Available

Project number:

2025_86

Start date:

October 2025

Project themes:

Omics & Bioinformatics, EHRs, NLP, and LLMs, AI, Machine Learning, and Multimodal Data

Main supervisor:

Consultant Ophthalmologist (GSTT), Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology & Health Informatics (KCL), Postdoctoral Clinical Research Excellence Fellow in the Centre for Translational Medicine (KHP)

Co-supervisor:

Dr Pirro Hysi

Additional Information:

Use of machine learning to classify importance of genomic and clinical predictors for vision and health outcome following sight-threatening inflammation

Background:  There is unmet need for better disease risk stratification in people who may be at risk of an immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID), to advance earlier diagnosis, and potentially intercept with disease modifying therapy to improve long-term health outcomes. Patients with inflammation threatening sight represent a high-risk cohort for associated IMIDs.1,2 Their diseases can be difficult to treat, with devastating consequences. Mathematical modelling of genomic data is an important tool in predicting IMID disease risk and outlook,3  as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets.4   Novelty & Importance: Using two (not previously published) datasets, and cutting edge mathematical as well as statistical and machine learning methodologies, this PhD project will tackle a priority research priority area,5  to seek new insights into genetic association with uveitis, novel therapeutic targets, and improve IMID disease risk stratification. Datasets include Guy’s and St Thomas’ Electronic Records Research Interface (GERRI), from which unstructured text data can be extracted using CogSTACK;6,7 and the, ‘Genetic Polymorphism and Outcome in patients with uveoretinitis (GPOUS) Study’, a UK multi-centre cohort, which tracked vision outcome from uveitis, and sampled DNA.   Aims & Objectives  1.To identify novel common variants significantly associated with non-infectious intermediate, posterior and panuveitis 2.To determine independent predictors of visual outcome at 5 years following an episode of sight-threatening inflammation  3.To model the contribution of Genetic Risk Score, clinical and demographic factors to risk of incident IMID at 5 years following an episode of sight-threatening inflammation   References 1. Braithwaite T, Adderley NJ, Subramanian A, et al. Epidemiology of scleritis in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2018: Population-based analysis of 11 million patients and association between scleritis and infectious and immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021. 2. Braithwaite T, Subramanian A, Petzold A, et al. Trends in Optic Neuritis Incidence and Prevalence in the UK and Association With Systemic and Neurologic Disease. JAMA Neurol 2020;77:1514-23. 3 Loginovic P, Wang F, Li J, ….Braithwaite T. Applying a genetic risk score model to enhance prediction of future Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis at first presentation with optic neuritis. Nat Commun 15, 1415 (2024). 4. Gelfman S, Moscati A, Huergo SM, et al. A large meta-analysis identifies genes associated with anterior uveitis. Nature communications 2023;14:7300. 5. James Lind Alliance. Sight loss and vision priority setting partnership. London, UK: The College of Optometrists, Fight for Sight and the James Lind Alliance; 2013. 6. Bean DM, Kraljevic Z, Shek A, Teo J, Dobson RJB. Hospital-wide natural language processing summarising the health data of 1 million patients. PLOS Digit Health 2023;2:e0000218. 7. Kraljevic Z, Bean D, Shek A,....Teo J. et al. Foresight-a generative pretrained transformer for modelling of patient timelines using electronic health records: a retrospective modelling study. Lancet Digit Health 2024;6:e281-e90. 

 

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.


Closing date: 30 January 2025 (23:59 hrs BST)

Create an account with King’s Apply.


Apply to the EPSRC DRIVE-Health: Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Driven Health MPhil/PhD (Full-time).


Please ensure you read the full information required on our Apply page, particularly relating to Personal Statement and Supporting Information. 


Complete the following sections of the application with all the relevant information.


A PDF copy of your CV should be uploaded to the Employment History section.

A 500-word personal statement outlining your motivation for undertaking postgraduate research with the CDT should be uploaded to the Supporting Statement section.

Funding:

Please choose Option 5 "I am applying for a funding award or scholarship administered by King’s College London" in the funding section.

Under "Award Scheme Code or Name" enter "EPSRC DRIVE-Health 2025".

Failing to include one of these codes might result in you not being considered for funding.

Questions marked * are mandatory and you will not be able to submit without answering.


Non-EU international applicants are advised that ATAS may be required. While there is no charge to apply for ATAS, processing can take up to 3 months. Please read the Important Information for International Students.

Apply Now

Enhanced Studentships to Attract Top Talent

Each studentship is fully funded for 4 years.


This includes tuition fees, a stipend and a generous allowance for project consumables.


Tuition Fees: these will be covered for both Home and International students.


Stipend: students will receive a tax-free living allowance of £23,814 per year (current projection for Academic Year 2025/26).


Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): up to £20,000 over 4 years for research consumables and attending national and international conferences.

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.

 

Additionally, depending on your chosen project, some nationals may need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a visa. The ATAS application process can take up to 3 months and so it is essential that you apply for this early. Please note the following:

 

• If you need to apply for a student visa, you cannot submit your visa application until your ATAS certificate has been issued.

• If you are applying for any other visa, you cannot enrol at King’s and start your programme unless your ATAS certificate has been issued.

• If you apply late, you may not be able to join on the expected entry point and your registration may be postponed

 

Please review the following article for further information on the ATAS certificate and how to apply: label="" type="url" target="_blank" href="https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01847/en-us" data-runtime-url="https://self-service.kcl.ac.uk/article/KA-01847/en-us">Do I need ATAS clearance before I start my course at King's? 

 

For further advice, please contact the Visas & International Student Advice as soon as possible.


Academic Requirements and Eligibility

We welcome eligible Home and International applicants from any personal background who are pleased to join diverse and friendly research groups.

Open to Home and International applicants.

Applicable level of study: Postgraduate research.

English Language Requirements (Band D)

Based on the IELTS test scoring system, this programme requires that successful candidates achieve the following level of English before enrolling. Successful applicants’ offer letters will include information about when they must have achieved this standard.

Overall: 6.5

Listening: 6 

Speaking: 6 

Reading: 6 

Writing: 6


Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

Next Steps


  1. Applications submitted by the closing date of Thursday 30 January 2025 will be considered by the CDT. We will contact shortlisted applicants with information about this part of the recruitment process.
  2. Candidates will be invited to attend an interview. Interviews are projected to take place in March 2025.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

 drive-health-cdt@kcl.ac.uk.



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