Critical Care PhD / MPhil / MD

Our focus on Critical Care encompasses conditions such as Sepsis and Trauma. These are the leading causes of death globally and remain unmet health challenges for the NHS, especially in the emergency room and intensive care settings.

Why study with us?

My PhD studentship in Critical Care is challenging yet rewarding and invaluable learning experience. The research environment fosters creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills, through team work with active researchers

Mohmad Alsabani, Critical Care PhD Student.
  • 150

    years of leading international reputation.

  • 156

    research students.

  • £9.5m

    annual research income.

Overview

The University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health was established to bring together leading medical, veterinary and basic science researchers from across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.  It also complements other strengths in Liverpool, including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, the Medicines for Children Research Network, and the Wellcome Trust Tropical Centre with its associated PhD programme.

Critical care research involves an understanding of the complex mechanisms that follow on from acute cell damage and injury. This may be caused by infection, trauma or ischaemia and infarction from thromboses. The dynamics involve an interplay between the inciting event and the host response, which is initially adaptive in order to protect the host. However, when this response becomes excessive and unregulated, it can lead to deleterious effects with potentially lethal consequences. These events link the processes of coagulation, inflammation and innate immunity to varying degrees and at varying time points.

At IGH, this work plays an emphasis on identifying the molecular events that mark the transitional phases during the course of critical illness, especially in identifying the signatures of early maladaptive events. This would then translate into the development of better diagnostic tools that help the clinician recognise appropriate time points for intervention. Coupled to this is the need to also drive therapeutic innovations for patients with critical illnesses. The focus is therefore also in developing novel biomarker-targeted therapeutics.

We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers, including:

  • Immuno-thrombosis in critical illness
  • Sepsis
  • Trauma
  • Multiple-organ failure
  • Damage-associated molecular pattern molecules

Research themes

Our Research themes includes: 

  • Haemostatic and Vascular endothelial dysfunction
  • Toxicity of nuclear and cellular breakdown products, including histones and neutrophil extracellular traps
  • Translational clinical studies, including development of new diagnostics and therapeutics

Facilities

The University of Liverpool has excellent research facilities within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. These are available with excellent technical support to external users from industry and other academic institutions. Postgraduate researchers benefit from the facilities provided by the Technology Directorate.

As a postgraduate researcher at Liverpool you will become part of the Liverpool Doctoral College. The LDC supports all postgraduate researchers across the University to thrive in their doctoral programme with our dedicated team of esteemed supervisors, professional services staff and student peers ensuring our students succeed in their studies.

Research groups

Sepsis


Study options and fees


The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

MPhil / PhD / MD Duration UK students International Students
Full time 2-4 years £4,786
  • Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £29,750 (Band A)^
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering* £29,750 (Band A)^ or £23,400 (Band B)
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £23,400 (Band B)
Part time 4-6 years £2,393
  • Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £14,900 (Band A)^
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering* £14,900 (Band A)^ or £11,700 (Band B)
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £11,700 (Band B)

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.


Entry requirements

Students will normally have a minimum of a 2:1 class honours degree in a relevant biological science subject, or an equivalent medical, veterinary or dental qualification. Applicants are selected on the basis of their curriculum vitae, qualifications and referees’ reports, together with their perceived ability to complete the programme successfully and on the value of the training offered to their subsequent career plans.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT Overall 6.5 no band below 5.5
TOEFL iBT requirement Minimum 88 overall with L 17 W 17 R 17 and S 19
C1 Advanced CAE requirement Overall 176 with no less than 162 in any paper
Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II)ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components
Cambridge IGCSE as a First LanguageGrade C
Cambridge IGCSE as a Second LanguageGrade B
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency)Overall 176 with 162 in components
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)Overall 176 with 162 in components
Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)Overall 176 with 162 in components

How to apply

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are open all year round.

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