About the Project: Electrochemical characterization of catecholaminergic signalling in Dbh+ catecholaminergic cardiomyocytes and its physiological role in murine heart
Catecholamines, including dopamine, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (E), are key signalling molecules that function as both neurotransmitters and hormones. These molecules, released by sympathetic nerves and the adrenal medulla, play a crucial role in regulating cardiovascular functions while orchestrating the body’s response to stress. Our recent studies have identified a novel population of cardiomyocytes expressing the Dbh gene that encodes dopamine beta-hydroxylase (termed Dbh+ catecholaminergic cardiomyocytes, Dbh+-CCMs)(1). These cells contribute significantly to the development and maturation of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) in the murine heart. Notably, adult Dbh+-CCMs contain catecholaminergic-like vesicles, suggesting the presence of intrinsic catecholaminergic signalling within these cells. Despite these insights, our understanding of catecholaminergic signalling and its functional role in Dbh+-CCMs remains limited.
This is joint project between Department of Pharmacology at University of Oxford and School of Life Sciences at University of Nottingham..The project aims to characterize catecholaminergic signalling and explore its physiological implications in Dbh+-CCMs through three integrated studies: 1) Developing a robust method to detect catecholamine release in these cells; 2) Conducting electrochemical analysis of vesicle content and catecholamine release in these cells; and 3) Determining the physiological role of catecholaminergic signalling in Dbh+-CCMs in murine heart.
Successful outcome of this study will i) identify the distinct roles of Dbh+-CCMs in cardiac electrophysiology and Ca2+ handling in the heart; ii) lay the basic science foundation for manipulating Dbh+-CCMs populations as a potentially valuable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
This project is multidisciplinary in approach, integrating molecular cardiology, electrochemical sensing and translational physiology. In addition to these fields of study and associated experimental methodologies, the student will acquire skills in a range of topics which include analytical, communication and experimental design that are widely applicable to a future career in. academia, industry or translation medicine.
Requirements:
A Master's degree with Merit and a Bachelor's degree with first-class or upper second-class honors are required for PhD admissions. Prior research experience in cardiac physiology or neuroscience or related topic is critical. If the first language is not English, the candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above.
Funding:
The PhD studentship is available for three years subject to satisfactory progress by the student. The award covers tuition fees (at home rate, for non-UK candidate, they need to cover the extra cost of tuition fee between home rate and non-UK rate), stipend (starting from ~£20K annually) and research expense for three years.
How to Apply: make an application for the Oxford University DPhil in Pharmacology programme at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-pharmacology and identify Professor Ming Lei as your preferred supervisor. Deadline for applications: Tuesday 2 December 2025.