Bioveterinary Science - Proteins Through Time: Building an Atlas of Ageing in Tissues

Supervisor: Professor Mandy Peffers

Supervisor bio: After a degree in Animal Science at the University of Leeds, I undertook my veterinary degree at The Royal Veterinary College, University of London and qualified as a veterinarian in 1995. I then spent 11 years in industry and private practice before going back to do a PhD supported by the Wellcome Trust. I first undertook a one-year Wellcome Trust Veterinary Research Entry Fellowship before becoming an Wellcome Trust Integrated Veterinary Training Fellow. The first three years of funding were for a PhD entitle Proteomic and transcriptomic signatures of cartilage ageing and diesaese. The next three years of the fellowship were in a post doctoral role in which I studied a ‘A Systems Biology Approach to Musculoskeletal Ageing’. I am currently a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellow studying ‘The role of small nucleolar RNAs in cartilage ageing and disease’. My research group studies the epigenetics of musculoskeletal ageing and disease in man, dogs and horses. The 'Peffers Lab' consists currently of PhD students, post doctoral research associates and a masters students. We also accept visiting students and scientists from all levels of research from undergraduates to principle investigators.

Email: peffs@liv.ac.uk

School: School of Biosciences 

Department: Bioveterinary Science

Module code: LIFE398

Suitable for students of: Biochemistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Zoology. 

Desirable experience/requirements: N/A

Places available: 2

Start date: Session 1 (15th June 2026), Session 2 (6th July 2026)

Project length: 4 or 8 weeks 

Virtual option: No

Hybrid option: Yes

Project description: 

Age is the leading risk factor for many debilitating  diseases, significantly impacting health and performance. Over 70% of horses older than 20 suffer from age-related conditions, yet the molecular drivers of these changes remain poorly understood. Human studies show that tissue-specific protein alterations play a critical role in ageing and disease, but this area has been largely neglected in equine research.

This project is creating the first open-access Equine Protein Atlas, mapping age-related changes in the proteome across multiple tissues. Using cutting-edge proteomics including protein digestion, SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry, and label-free quantification—combined with bioinformatics, you will identify tissue-specific protein signatures and biomarkers linked to ageing. These insights will provide essential tools for systems biology and inform strategies to improve equine and human health, performance, and longevity.

The student will be fully immersed in a dynamic research environment, gaining hands-on experience in:

Wet-lab techniques (protein digestion, SDS-PAGE gels)
Advanced proteomics workflows (mass spectrometry, quantitative analysis)
Data analysis and bioinformatics interpretation

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a pioneering resource that will transform ageing research worldwide.

Additional requirements: N/A