Available
Project number:
2025_54
Start date:
October 2025
Project themes:
Main supervisor:
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Co-supervisor:
Professor Andrew King
Additional Information:
Machine learning based assessment of masses of the heart using Cardiac MRI to enhance patient diagnosis and management.
Background
Cardiac masses can be either benign (not harmful in the long term) or malignant, and the latter are associated with adverse morbidity and mortality. Thus, the accurate characterisation of a cardiac mass is of high relevance.
Novelty & Importance
In this work, we propose the development and validation of machine learning (ML) methods to characterise cardiac tumours accurately and efficiently with reduced scan times without the need for expert analysis.
Aims & Objectives
The overall aim of this project is to use ML to improve diagnosis of patients with cardiac masses.
Planned Research Methods
The first stage of this project is to collate relevant patient data with cardiac masses. This will require retrieval of anonymised relevant clinical data from electronic health care records along with relevant imaging DICOM data with corresponding diagnoses.
Following the curation of clinical and Imaging in anonymised format, we will develop state-of-the-art deep learning methods to identify cardiac masses. We will investigate the latest deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks and vision transformers.
Training Provided
The student will benefit from a blend of clinical expertise of important health care challenges along with world leading experts in machine learning for cardiac MRI, and the emerging field of cardio-oncology. There will also be access to generic research training in a multidisciplinary manner.
We are now accepting applications for 1 October 2025
How to apply
Candidates should possess or be expected to achieve a 1st or upper 2nd class degree in a relevant subject including the biosciences, computer science, mathematics, statistics, data science, chemistry, physics, and be enthusiastic about combining their expertise with other disciplines in the field of healthcare.
Important information for International Students:
It is the responsibility of the student to apply for their Student Visa. Please note that the EPSRC DRIVE-Health studentship does not cover the visa application fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) required for access to the National Health Service. The IHS is mandatory for anyone entering the UK on a Student Visa and is currently £776 per year for each year of study. Further detail can be found under the International Students tab below.
Next Steps
- Applications submitted by the closing date of Thursday 6 February 2025 will be considered by the CDT. We will contact shortlisted applicants with information about this part of the recruitment process.
- Candidates will be invited to attend an interview. Interviews are projected to take place in April 2025.
- Project selection will be through a panel interview chaired by either Professor Richard Dobson and Professor Vasa Curcin (CDT Directors) followed by informal discussion with prospective supervisors.
- If you have any questions related to the specific project you are applying for, please contact the main supervisor of the project directly.
For any other questions about the recruitment process, please email us at
