PhD Studentship: Investigating NRP2’s Role in Maintaining Endothelial Barrier Stability Under Stress

This PhD project at the Quadram Institute Bioscience focuses on understanding how the cell-surface receptor neuropilin-2 (NRP2) helps endothelial cells maintain stability and barrier function under stress. Endothelial cells form a critical barrier between blood and tissues, and their dysfunction can lead to inflammation and immune cell recruitment. The project will investigate NRP2’s role in preserving vascular health by studying its effects on junctional proteins like VE-cadherin, inflammatory responses, and cellular adaptations to flow, nutrient stress, and inflammation. The student will employ a mix of live-cell imaging, mouse genetics, and vascular physiology techniques to uncover mechanistic insights. This interdisciplinary project is ideal for candidates interested in cell biology, vascular health, and inflammation research, offering training in advanced imaging, genetic models, and data analysis.

• Investigate how NRP2 regulates endothelial barrier stability in human and mouse endothelial cells under stress conditions.
• Study cellular responses to flow, inflammatory stimuli, and nutrient stress using live-cell and confocal imaging techniques.
• Determine whether loss of VE-cadherin triggers inflammatory activation in endothelial cells.
• Use endothelial-specific mouse models to test NRP2’s role in vascular adaptation to dietary stress in vivo.
• Conduct receptor trafficking experiments and analyze inflammatory signaling pathways.
• Perform statistical analysis and data interpretation of experimental results.
• Receive interdisciplinary training in endothelial cell biology, mouse genetics, and vascular physiology.