PhD: The molecular basis of age-related changes to lumbosacral spinal autonomic and motoneurons

This BBSRC NEEDL Partnership Project is Based at Northumbria University

Ageing may lead to a progressive loss of physiological function resulting in a reduced quality of life for elderly people. Significantly, many aged people suffer from bladder/bowel and sexual dysfunction, which can include constipation, incontinence and impaired sexual function. Therapies (including pharmacotherapy) for these conditions are far from ideal. To some extent, this is because the causes of bowel and Genito-urinary trouble are multifaceted and can include degenerative changes in both muscle and nervous tissues that facilitate abdomino-pelvic function. Studies in our laboratory have shown age-related changes in a variety of bladder/bowel cell types including autonomic neurons, motoneurons and target structures including epithelial mucosa and interstitial cells.

One key focus of our work is exploring the effects of age on spinal neurons that govern bladder emptying, bowel movement and sphincter control. Whilst these cells are subject to ageing, including anatomic changes such as dendritic pruning (which may reflect changes in brain projections to these cells), the intracellular mechanisms that underpin these transformations are not clear.

To gain insight into these modifications the student would be joining a vibrant team of academics at both Northumbria and Newcastle universities with the aim of elucidating the mechanisms that underlie spinal ageing. Based at both institutions they will receive training in a number of current techniques including Laser microdissection of spinal cord tissue, proteomics, messenger RNA analysis, spatially resolved transcriptomics and molecular assessment of senescent phenotype/ mitochondrial analysis.

Long-term, these studies have the potential to inform future drug treatment to produce more targeted therapies. This would help to reduce the burden of age-related conditions such as incontinence and thus improve the quality of life for older populations – a current UK government priority.