An exciting new self-funded opportunity has arisen for a PhD student interested in cardiovascular science, neuroscience (or cardiology and neurology) and health data science to help us develop and validate a condition we believe exists: the Epilepsy-Heart syndrome. This PhD project will provide a fantastic training framework for the successful applicant to develop their skills in cardiovascular science, neuroscience, and health data science.
The main focus will be to help us gather the evidence needed to develop a national consensus guideline on the management of a rare cardiac complication of epilepsy, called ictal asystole. The student would also help put the guideline together alongside the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) and the British Heart Rhythm Society (BHRS).
Transient loss of consciousness (TLoC) affects around half of the UK population at least once during their lifetime and commonly presents to physicians at all levels. We need to be able to recognise and manage the various causes of TLoC appropriately.
Ictal asystole is a rare cause of TLoC that is not well known amongst physicians. It occurs when a seizure (abnormal electrical discharges in the brain) causes the heart to stop (absence of electrical discharges in the heart). Although ictal asystole is a treatable condition, the diagnosis is often delayed or missed, which may result in significant harm. There is also lack of consensus on how to treat ictal asystole. On the one hand, antiseizure medications (ASMs) can be used to try and prevent seizures. However, they do not necessarily stop all seizures, and patients remain at risk of seizures occurring despite ASMs. When that happens, the seizures will still cause the heart to stop. On the other hand, we have the option of inserting pacemakers – small electrical devices inserted into the chest cavity that kick in to restart the heart if it stops. This is not without complications, including infections and risk of needing to remove the pacemakers and insert new ones when batteries run out. Cardiologists do not normally wish to put in pacemakers in everybody, especially when they are young and would need the pacemakers in and replaced over many years.
The challenges for managing ictal asystole, are, therefore, the following:
These are questions that plague both neurologists and cardiologists, who have differing opinions on these questions. As a result, there remains substantial heterogeneity in practice on this nationally, and patients are coming to harm as a result.
The aim of this project is as follows:
This PhD project will provide a fantastic training framework for the successful applicant to develop their skills in cardiovascular science, neuroscience, and health data science. It will also allow them to develop something from their PhD project that has real clinical meaning and impact for patients around the country. There will be ample opportunity for high-impact journal publications for the successful applicant through this project, and it will be an invaluable platform for them to become a future leader in research. The student will work with an experienced team at University of Liverpool (where the project is based).
This project is open to self-funded UK and international applicants. This PhD would suit clinical or non-clinical candidates with any of the following skills or experiences:
If you’re interested in this opportunity, please email your CV and cover letter (including details of skills/experience in one or more of the applicant suitability items) to project supervisor email: Gashirai.Mbizvo@liverpool.ac.uk.
You may need the following documents to complete your online application:
Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.
Application deadline: 3 July 2025 (may close sooner if enough suitable candidates apply prior to this date).
Interviews held over subsequent weeks virtually. Start date around September 2025 (flexible).
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £5,006
Full-time place, per year - £31,250
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this project.
This is a self-funded opportunity. We would encourage applicants to think about applying for competitive external funding, and we would be happy to support this and amend start dates to fit in with this. The successful applicant will be expected to provide the funding for tuition fees and living expenses. New self-funded applicants may be eligible for a tuition fees bursary.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.
There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding. These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.
My qualifications are from United Kingdom.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.
If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).
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Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.