The typical response dynamics of cancer patients to treatment often follows a pattern of significant response, that begins to slow and then leads to relapse. These complex dynamics for patients undergoing treatment indicate that there is a heterogeneous population of tumour cells driving the tumour. In addition, the environment in which the tumour lives (e.g. the stroma) is known to modulate drug resistance, so called microenvironment-mediated resistance.
This project will focus on understanding the contributions of the tumour microenvironment and the tumour heterogeneity in regulating treatment response and the emergence of drug resistance. Specifically, it will investigate the creation of transient protective niches that facilitate drug resistance. The project will involve the design and implementation of novel mathematical models that can explicitly capture the spatio-temporal dynamics of tumour growth, invasion and resistance. The modelling framework will adopt a suite of approaches, including partial differential equations and individual cell-based models to describe the heterogeneous and stochastic nature of these clinically and experimentally observed dynamics. The mathematical models will be interrogated to obtain insight into therapeutic strategies which can successfully control the emergence of drug resistance.
Established in 1920, Swansea University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of Swansea (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Wales. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, Swansea University is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Swansea University offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 99 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.