Patrick Yu-Wai-Man

PhD opportunity in Inherited Eye Diseases and Mitochondrial Genetics at the University of Cambridge , Department of Clinical Neurosciences. This project sits at the intersection of neuroscience , medical science , and biology , with a strong translational focus on mitochondrial genetics , inherited eye diseases , and inherited optic neuropathies . The supervisor, Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man , leads research on progressive retinal ganglion cell loss, deep phenotyping, biomarker profiling, and gene therapy for mitochondrial eye diseases. Research themes include gene discovery in inherited optic neuropathies, disease mechanism studies using iPSC-derived retinal ganglion cells, zebrafish models of Wolfram syndrome and therapeutics, and biomarker discovery plus novel gene therapies. The project is embedded in a wider Cambridge research network, including the Cambridge Clinical Vision Laboratory, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, and collaborations with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. Funding: competition-funded PhD project for students worldwide. Funding routes mentioned include Cambridge Trust and Gates Cambridge, with deadlines around October and December 2026 for October 2027/28 entry. Funding is not available for Lent or Easter 2027 starts, so alternative funding would be needed for those entry points. Eligibility highlights: applicants should be motivated by translational neuroscience, ophthalmology, mitochondrial biology, stem cell models, animal models, and therapeutic development. The post emphasizes access to specialist supervision and a broad skill set rather than listing formal grade or test requirements. How to apply: register interest via the FindAPhD listing and follow the University of Cambridge application process. Check the Gates website and Cambridge postgraduate funding search, and make sure to indicate every funding scheme you are eligible for before the deadline.