糖心原创

Contact

• workRoom B73 Veterinary Academic building
  Sutton Bonington Campus
  Sutton Bonington
  Leicestershire
  LE12 5RD
  UK
• work0115 951 6452
• fax0115 951 6440
• bob.robinson@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

I graduated from the University of Bath in 1996 with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry which incorporated two six-month industrial placements: (1) At the Institute of Food Research, Reading and (2) at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.

After Bath University, I went on to completed my PhD in 2000 under the supervision of Professor Claire Wathes at the Royal Veterinary College, London. My PhD thesis elucidated several of the underlying mechanisms by which early pregnancy is established in the dairy cow. In 1997, I was awarded the SRF student poster prize.

I then spent two years working at Pfizer Animal Health (Sandwich, Kent) as a post-doctoral scientist on various drug discovery programmes s before joining the 糖心原创 in 2002 as a BBSRC post-doctoral researcher. Here, I worked with Professor Morag Hunter, Dr George Mann and Professor Bob Webb on 2 BBSRC-funded grants:

• Regulation of luteinisation and progesterone secretion in the bovine corpus luteum
• Identification of novel oocyte secreted proteins.

In 2006, in recognition of my work on the bovine ovary I was awarded the SRF New Investigator award.

In August 2006, I was appointed as a foundation lecturer in Reproductive Physiology at Nottingham Vet school. I have played a key role in the development and teaching of the Reproduction and Pharmacology curriculums. At the same time, I have further developed my research profile into cattle fertility. This work has been supported by the BBSRC, Society for Reproduction and Fertility and the 糖心原创

Expertise Summary

As a Associate Professor in Reproductive Physiology and Pharmacology, I played a key role in the development of the Reproduction (Year 2) and Principles of Veterinary Sciences (Year 3) modules. Currently, I am deputy programme lead for the BVetMedSci course and module convenor for Veterinary Urogenital module. I also play an important role with teaching in basic adult cattle handling and pharmacology during the first 3 years. I also teach on the preliminary year course

Research Summary

My current research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanism behind the declining fertility in dairy cows. Worldwide, conception rates are well below 40%, a level that is unsustainable over… read more

Recent Publications

• KATHRYN J WOAD and ROBERT S ROBINSON, 2016. Theriogenology. 86(1), 221-228
• YAN, LEYAN, ROBINSON, ROBERT, SHI, ZHENDAN and MANN, GEORGE, 2016. THERIOGENOLOGY. 85(7), 1390-1398
• REMNANT, J. G., LEA, R. G., ALLEN, C. E., HUXLEY, J. N., ROBINSON, R. S. and BROWER, A. I., 2014. ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE. 146(1-2), 1-4
• PROKOPIOU, SOTIRIS A., BYRNE, HELEN M., JEFFREY, MIKE R., ROBINSON, ROBERT S., MANN, GEORGE E. and OWEN, MARKUS R., 2014. JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY. 69(6-7), 1515-1546

• View all publications

Current Research

My current research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanism behind the declining fertility in dairy cows. Worldwide, conception rates are well below 40%, a level that is unsustainable over the long-term. With up to 40% of embryos being lost before attachment, mainly due to the inadequate secretion of progesterone from corpus luteum (CL), my research has focused on ovulatory follicle, ovulation and how the CL develops. This has involved a long-standing collaboration with Professor Morag Hunter and Dr George Mann (School of Biosciences) and funded by BBSRC and Pfizer.

The ovary is an extremely dynamic organ with one key phase being ovulation when the oocyte (egg) is released for fertilisation. The CL forms from the remnants of the ovulated follicle and grows extremely rapid, at a rate that is only rivalled by the fastest growing, most aggressive tumours. Angiogenesis is a crucial component of this rapid growth and this aspect is my primary focus. Recently, we have developed an in vitro model of luteal angiogenesis utilising primary cells from the ovary in which tubule-like structures develop and resembles an capillary bed (). This system has enabled us to demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor signalling is essential for these networks to form (). Further work show that the key step that was most sensitive to FGF blockade was the initiation of endothelial sprouting and branching. Our work has also shown that PDGF signalling and pericyte play important roles in the formation of these networks ().

Recently, we have completed a meta-analysis investigating the efficacy of progesterone supplementation in dairy cows. This study revealed that progesterone treatment was beneficial if it was used on naturally mated cows, cows with poor inherent fertility and if treatment was started between day 3 and 7

Past Research

Past PhD Students

Mhairi Laird completed her PhD studies in 2010, which focused on the determining the roles of the different cell types (in particular pericytes) in regulating luteal angiogenesis. She has shown that pericytes migrate ahead of endothelial cells during CL formation and that pericyte area increased rapidly in the early stages of angiogenesis. She also developed a novel serum-free angiogenesis culture system to study formation of endothelial cell networks during luteinisation. Using this system, she demonstrated that luteal endothelial cells were more sensitive to FGF rather than VEGFA inhibition. Moreover, FGF2, but not VEGFA, was induced the precocious and more extensive sprouting of endothelial cells.

In 2011, Chitra Joseph completed her PhD studies with me where she investigated the regulation and function of secreted protein acidic, cysteine-rich (SPARC) in the ovary. She found that SPARC was differentially regulated during folliculogenesis but interesting was massively up-regulated in the collapsed follicle following ovulation. Further studies showed that TGFB and fibronectin, but not LH were likely candidate regulator of this. Interestingly, in the absence of low FGF2 and VEGFA, a proteolytic fragment of SPARC stimulated both luteal angiogenesis and progesterone production in vitro.

Sotiris Propokiou in collaboration with School of Mathematical Sciences completed his PhD thesis in which he developed several in silico models of following:

• How the CL grows and the influence of endothelial cells/FGF2
• Pericyte-endothelial cell interactions during the formation of the endothelial cell networks in vitro.

I have also been awarded a Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF) academic grant to investigate the effects of electrical cues and influences of beta-adrenoreceptors on the formation of the CL. This involves a collaboration with Dr Christine Pullar in the University of Leicester ()

Highlights of my research findings:

• FGF2 is a key stimulatant of luteal endothelial cell sprouting.
• There is a dramatic in FGF2 concentrations in the developing CL after ovulation whish is in part regulated by LH.
• Development of an in vivo model in which a delayed rise in post-ovulatory progesterone could be induced. This showed that the quality of the pre-ovulatory follicle influenced the development of the subsequent CL.
• Supra-basal progesterone concentrations during the follicular phase are associated with the development of ovarian cysts.
• Endometrial oxytocin receptors were up-regulated before oestrogen receptors in the cow. Thus enhancing our knowledge of the initiation of the luteolytic mechanism. Moreover, pregnancy suppressed oxytocin receptor up-regulation but only affected oestrogen receptors after maternal recognition of pregnancy.
• Feeding dairy cows high levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased endometrial production of prostaglandins in vitro.

Future Research

Current and future research is focusing on the impact of diseases (e.g. endometritis and Schmallenberg virus) and nutrition on ovarian and uterine function in the cow. A particular focus will be on the how these situations affect angiogenesis and the ability of endothelial cells to form vascular networks.

I have have an interest in developing a research programme looking into progesterone supplementation in women undergoing artificial reproduction treatments.

• KATHRYN J WOAD and ROBERT S ROBINSON, 2016. Theriogenology. 86(1), 221-228
• YAN, LEYAN, ROBINSON, ROBERT, SHI, ZHENDAN and MANN, GEORGE, 2016. THERIOGENOLOGY. 85(7), 1390-1398
• REMNANT, J. G., LEA, R. G., ALLEN, C. E., HUXLEY, J. N., ROBINSON, R. S. and BROWER, A. I., 2014. ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE. 146(1-2), 1-4
• PROKOPIOU, SOTIRIS A., BYRNE, HELEN M., JEFFREY, MIKE R., ROBINSON, ROBERT S., MANN, GEORGE E. and OWEN, MARKUS R., 2014. JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY. 69(6-7), 1515-1546
• LAIRD, M., WOAD, K.J., HUNTER, M.G., MANN, G.E. and ROBINSON, R.S., 2013. Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. 25(2), 372-386
• MANN, G.E., WATHES, D.C. and ROBINSON, R.S., 2013. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 376(1-2), 1-11
• WOAD, K.J., HUNTER, M.G., MANN, G.E., LAIRD, M., HAMMOND, A.J. and ROBINSON, R.S., 2012. Reproduction: the Journal of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility. 143(1), 35-43
• JOSEPH, C., HUNTER, M.G., SINCLAIR, K.D. and ROBINSON, R.S., 2012. Reproduction. 144(3), 361-372
• ROBINSON, R.S. and MANN, G.E., 2011. Optimising corpus luteum function in dairy cattle to improve fertility Cattle Practice. 11-14
• ROBINSON, R.S., HUNTER M.G. and MANN, G.E., 2010. Establishment of early pregnancy in dairy cows Cattle Practice. 18(1), 13-19
• FOSTER, N., GARDNER, D., KYDD, J., ROBINSON, R. and ROSHIER, M., 2010. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 37(3), 266-275
• ROBINSON, R S, WOAD, K J, HAMMOND, A J, LAIRD, M, HUNTER, M G and MANN, G E, 2009. Reproduction. 138(6), 869-81
• WOAD, K.J. ROBINSON RS, HAMMOND, A.J., HUNTER, M., MANN, G.E., HUNTER, M.G. and ROBINSON, R.S., 2009. Reproduction: the Journal of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility. 138(3), 581-588
• ROBINSON, R.S., HAMMOND, A.J., MANN, G.E. and HUNTER, M.G., 2008. Reproduction: the Journal for the Society for Reproduction and Fertility. 135(3), 405-413
• ROBINSON, R S, HAMMOND, A J, WATHES, D C, HUNTER, M G and MANN, G E, 2008. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 43 Suppl 2, 104-12
• ROBINSON, R.S., NICKLIN, L.T., HAMMOND, A.J., SCHAMS, D., HUNTER, M.G. and MANN, G.E., 2007. Biology of Reproduction. 77(1), 28-36
• WANG, C K, ROBINSON, R S, FLINT, A P F and MANN, G E, 2007. Reproduction. 134(2), 365-71
• MANN,GE, ROBINSON,RS and HUNTER, MG, 2007. Theriogenology. 67(7), 1256-61
• MANN G E, SCHOLEY D V. ROBINSON R S, 2007. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 33(4), 437-441
• NICKLIN, L.T., ROBINSON, R.S., CAMPBELL, B.K., HUNTER, M.G. and MANN, G.E., 2007. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 33, 240-244
• ROBINSON, R.S., FRAY, M.D., WATHES, D.C., LAMMING, G.E. and MANN, G.E., 2006. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 73(4), 470-474
• NICKLIN,LT, ROBINSON,RS, MARSTERS,P, CAMPBELL, BK, MANN, GE and HUNTER,MG, 2006. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 74(6), 724-9
• ROBINSON, R.S., HAMMOND, A.J., NICKLIN, L.T., SCHAMS, D., MANN, G.E. and HUNTER, M.G., 2006. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 31(2), 154-172
• ROBINSON, R.S., HUNTER, M.G. and MANN, G.E., 2006. The Veterinary Journal. VOL 172(NUMBER 2), 340-346
• ROBINSON, R.S., HAMMOND, A.J., HUNTER, M.G. and MANN, G.E., 2005. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 28(3), 285-295
• HUNTER, M.G., ROBINSON, R.S., MANN, G.E. and WEBB, R., 2004. Animal Reproduction Science. 82-83, 461-478
• PUSHPAKUMARA, P.G.A., ROBINSON, R.S., DEMMERS, K.J., MANN, G.E., SINCLAIR, K.D., WEBB, R. and WATHES, D.C., 2002. Reproduction. VOL 123(PART 6), 859-868
• ROBINSON, R. S., PUSHPAKUMARA, P. G. A., CHENG, Z., PETERS, A. R., ABAYASEKARA, D. R. E. and WATHES, D. C., 2002. Reproduction. VOL 124(PART 1), 119-131
• ROBINSON, R.S., MANN, G.E., LAMMING, G E. and WATHES, D.C., 2001. Reproduction. 122(6), 965-979
• ROBINSON, R. S., MANN, G. E., LAMMING, G. E. and WATHES, D. C., 2001. Embyronic-endometrial interactions during early pregnancy in the cow BSAS OCCASIONAL PUBLICATION. NUMB 26(VOL 2), 289-296
• CHENG, Z, ROBINSON, R S, PUSHPAKUMARA, P G, MANSBRIDGE, R J and WATHES, D C, 2001. Journal of Endocrinology. 171(3), 463-73
• ROBINSON, R. S., MANN, G. E., GADD, T. S., LAMMING, G. E. and WATHES, D. C., 2000. Journal of Endocrinology. VOL 165(PART 2), 231-243
• MANN, G E, LAMMING, G E, ROBINSON, R S and WATHES, D C, 1999. The regulation of interferon-tau production and uterine hormone receptors during early pregnancy. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Supplement. 54, 317-28
• ROBINSON, R S, MANN, G E, LAMMING, G E and WATHES, D C, 1999. The Journal of endocrinology. 160(1), 21-33
• WEBB, R, GARNSWORTHY, P.C., GONG J.C., ROBINSON, R.S. and WATHES, D.C., 1999. Consequences for reproductive function of metabolic adaption to load. Metabolic stress in dairy cows British Society of Animal Science Occasional Publication. 24, 99-112
• WATHES, D.C., ROBINSON, R.S., MANN, G.E. and LAMMING, G.E., 1998. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 33, 279-284
• WATHES, D C, REYNOLDS, T S, ROBINSON, R S and STEVENSON, K R, 1998. Journal of dairy science. 81(6), 1778-89
• TAGLIALATELA, G, ROBINSON, R, GEGG, M and PEREZ-POLO, J R, 1997. Brain research bulletin. 43(2), 229-33
• TAGLIALATELA, G, ROBINSON, R and PEREZ-POLO, J R, 1997. Journal of neuroscience research. 47(2), 155-62
• WOAD, KATHRYN J., HUNTER, MORAG G., MANN, GEORGE E., LAIRD, MHAIRI, HAMMOND, AMANDA J. and ROBINSON, ROBERT S., REPRODUCTION. 143(1), 35-43
• JOSEPH, CHITRA, HUNTER, MORAG G., SINCLAIR, KEVIN D. and ROBINSON, ROBERT S., REPRODUCTION. 144(3), 361-372