About the Project
Healthy endothelial cell function is essential for vascular regulation of adequate blood flow, angiogenesis, and tissue repair. Endothelial cell dysfunction can occur as we age and it contributes to a wide variety of human diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs. They regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, sometimes referred to as epigenetics. They are increasingly recognised as important regulators of endothelial cell function. However, the mechanisms by which they may influence endothelial responses to physiological and environmental stress remain incompletely understood.
Recent advances in transcriptomic technologies allows for unbiased identification of tissue-specific miRNA signatures associated with vascular dysfunction. We have used this approach to sequence brain RNA from a mouse model of vascular insufficiency. This model provides a powerful system for examining how endothelial cells respond to sustained reductions in blood flow and oxygen availability. We identified substantial regional differences in miRNA expression patterns, and this suggests highly specialised tissue-specific responses to vascular stress.
Among the most strongly differentially expressed candidates, miR-30d-5p showed marked upregulation within white matter, a region selectively vulnerable to hypoxia. Analysis of human expression datasets further demonstrated that miR-30d-5p is highly expressed in brain endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytes. Importantly, exposure of human endothelial cells to hypoxic conditions also increased miR-30d-5p expression, suggesting that it may represent a conserved response to vascular stress. Bioinformatics analyses predicted that miR-30d-5p regulates genes whose pathways are involved in cell senescence.
This project will investigate how miR-30d-5p regulates endothelial responses to stress. By combining bioinformatics, cellular models and molecular approaches, we will define the pathways controlled by miR-30d-5p and establish how these influence endothelial health and function. The work will provide fundamental insight into miRNA-mediated regulation of vascular function and may reveal new mechanisms that support maintenance of healthy vasculature throughout the ageing process.
This 4 year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Detailed guidance on the application process, and the EASTBIO Application and Reference Forms can be found at How to Apply | Biology.
Please send your completed EASTBIO Application Form along with a copy of your academic transcripts (as a pdf) to [contact details available in the full listing]. You should also contact your referees and ask them to submit their references (on the EASTBIO reference form template) to [contact details available in the full listing] by the application deadline of 16th November 2026.
Funding Notes
This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding covering stipend and UK level tuition fees. The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees meaning that the EASTBIO DTP offers fully-funded studentships to all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students the DTP recruits. It is therefore important for us to know from the outset which fees status category applicants will fall under when applying to our University.
Please refer to UKRI website and Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions for full eligibility criteria.
