Clinical Neurosciences MSc available to start in October 2022

We are pleased to invite applications for a fully funded 1-year MSc by Research in Clinical Neurosciences starting in October 2022. This studentship is supported by a BSAVA PetSavers Master’s Degree by Research award.

This is an exciting opportunity for a keen and motivated veterinary-qualified individual to join the world-renowned Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group (OANG) to study feline neuroimmunology for a year.  The successful candidate will learn and perform existing assays to detect autoantibodies against cell surface targets, as well as develop a suite of new species-specific feline assays, offering the chance to focus on developing skills in core laboratory techniques.

While the project is predominantly laboratory-based, there will be the opportunity to participate in OANG clinical activities and apply learnings from human advances to veterinary scenarios with an innovative ‘One Health’ ethos.  Mentorship, teaching and supervision will be provided by members of OANG, particularly Dr Sophie Binks and Prof Sarosh Irani, and veterinary supervisors in Oxford (especially Dr Lucy Davison) and in collaborating institutions.

Applicants should hold a primary veterinary qualification entitling them to membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and have an interest in, or be pursuing specialist training in, veterinary neurology.  Previous laboratory or research experience is not necessary but would be an advantage. Similarly, experience in clinical practice post-graduation is desirable but not essential. The studentship will include University fees for a home (UK) student and a stipend of £24090.  Applicants should apply through the formal University Procedure (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/msc-research-clinical-neurosciences).

For enquiries please contact: Sophie Binks (sophie.binks@ndcn.ox.ac.uk)

Deadline for submission of applications: 12.00 midday UK time on Friday, May 13th

Interview date: Thursday, June 9th in Oxford.

Candidates reaching interview will be requested to prepare a three-minute (maximum 3 slide) presentation on: “How I would aim to detect novel autoantibodies in cats with seizures”.

Studentship code: BSAVA2022

Relevant references

1. S. Ramanathan, A. Al-Diwani, P. Waters, S. R. Irani, The autoantibody-mediated encephalitides: from clinical observations to molecular pathogenesis. Journal of Neurology, 1–19 (2019).
2. Á. Pákozdy, et al., EEG-confirmed epileptic activity in a cat with VGKC-complex/LGI1 antibody-associated limbic encephalitis. Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape 16, 116–120 (2014).
3. S. Binks, et al., Distinct HLA associations of LGI1 and CASPR2-antibody diseases. Brain 67, 641–22 (2018).
4. S. R. Irani, et al., Antibodies to Kv1 potassium channel-complex proteins leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 protein and contactin-associated protein-2 in limbic encephalitis, Morvan’s syndrome and acquired neuromyotonia. Brain 133, 2734–2748 (2010).