A major preventable cause of brain injury following cardiac surgery comes from showering the brain with embolic debris (particles and air bubbles in the bloodstream). Emboli obstruct blood flow which can lead to tissue damage and/or stroke. This project takes place within a larger British Heart Foundation (BHF) study, which uses patient-specific computer simulations to predict the effects of emboli on cerebral blood-flow during surgery. Computer simulations have potential to provide a clinically useful tool for modelling perfusion injury, predicting brain injury, and guiding interventions. The aim of our BHF project is to extend existing Doppler ultrasound embolus detection methods using a ‘virtual patient’ simulation. The role of the PhD student will be to determine whether our virtual patient models provide valuable predictive information on cerebral perfusion correlating to physical damage seen in patients’ Magnetic Resonance (MR) Images. The project will use angiography data to develop models of the cerebral arteries, combining patient specific information with generic models of the microvasculature. Predictions based on ultrasound monitoring during surgery will be compared to the results of MR scans and neuropsychological tests. Our team collaborates closely with surgeons and physicians within the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and has an established track record in Medical Physics research. The project will provide the student with training in medical imaging techniques (ultrasound and MR), clinical research methods, and modelling of vascular physiology. We are seeking a hard working, highly motivated student with good computational and communication skills and an interest in working in a clinical environment.
Eligibility: UK and EU nationals/permanent residents only. Entry Requirements: Applicants should hold a 1st or 2.1 degree in Physics, Engineering or a numerate discipline and have an interest in computational modeling.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 June 2011
Further Scholarship Information and Application