iCASE projects
For iCASE studentships, students apply for a specific project.
Projects have been designed by supervisors from Warwick with an industry partner. Students spend a minimum of three months based with their industry partner.
Projects available for September 2022 entry
iCASE project
Developing new methods for computing confidence intervals for clinical trials with subpopulation selection
Warwick supervisors
Dr Peter Kimani and Prof. Nigel StallardLink opens in a new window
Industry supervisors
Dr Ekkehard Glimm and Dr Dominic Magirr (Novartis Pharma AG)
Project summary
It is widely recognised that experimental therapies may only benefit a subset of a patient population. An efficient clinical trial design to test whether an experimental therapy is effective and for which part of the population is the two-stage adaptive enrichment design. The trial initially recruits from the full patient population and then, partway through the trial, an interim analysis is performed to select the subpopulation where the experimental therapy is promising. Recruitment after interim analysis is restricted to this subpopulation. However, the existing method for computing a confidence interval (CI) that adjusts for subpopulation selection at interim analysis, is known to be inaccurate. The aim of this exciting and important PhD project is to develop new methods that give confidence intervals with much better properties. This project offers the successful candidate an opportunity to experience and contribute to front line research and development in academia and a large pharmaceutical company.
Additional information
The project would suit a student with a good undergraduate degree in statistics, mathematics or a related discipline.
Apply here
iCASE project
Optimal utility-based design of oncology clinical development programmes
Warwick Supervisor
Industry supervisor
Dr Fabio Rigat (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)Project summary
In collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, this PhD project will address important questions in the optimal design of clinical development programmes in oncology. You will develop statistical modelling methods that identify the main sources of uncertainty in oncology clinical trials. These will formally incorporate stakeholder views, including clinical trial statistical properties and patient preferences via multi-attribute utility functions. This will lead to strategies, including non-parametric Bayesian approaches, for optimal dynamic data-dependent updating of oncology clinical development programmes. As such the project offers the successful candidate an opportunity to undertake exciting and important research and development at the interface between academia and a large pharmaceutical company to optimise cancer treatment.
Additional information
The project would suit a student with a strong undergraduate degree in statistics, mathematics or related subject and who possesses a working understanding and interest in biology or biomedical science.
Apply here
iCASE project title
Investigating the impact of cellular state on cryopreservation
Warwick supervisor
Industry supervisor
Dr Peter Kilbride (Cytiva)
Project summary
Cell cryopreservation is essential for drug screening, delivery of cell-based therapies and basic biomedical research. There has been a major focus on the cryoprotectants and the optimisation of external factors such as freezing rate. In this industry/academic research project we will explore how the biochemical state of the cell when frozen impacts its cryopreservation outcomes. We will use chemical and physical stimuli to induce certain cell states, including parts of the cell cycle, and quantify the impact of this on the quality of the recovered cells. The project will give a student the chance to undertake fundamental cell biology research whilst working with a major life science company, including undertaking placements at the industry partner's research site. The outputs from this work will further improve our understanding of how cells prepare for cold stress, inspired by extremophiles in nature, as well as new tools/methods to improve cell-based therapies.
Additional information
Candidates ideally have a background in cell culture/biology or bio-materials/engineering.
Apply here
Key Facts
Four-year MSc + PhD fully funded programme
Contact: Sally Blakeman
Email: mrcdtp at warwick dot ac dot uk
Telephone: 024 7652 3913