The award provides support to Rahul as he investigates the biology of chronic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). He is one of 16 DPhil students to have joined the Institute this week as part of the 2020 student intake.
Prof Chris Buckley, Director of Clinical Research, said: "I am delighted Rahul is joining the Institute to pursue his DPhil on the role of the lymphatic endothelium in driving inflammation in IBD, with Prof Fiona Powrie and I supervising his work. He will also be collaborating with Prof David Jackson at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine here in Oxford, as well as with Prof Gwen Randolph, Washington University, USA."
Rahul is one of a growing number of clinician scientists to recently join the Kennedy as part of the Institute's ambition in clinical science. "The Kennedy's approach of breaking down traditional clinical silos to deliver the cellular basis of inflammation now sees Rahul (gastroenterology) join Clinical Fellows studying for DPhils at the Kennedy from disciplines including oncology, haematology, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology and, of course, rheumatology," explained Chris.
Speaking of his award, Rahul said: "I had a fantastic experience at the Kennedy Institute during my Academic Clinical Fellowship, and I am delighted to have been awarded this MRC Fellowship in order to continue pursuing the work I started here. I am immensely grateful to my supervisors, Prof Chris Buckley and Prof Fiona Powrie, as well as to many other members of the Kennedy I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from."
Rahul first joined the Kennedy Institute in 2019 as part of his training as an Academic Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology. During a six-month placement in Prof Fiona Powrie's laboratory, he helped recruit IBD patients to studies examining the role of stromal cells in inflammation. He also worked with postdoctoral scientists to isolate and image gut lymphatic endothelial cells and presented this work internationally, forming an exciting basis to further investigate their role in intestinal inflammation.
We wish Rahul every success during his DPhil training.