Project Description
Sampling breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has the potential for real time detection and monitoring of a wide range of diseases. Over 1000 VOCs have been detected in breath to date and provide a potential non-invasive source of biomarkers and information about the underlying metabolic state of the body.
Whilst increasingly large scale studies have been conducted in the last ten years, a clinically relevant breath VOC test has yet to be widely implemented. One reason for this is the number of confounding factors that must be accounted for during breath collection which makes reproducing published results difficult. Recent work on breath holding, oral versus nasal breathing (Sukul et al. 2014, 2017) and time of day (Wilkinson et al. 2019) has highlighted the need for standardised sampling protocols. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels, which are routinely used for asthma diagnosis, are highly affected by these physiological parameters and it is therefore likely that the level of breath VOCs is similarly impacted. These differences are of particular concern in respiratory diseases where the underlying lung physiology for an individual may change dramatically over time. Further, whilst there has been interest in the variability of breath samples collected over a short time frame (Phillips et al. 2014) further work is needed to investigate changes across hours, days and seasonsin orsder to facilitate longer term clinical studies.
This project will build on sampling expertise within the group to assess the impact of clinically relevant changes in lung physiology on exhaled VOCs and investigate the short and long term variation observed in an individual’s breath profile. These results will contribute to the optimisation of an existing lung function model that uniquely incorporates realistic rendering of ventilation heterogeneity and gas washout in order to determine the factors governing exhaled VOC concentrations in health and disease.
Funding Information
Applications are invited from self-funded students. This project has a Band 3 fee. Details of our different fee bands can be found on our website. For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website.
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a related area/subject. Candidates with previous laboratory experience, particularly in cell culture and molecular biology, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Application Process
For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor. On the online application form select PhD Genetics
For international students, we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences.
Supplementary Information
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website.
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
References
Gangwisch, J. E. (2013). Seasonal variation in metabolism: Evidence for the role of circannual rhythms in metabolism. Hypertension Research, 36, 392–393.
Phillips, C., Parthaláin, N. Mac, Syed, Y., Deganello, D., Claypole, T., & Lewis, K. (2014). Short-term intra-subject variation in exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in COPD patients and healthy controls and its effect on disease classification. Metabolites, 4, 300–318.
Sukul, P., Oertel, P., Kamysek, S., & Trefz, P. (2017). Oral or nasal breathing? Real-time effects of switching sampling route onto exhaled VOC concentrations. Journal of Breath Research, 11, 027101.
Sukul, P., Trefz, P., Schubert, J. K., & Miekisch, W. (2014). Immediate effects of breath holding maneuvers onto composition of exhaled breath. Journal of Breath Research, 8, 037102.
Wilkinson, M., Maidstone, R., Loudon, A., Blaikley, J., White, I. R., Singh, D., Ray, D., Goodacre, R., Fowler, S. J., & Durrington, H. J. (2019). Circadian rhythm of exhaled biomarkers in health and asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 15, 1901068.