Current ECAT fellows

Clinical specialty: Ophthalmology
PhD centre: Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair

PhD project title: Dissecting Host Innate Immunity to Microbial Keratitis Using Zebrafish Larvae
PhD project summary:
Microbial keratitis is a serious infection of the cornea and a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Although antibiotics are often effective at clearing the infection, the body’s immune response can sometimes be overly aggressive, causing scarring and permanent vision loss. With this in mind, my PhD research, supervised by Professor Adriano Rossi and Dr Beth Mills, aims to better understand how the immune system responds to eye infections, with the goal of preserving its protective effects while minimising collateral damage.

To do this, I have developed a novel model of microbial keratitis using zebrafish larvae, which offer unique advantages including strong genetic similarity to humans and optical transparency that allows real-time visualisation of immune cells in action. This model enables me to observe inflammation as it unfolds within a living organism and to explore strategies for reducing harmful immune responses without compromising the body’s ability to fight infection. By identifying key signals that drive damaging inflammation, my work aims to support the development of safer, more targeted treatments that protect vision and reduce reliance on steroid-based therapies.

Advice for potential applicants:
ECAT is a brilliant opportunity for clinicians interested in academia. Beyond the generous funding and the protected research time post-PhD, the advice and wisdom from ECAT directors and past fellows is invaluable, both when shaping a PhD project and in planning what comes next. ECAT really fosters blue-sky thinking, and pursuing interdisciplinary projects, like combining immunology with chemistry or engineering, can be both exciting and rewarding. I would recommend reaching out to current or former fellows early on to learn from their experiences, even before submitting an application.

Clinical specialty: Radiology
PhD centre: Institute for Imaging, Data and Communications, School of Engineering

PhD project title: Avoiding shortcut learning for safer, fairer, better medical AI.
PhD project summary:
Many AI models are susceptible to shortcut behaviours, where they use context from an input (such as a radiological marker) to make predictions rather than the core diagnostic features. I am exploring approaches such as generative classifiers, agentic vision and causality to prevent this behaviour in order to make safer, fairer, better medical AI.

Advice for potential applicants:
Go for it! Don't be afraid to sell yourself and your achievements. And make sure you understand what makes the ECAT scheme so fantastic before you apply.

Clinical specialty: Neurology
PhD centre: Centre for Biomedical Sciences/ Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research

PhD project title: Mechanisms and therapeutic aspects of DEPDC5-related epilepsy
PhD project summary:
Loss of function variants in DEPDC5 are the most common genetic cause of focal epilepsy.  Working under the supervision of Professor Michael Cousin and Dr Alfredo Gonzalez-Sulser I am developing models of DEPDC5 loss of function. We hope to determine whether abnormal network connectivity can be seen in cellular models which if present may prove a useful system to determine possible pathogenic mechanisms. We also seek to determine the feasibility of this pathway as a therapeutic target in adults with epilepsy which requires untangling the relationship between DEPDC5 dysfunction, focal cortical dysplasia and epilepsy. If we can establish these models successfully, they will serve as a valuable platform for addressing many of the UK Epilepsy Priority Setting Partnerships top ten research priorities.

Advice for potential applicants:
1.    Apply - if you don’t try you’ll never know!
2.    The ability to design your own PhD project with funding secured is a brilliant opportunity.
3.    Edinburgh is a fantastic place to live and work.
4.    Seriously, just apply.

Clinical specialty: Pharmacist
PhD centre: Centre of Biomedicine Self and Society, School of Population Health Sciences

PhD project title: An exploration of international drug policy, lived experience and frontline staff perspectives to inform the transformation of Scotland’s drug policy to address drug-related deaths.
PhD project summary:
Scotland has reported the highest number of drug-related deaths (DRDs) in Europe for 13 consecutive years. Despite Scottish Government drug policies, DRDs remain significantly higher than that of our European counterparts. We are not the only nation to face such a challenge. Portugal and Switzerland have overcome high DRDs through successful national strategic responses that significantly reduced their DRD rates. Canada has also faced such challenges - but despite their liberal policy innovations, the nation has struggled to reduce their DRDs. To gain an international perspective on managing DRDs, my project will review the successful policies deployed by Portugal and Switzerland and understand the policy challenges of Canada and Scotland.
People with lived experience (PWLE) accessing drug services and the frontline staff (FLS) delivering them are often under-represented within the drug policy development process. Instead, academic experts are favoured when service transformation research advises otherwise. My project will seek perspectives from Scottish PWLE and FLS on the drug policy development process.
My project will produce deep understandings from both international policy experience and Scottish PWLE and FLS perspectives to inform recommendations for policy transformation in addressing DRDs in Scotland.

Advice for potential applicants:
Be passionate about research and the clinical area you are interested in! Get involved in any research opportunities in your current role (this can be harder for non-medics like myself, so if not available in your direct role then within your organisation), no matter how small, find others in your profession who are involved in research and speak with them. Speak with as many different people as you can. Read around the area you are interested in. Be confident in what you have achieved and what you have learned in your career so far but be humble to the fact you still have much to learn and that’s ok, and be open minded to new points of view and different ways of thinking. Try and speak to people who work in academia with their clinical role (this doesn’t have to be specifically with ECAT cohort or staff, I didn’t have any prior connection to ECAT but spoke to others in other academia/clinical roles) – and finally if you are successful jump in and embrace the opportunity, keeping an open mind as to what you will end up doing! (and if you are not successful this time, that’s ok- take all the learnings you can from it and try again :) )

Clinical specialty: General Surgery
PhD centre: Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer

PhD project title: Impact of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma driver gene expression status on mechanisms of immune evasion and therapeutic vulnerabilities
PhD project summary:
My PhD project focuses on investigating how key driver-gene expression states shape mechanisms of immune regulation and chemotherapy response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Using genetically defined, isogenic murine acinar-derived PDAC models, I dissect how specific driver-gene states influence tumour behaviour. I integrate in vitro assays, orthotopic in vivo models, spatial transcriptomics, and human archival pancreatic resection tissue to define genotype-dependent transcriptional and immune programmes. My work demonstrates that loss of CDKN2A drives distinct tumour-intrinsic states associated with altered T-cell regulation, immune evasion, and differential sensitivity to first-line FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. Building on these mechanistic insights, we derive biologically informed gene-expression signatures from human PDAC tissues and aim to validate their predictive value in large independent patient cohorts. Ultimately, this work aims to improve patient stratification and inform more effective treatment strategies in PDAC.

Advice for potential applicants:
Just apply – this is such an incredible opportunity for anyone who is passionate about becoming a true clinician-scientist. I had very limited wet-lab experience before starting this (very wet-lab-heavy!) project. The learning curve was steep, but it was hugely rewarding and led me to discover many new things I genuinely love about a career in science.
Do not be afraid of moving from being a relatively experienced specialty trainee to an absolute novice in the lab – everyone is keen to teach and support you, and the opportunities provided by the ECAT team are truly unrivalled.

Clinical specialty: Critical Care Nursing
PhD centre: Institute for Regeneration and Repair

PhD project title: Co-produced solutions for low use of public access defibrillators following Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) in deprived urban communities in Scotland.
PhD project summary:
This PhD investigates why public access defibrillators (PADs) are underused during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in socioeconomically deprived communities in Scotland, despite strong evidence that early defibrillation significantly improves survival. Survival rates remain lower in the most deprived areas, where OHCA incidence is highest and bystander PAD use is lowest. The research combines a scoping review, rapid evaluation, and implementation science approaches to understand social, cultural, behavioural and system-level barriers to PAD use. Working closely with community members, healthcare professionals and policymakers, the study maps real-world emergency response pathways and explores lived experiences of cardiac arrest events.
Findings will be used to co-produce and pilot a community-led intervention designed to improve PAD maintenance, visibility, knowledge and confidence. The project culminates in a formative implementation evaluation, generating practical, scalable recommendations to reduce inequalities and strengthen Scotland’s national response to OHCA.

Advice for potential applicants:
The ECAT programme is an exceptional opportunity. If you don’t apply, you’ll never know whether you could have been part of it.
My advice is to speak to people who are currently undertaking a PhD, those on the ECAT programme, and researchers who have completed their doctorates. Ask them about their experiences and use those conversations to explore what an ECAT PhD could offer you personally and professionally.
When you apply, seek feedback on your application and ask for support to prepare for interview. Lean in, be curious, and draw on the experience of those around you.
Whether you have a clear passion you want to pursue, or you’re looking for protected time to explore a new area of interest, ECAT provides the structure, flexibility and support to help you do it well. It is challenging, but it is achievable and it truly is for anyone willing to commit to the journey.

Clinical specialty: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
PhD centre: Centre for Reproductive Health

PhD project title: Systemic immune adaptation to menstruation: Defining the role of bone marrow in endometrial repair
PhD project summary:
My research investigates how the demand for immune cells to coordinate tissue breakdown and repair during menstruation drives systemic immune changes, with a particular focus on the role of haematopoietic tissues. Menstruation is a tightly regulated inflammatory process that requires rapid, cyclical mobilisation of immune cells, yet how the immune system adapts systemically to meet this demand, and the implications for tissue repair and broader immune function, remain poorly understood. Using a mouse model of menstruation, my work examines how myeloid cells and their progenitors respond to these demands, and how this shapes the mobilisation, activation, and function of immune cells across the bone marrow, blood, spleen, and uterus. By integrating multicolour flow cytometry, multiplex immunohistochemistry, and proteomics, this research aims to define the systemic myeloid adaptations that support effective endometrial repair. Improved understanding of this menstrual physiology may provide insight into menstrual disorders characterised by impaired repair or dysregulated inflammation.

Advice for potential applicants:
ECAT is a brilliant programme for clinicians who want dedicated, protected time to build strong scientific foundations, with continued support as they complete their clinical training. Edinburgh offers a huge range of expertise and opportunities across centres and disciplines, providing an excellent environment in which to design a bespoke PhD project supported by outstanding mentors. My advice to prospective applicants is to keep an open mind and see where the opportunities take you.

Clinical specialty: Veterinary Ophthalmology
PhD centre: Functional Genetics, Roslin Institute

PhD project title: An in-vivo embryonic chick model of human lens development and congenital cataracts
PhD project summary:
My project aims to develop an embryonic chick model to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying human congenital cataracts. Congenital cataracts are a leading cause of childhood blindness, and although many causative mutations have been identified, the mechanisms by which they disrupt lens transparency remain poorly understood. The chicken embryo provides an efficient and biologically relevant system for studying lens development, sharing key anatomical and developmental features with humans.
My research studies two autosomal dominant mutations in the β-crystallin genes, CRYBA1 and CRYBB2, known to cause cataracts in children.  The mutations will be introduced into the developing chicken lens using two complementary approaches:
1.    Generation of a stable CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited transgenic germline
2.    Transient expression via RCAS viral microinjection
Cataract formation will be characterised by imaging, histopathology and protein aggregation assays, followed by integrated proteomic, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses.  Ultimately, this project aims to establish a scalable in-vivo platform for the development of improved diagnostic and non-surgical treatment strategies for children affected by cataracts.

Advice for potential applicants:
I was a clinician for many years and had completed my specialist training before I applying for the ECAT so I certainly wasn’t a 'typical' candidate for this role. I didn’t think I was academic enough and I was too far into my clinical career, but what I did have was an insight into the unmet needs within veterinary and human ophthalmology and a genuine excitement about pursuing One Health research that could benefit both disciplines. My advice is to think about what makes your experience unique and what big questions are you motivated to answer, then run with it!

Clinical specialty: Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
PhD centre: Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute

PhD project title: Data-Driven Phenotyping of Multimorbidity in Critical Care: Implications for Risk Stratification and Outcomes
PhD project summary:
My PhD uses large-scale linked healthcare data to examine how pre-existing chronic conditions and multimorbidity influence outcomes in critically ill patients. I focus on understanding how comorbidities are defined, measured, and incorporated into both critical care research and clinical risk prediction. First, I conducted a systematic review of critical care randomised controlled trials, showing that comorbidities and multimorbidity are poorly and inconsistently reported, limiting generalisability to real-world ICU populations. Second, using national Scottish ICU, hospital, and prescribing datasets, I evaluated how different definitions of cardiovascular disease (CVD) affect prevalence estimates and mortality prediction. I developed a hierarchical CVD severity framework demonstrating a clear gradient in 60-day mortality. Finally, I am applying latent class analysis and prediction modelling to identify clinically meaningful multimorbidity clusters and assess their association with organ dysfunction and long-term outcomes. Overall, my work aims to support more individualised, data-driven critical care.

Advice for potential applicants:
The ECAT programme offers an exceptional breadth of research opportunities across disciplines. I would encourage prospective applicants to thoroughly explore the range of available projects and identify those that genuinely align with their research interests and long-term ambitions. At the same time, remain open-minded. Some of the most valuable experiences and impactful collaborations can emerge from unexpected directions.

Clinical specialty: Paediatrics
PhD centre: Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair

PhD project title: Characterising the circulating neutrophil compartment of preterm infants and its association with sustained innate immune dysfunction
PhD project summary:
Preterm infants are highly susceptible to infection and known to have abnormal neutrophil function. It is unknown how innate immune dysfunction contributes to neonatal morbidity, and whether this persists into later life due to neutrophil reprogramming. I will characterise blood neutrophils of term and preterm infants enrolled in the PRENCOG study, including number, maturity, phenotype and effector functions using flow cytometric approaches at birth and 6-8 weeks to assess whether defects persist. I will explore the underlying mechanisms of neutrophil reprogramming by investigating the metabolome, proteome and epigenome of neutrophils using LC-MS, ATACseq and ChIP PCR. I will also use a model of preterm birth to assess the innate immune response to inflammatory episodes. Neutrophil function will be related to MRI brain metrics at term equivalent age. A more complete understanding of neutrophil phenotype and function in preterm infants could elucidate therapeutic strategies for infectious and inflammatory complications of prematurity.

Advice for potential applicants:
ECAT is a great opportunity to explore a variety of different types of research, from wet lab to big data. If you’re thinking of applying, I’d encourage you to contact current ECAT fellows to discuss their experiences and support you with your application. 

Clinical specialty: Anaesthetics
PhD centre: Institute of Genetics and Cancer

PhD project title: Integration of the physical environment and blood-based multi-omics to explore life-course risk factors for brain health.
PhD project summary:
My PhD project focusses on the development of blood-based biomarkers, which help to augment risk prediction leading to earlier intervention and diagnosis. They also offer an opportunity to better understand pathways underlying diseases and their environmental drivers. I am based at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer within the Marioni Group, where I work with large-scale cohort studies, integrating epigenetic and proteomic data to identify molecular signatures associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. I also explore the contributions of environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, at a molecular level to investigate biological pathways underpinning the enhancement of disease risk. DNA methylation–derived proxies for circulating proteins are another area of focus, and I have been investigating whether these proxies can provide more robust and temporally stable associations with disease than proteomic measurements captured at a single time-point to improve long-term risk prediction. 

Advice for potential applicants:
If you’re interested in a career that combines clinical work with research, then don’t hesitate to explore everything that ECAT can offer. The additional time in the pre-PhD year to find a project and supervisor that suit you and your interests is invaluable in creating an enjoyable and rewarding PhD experience. You benefit from the input of ECAT directors who will guide you to find a project which balances research environment, skill development and topic to make the most of your PhD years. Following the PhD, I’m looking forward to retaining some protected research time to facilitate future career development. Alongside the integration of research time into your clinical training, being part of ECAT introduces you to a community of passionate, supportive and inspiring clinical academics at all career stages, which is invaluable in navigating the challenges of integrating academic and clinical work.

Clinical specialty: Histopathology
PhD centre: Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair

PhD project title: Neutrophil-fibroblast interactions – how do they alter the tumour microenvironment and influence disease progression in non-small cell lung cancer?
PhD project summary:
In cancer, there is an increasing recognition that the tumour microenvironment, an ecosystem of immune cells, fibroblasts and extracellular molecules, plays a role in cancer behaviour and progression. However, how these cells interact and their exact influence on cancer behaviour is not yet well understood.
Through my PhD, I am investigating changes which occur in neutrophils and fibroblasts when they enter the tumour microenvironment. I am interested in how these cells interact and how their phenotype is influenced by their environment. In particular, I am interested in a recently described subset of neutrophils, which are thought to help create an ‘anti-cancer’ environment, and whether we can influence their production. To do this, I am using techniques such as proteomic analysis and microscopy to better understand phenotypic changes and interactions. I will also utilise established cancer tissue databases to see how the presence and behaviour of these ‘anti-cancer’ neutrophils relates to growth and spread of lung cancers.

Advice for potential applicants:
It’s okay to not know what you want your research/PhD to be from the start - the structure of the ECAT programme gives you time to meet lots of people and explore the breadth of research going on at the university so you can find something that excites you!

Clinical specialty: Infectious Diseases / Medical Virology
PhD centre: School of Population Health Sciences

PhD project title: Using Sequence Analysis and Mathematical Modelling to Understand and Predict HIV-1 Drug Resistance in the era of Second-Generation Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors
PhD project summary:
Antiretroviral therapy has revolutionised the lives of people living with HIV-1. However, all drugs are at risk of becoming inactive or less effective due to drug-resistance. Dolutegravir-based therapy is the preferred treatment with more than 25 million people currently using it. Cabotegravir is a similar drug and is a component of the first long-acting treatment central to global treatment and prevention strategies. My PhD is motivated by the need to understand and anticipate the impact of HIV resistance development to these vital drugs. Most resistance research has been done in countries which have a different type of HIV to those found in low- and middle- income countries where the substantial burden remains. Furthermore, prescribing is often protocol-led without baseline resistance testing in these setting. I aim to forecast the level of resistance in different populations and identify what the critical thresholds of resistance requiring policy change might be.

Advice for potential applicants:
Reach out to potential supervisors early. I had spoken to my current PhD supervisors before application to ECAT which I think was actually helpful for my application / interview. Even if you don't end up working with people having conversations can help focus ideas and also shows your motivation.

Clinical specialty: General Practice
PhD centre: Centre for Reproductive Health

PhD project title: Understanding and improving pregnancy planning for women living with HIV
PhD project summary:
My PhD is about understanding and improving pregnancy planning for women living with HIV, focusing on people living in Botswana- a high HIV prevalence country.
Unintended pregnancy is associated with a range of adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes, and therefore reducing the incidence is a key priority not only for the health of women and children, but also for furthering women’s opportunities and rights. Ultimately reducing unintended pregnancy is a driver of gender equity.
The incidence of unintended pregnancy for women living with HIV is high and gaining a deeper understanding of the drivers of this is fundamental to effectively reducing it.
My project is mixed-methods involving literature review, tool validation and qualitative data collection aiming to explore and understand the dimensions of pregnancy planning for people living with HIV, and to consider strategies to improve this.

Advice for potential applicants:
My advice would be to apply with an open mind- ECAT gives you an amazing opportunity to explore research in different fields and with different methodologies. It's a great chance to broaden your horizons, speak to lots of different scientists and develop different research skills.