Project description

Primary supervisor - Dr Stephen Robinson

How do blood vessels know when to switch between healing and harm?

This PhD project investigates how two key endothelial surface receptors—Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and Neuropilin-2 (NRP2)—regulate energy metabolism and inflammation in blood vessels. These receptors are well known for their role in vessel growth, but emerging work from our lab shows they also act as “metabolic gatekeepers,” helping endothelial cells decide when to generate energy, repair damage, or trigger inflammatory responses.

You will use cutting-edge tools including real-time metabolic flux analysis (Seahorse), in vivo metabolic imaging (hyperpolarised 13C-pyruvate MRS), live-cell microscopy, RNA sequencing, and chromatin profiling to study how changes in metabolism drive inflammation and vascular dysfunction.

This multidisciplinary project is ideally suited to students with interests in vascular biology, cell metabolism, or inflammation. You will join a collaborative lab with a track record of supporting PhD students, embedded in the world-class Norwich Research Park environment.

Supervision will be shared between Dr Stephen Robinson (Quadram Institute), Professor Sam Fountain (UEA), and collaborators in imaging and epigenetics. Training will be provided in molecular biology, transcriptomics, immunology, and in vivo physiology.

You’ll gain skills that are directly applicable to careers in academia, biotech, or medical research—and you’ll contribute to understanding why blood vessels go wrong in diseases like atherosclerosis and diabetes.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/.

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.

To maximise accessibility and attract students from underrepresented groups to our programme we have introduced bespoke templates for applicant Personal and Research statements which will enable every applicant to fully represent themselves through providing suitable examples and evidence. These forms are on the NRPDTP website and must be used for these sections of the application form.

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2025/6 stipend rate: £20,780), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

References

Benwell, CJ., Ilker, N., Nicklin, A., Vaughan, LB., Firoglani-Moschi, M., Price, CA., Mitchel, L., Liu, T., and Robinson, SD. 2025, Neuropilin 2 stabilises adherens junctions and protects agains endothelial activation by promoting the interaction between VE cadherin and p120 catenin. BioRxiv, doi:10.1101/2025.03.09.642194.

Benwell, CJ., Johnson, RT., Taylor, AGE., Lambert, J., Robinson, SD. 2024, A proteomics approach to isolating neuropilin-dependent α5 integrin trafficking pathways: neuropilin 1 and 2 co-traffic α5 integrin through endosomal p120RasGAP to promote polarised fibronectin fibrillogenesis in endothelial cells. Nature Communications Biology, 7(629). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06320-4.

Benwell, CJ., Johnson, RT., Taylor, AGE., Price, CA., Robinson, SD. 2022, Endothelial VEGFR coreceptors neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 are essential for tumour angiogenesis. Cancer Research Communications, 2(12): 1626-1640. 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-22-0250.

Alghamdi, AAA., Benwell, CJ., Atkinson, SJ., Lambert, J., Johnson, RT., Robinson, SD. 2020, NRP2 as an emerging angiogenic player; promoting endothelial cell adhesion and migration by regulating recycling of alpha 5 integrin. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8: 395. 10.3389/fcell.2020.00395

Taylor, JAGE., Benwell, CJ., and Robinson, SD. 2022, Using immortalized endothelial cells to study the roles of adhesion molecules in VEGF-induced signaling. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2475: 133-141. 10.1007/978-1-0716-2217-9_9.

Unravelling how endothelial metabolism drives vascular inflammation (ROBINSON_Q26DTP)

Project description

Entry requirements

Funding

References