Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease involving multiple liver cell types that affects nearly one third of people worldwide. NAFLD can progress to more severe forms of liver disease such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. However, there are currently no approved biomarkers or therapies. We are looking for a highly-motivated individual to drive cutting-edge research in modelling inflammation-driven health-to-disease in the NAFLD-to-NASH transition phase. You will be involved in human liver disease modelling including development of a unique, dynamic human liver acinus-on-a-chip system to unravel relevant molecular pathways, targets and biomarkers. Expertise and interest in tissue engineering (2D-3D organotypic models) and applying novel analytical approaches is highly desirable.
The exploration and development of deeper wells with heavier and more viscous oils, requiring greater operating pressures and more fracture to fissures to release the oils. This results in significantly increased sand content that has the potential to bring about a fundamental shift in flow behaviour. This project aims to investigate the potential – and develop – a coupled smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and discrete element method (DEM) model to simulate high-pressure multi-phase flows with support from an extensive experimental programme and industrial collaboration.
