PhD Project - Understanding and Predicting Symptom Burden in Lung Cancer Immunotherapy
Applications for this PhD project are now open. The deadline for applications is 6 April 2026.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the UK. While the introduction of immunotherapy has improved survival for many people with non-small cell and small-cell lung cancer, a substantial proportion of patients experience persistent and burdensome symptoms, including fatigue, pain, breathlessness, sleep disturbance, and mood changes. These symptoms vary widely between individuals and are often poorly explained by disease stage or treatment characteristics alone.
As survival improves, there is growing emphasis on rehabilitation, symptom management, and quality of life, rather than disease modification alone. Physiotherapy plays a central role in supporting people living with lung cancer; however, current rehabilitation approaches are largely reactive, as clinicians have limited ability to predict which patients will develop significant symptom burden or functional decline.
This PhD project addresses this gap by applying interoception and active inference frameworks to understand how symptoms are perceived, predicted, and acted upon during lung cancer immunotherapy. By integrating physiological, psychological, and cognitive–affective factors, the project aims to identify clinically meaningful predictors of symptom trajectories and to explore the feasibility of a theory-informed, physiotherapy-led prehabilitation and rehabilitation approach within NHS lung cancer services.
Project Contact:
Dr Solomon Segal
Email: solomon.segal@hsu.ac.uk
Details
This PhD aims to improve understanding and prediction of symptom burden and functional impact in people receiving lung cancer immunotherapy, with direct relevance to physiotherapy and rehabilitation practice.
Specifically, the project will:
- Synthesise existing evidence on symptom burden, physical function, and quality of life during and after lung cancer immunotherapy
- Identify pre-treatment predictors of pain, fatigue, and functional impact that are relevant to physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Examine the feasibility of integrating an interoception- and active inference–informed assessment and rehabilitation approach within NHS lung cancer services
The project is based in the Health Sciences University Centre for PAIn Research and is embedded within a growing research program spanning, theoretical, clinical and experimental research. Supervision is provided by an experienced multidisciplinary team with international links.
Applications are welcomed from UK and international candidates. This PhD will provide the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary research environment with expertise in pain science, symptom research, and rehabilitation.
The project benefits from a formal clinical–academic collaboration with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring access to specialist clinical supervision, facilities, and patient populations.
This PhD is ideally suited to a physiotherapist or nurse (or related health professional) with experience or interest in oncology, palliative care, respiratory care, or rehabilitation, who is motivated to undertake theory-driven, clinically grounded research.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong interest in symptom management and rehabilitation
- Curiosity about mechanistic and predictive approaches to complex symptoms
- Motivation to develop a clinical–academic career in cancer rehabilitation.
Funding 
HSU is offering up to three fee waivers for UK home applicants starting in October 2026. All eligible UK home applicants will automatically be considered for fee waiver support, which is awarded competitively based on the excellence of the candidate.
International applicants are unfortunately not eligible for fee waivers.
All applicants are expected to have financial plans in place to cover their studies and should not rely on a fee waiver.
Self-funded students are also welcome to apply for this project. Self-funded students can be UK home students or international students.
Availability
Available to both UK and International students
Potential Supervisors
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