes. 2) We will then utilise in-silico methods such as APOGEE, and modelled using molecular dynamics simulations, for the characterisation of their functional effect, and 3) study their mechanism of action in cell models of the disease. Mitochondrial variants will be created in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines using the cybrid technology. PSCs will be differentiated into spinal motor neurons, and phenotypic analyses will be carried out by immunostaining and metabolic profiling assays. Aims 1-2 will take place at KCL in year 1-2, and aim 3 will take place at A*STAR in Singapore in year 3-4. References: [1] Battle, Stephanie L., et al. ""A bioinformatics pipeline for estimating mitochondrial DNA copy number and heteroplasmy levels from whole genome sequencing data."" NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics 4.2 (2022): lqac034. [2] Bianco, Salvatore Daniele, et al. ""APOGEE 2: multi-layer machine-learning model for the interpretable prediction of mitochondrial missense variants."" Nature Communications 14.1 (2023): 5058. [3] Harvey, Calum, et al. ""Rare and common genetic determinants of mitochondrial function determine severity but not risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis."" Heliyon 10.3 (2024). [4] Hor, Jin-Hui, et al. ""ALS motor neurons exhibit hallmark metabolic defects that are rescued by SIRT3 activation."" Cell Death & Differentiation 28.4 (2021): 1379-1397. "

 

We are now accepting applications for 1 October 2025

How to apply - A*STAR projects

Candidates should possess or be expected to achieve a 1st or upper 2nd class degree in a relevant subject including the biosciences, computer science, mathematics, statistics, data science, chemistry, physics, and be enthusiastic about combining their expertise with other disciplines in the field of healthcare.


Important information for International Students:

It is the responsibility of the student to apply for their Student Visa. Please note that the EPSRC DRIVE-Health studentship does not cover the visa application fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) required for access to the National Health Service. The IHS is mandatory for anyone entering the UK on a Student Visa and is currently £776 per year for each year of study. Further detail can be found under the International Students tab below.


Application closing date: 30 January 2025 (23:59 BST)

Create an account with King’s Apply.


Apply to the EPSRC DRIVE-Health: Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Driven Health MPhil/PhD (Full-time).


Please ensure you read the information carefully on this page, particularly relating to Personal Statement and Supporting Information below. 


The A*STAR application process is the same as the usual DRIVE-Health programme. Each applicant can nominate up to 3 projects on their application, from any of our main projects and/or these A*STAR projects.


Complete the following sections of the application with all the relevant information.


A PDF copy of your CV should be uploaded to the Employment History section.

A 500-word personal statement outlining your motivation for undertaking postgraduate research with the CDT should be uploaded to the Supporting Statement section.

Please nominate up to 3 projects quoting their project number and title.

Please choose Option 5 "I am applying for a funding award or scholarship administered by King’s College London" in the funding section.

Under "Award Scheme Code or Name" enter "EPSRC DRIVE-Health 2025".

Failing to include one of these codes might result in you not being considered for funding.

Questions marked * are mandatory and you will not be able to submit without answering.


Non-EU international applicants are advised that ATAS may be required. While there is no charge to apply for ATAS, processing can take up to 3 months. Please read the Important Information for International Students.

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Enhanced Studentships to Attract Top Talent

Each studentship is fully funded for 4 years.


This includes tuition fees, a stipend and a generous allowance for project consumables.


Tuition Fees: these will be covered for both Home and International students.


Stipend: Whilst at King's College London students will receive a tax-free living allowance of £23,814 per year (current projection for Academic Year 2025/26).


Whilst at A*STAR, several allowances will be provided to cover housing, monthly stipend, etc. and these amounts will be confirmed in due course. Conference allowance; medical insurance; miscellaneous research costs of the PhD work are covered by the A*STAR Research Entities.


Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): up to £20,000 over 4 years for research consumables and attending national and international conferences.

Important Information for International Students

It is the responsibility of the student to apply for their Student Visa.


Please note that the EPSRC DRIVE-Health studentship does not cover the visa application fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) required for access to the National Health Service. The IHS is mandatory for anyone entering the UK on a Student Visa and is currently £776 per year for each year of study.

 

Additionally, depending on your chosen project, some nationals may need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a visa. The ATAS application process can take up to 3 months and so it is essential that you apply for this early. Please note the following:

 

• If you need to apply for a student visa, you cannot submit your visa application until your ATAS certificate has been issued.

• If you are applying for any other visa, you cannot enrol at King’s and start your programme unless your ATAS certificate has been issued.

• If you apply late, you may not be able to join on the expected entry point and your registration may be postponed

 

Please review the following article for further information on the ATAS certificate and how to apply: label="" type="url" target="_blank" href="https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01847/en-us" data-runtime-url="https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01847/en-us">Do I need ATAS clearance before I start my course at King's? 

 

For further advice, please contact the Visas & International Student Advice as soon as possible.


Academic Requirements and Eligibility

We welcome eligible Home and International applicants from any personal background who are pleased to join diverse and friendly research groups.

Open to Home and International applicants.

Applicable level of study: Postgraduate research.

English Language Requirements (Band D)

Based on the IELTS test scoring system, this programme requires that successful candidates achieve the following level of English before enrolling. Successful applicants’ offer letters will include information about when they must have achieved this standard.

Overall: 6.5

Listening: 6 

Speaking: 6 

Reading: 6 

Writing: 6


Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

Key dates - A*STAR projects


  1. Applications submitted by the closing date of Thursday 30 January 2025 will be considered by the CDT. We will contact shortlisted applicants with information about this part of the recruitment process.
  2. Candidates will be invited to attend interview(s). Interviews are projected to take place in March 2025.
  3. Project selection will be through a panel interview chaired by CDT Directors at EPSRC DRIVE-Health and relevant supervisors from A*STAR Institute followed by informal discussion with prospective supervisors.
  4. Successful candidates are required to accept their conditional places by 14 April 2025.
  5. If you have any questions related to the specific project you are applying for, please contact the main supervisor of the project directly.


For any other questions about the recruitment process, please email us at drive-health-cdt@kcl.ac.uk.