Robin Rumney

I am a Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.

My research interests fall into three overlapping themes, which are:

1) Development of novel biomimetic materials.

2) Underlying mechanisms of musculoskeletal diseases.

3) Drug repurposing for the treatment of rare diseases.

I graduated from the University of Bath in 2005 with an Upper Second (2:1) degree in Applied Biology with placement year at the University of Western Australia. 

I then worked as a technician at UCL and Senior Technician at the RVC.

In 2010 I completed my PhD on purinergic signalling between osteoblasts was from the Gartland Bone Group at the University of Sheffield.

Since then I have worked on postdoctoral research projects in breast cancer and bone regeneration before coming to Portsmouth in 2017.

1) Development of novel biomimetic materials.

Investigation of limpet tooth, the highest tensile known biomaterial. I have developed new cell culture techniques, and created a novel bioinspired material.

2) Underlying mechanisms of musculoskeletal diseases.

I currently research Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, with a focus on the role of the P2X7 purinoceptor and the molecular mechanisms that can lead to ectopic mineralisation. 

3) Drug repurposing for the treatment of rare diseases.

For the past couple of years I have been testing out drugs developed for the treatment of common illnesses to see if they might have potential for the treatment of a rare bone cancer known as Ewing's Sarcoma.