Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, UEA Doctoral College (2022 - present)

Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research, Faculty of Science (2019 - 2022)

Director of the Biomedical Research Centre, UEA (2015 - 2021)

Research

As an early career scientist I trained in the laboratories of Professor David Beech FMedSci (Leeds) and Professor R. Alan North FRS (Manchester), and established an independent research group following the award of a prestigious BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship.  We collaborate with clinicians at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, partners in Pharmaceutical industry and other academic groups to tackle pressing and challenging projects.  My expertise encompass pharmacological and physiological aspects of vascular and adipose tissues, and the biophysical and pharmacological properties of ligand- and voltgae-gated ion channels.

• Professor, Chair of Pharmacology, University of East Anglia (2020 - present)
• Associate Professor of Pharmacology, University of East Anglia (2015 - 2020)
• Lecturer of Pharmacology, University of East Anglia (2013 - 2015)
• BBSRC David Phillips Fellow, University of East Anglia (2010 – 2013)
• BBSRC David Phillips Fellow, University of Leeds (2008 – 2010)
• Wellcome Trust Research Associate, University of Manchester (2004 – 2008)
• MRC-funded PhD, University of Leeds (2000 – 2004)
• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, University of Leeds (1997 – 2000)

ResearcherID 

http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-2142-2011

Our overarching research interest is the role ion channels play in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie cardiometabolic physiology and disease with an emphasis of blood vessels, adipose tissue, and the autonomic and sensory nerves that control these tissues.

Research Group Membership

Professor Samuel J. Fountain BSc PhD FBPhS (Principal Investigator)

Senior Postdoctoral Research Associates/Fellows

Dr Michelle Fletcher BSc MSc PhD

Dr Angela Lee MBBS, NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Vascular Surgery

Dr Paul Fodor BSc PhD, British Heart Foundation

PhD Students 

Rajaa Shaheen BSc MSc (British Council funded) (2023 - 2027)

Lucas Malins BSc MSc (British Heart Foundation funded) (2023 - 2027)

Chloe Stinson BSc MSc (UEA funded) (2024 - 2028)

Farzana Akther Sumi BSc MSc (British Heart Foundation funded) (2025 - 2029)

Isla Sistern BSc (British Heart Foundation funded) (2026 - 2030)

Masters by Research Students

Rebecca Oakley BSc (2026 - 2028)

Vascular pharmacology & physiology We are interested in the role of the peripheral nervous system in controlling human arterial and venous blood flow, in additional to the role of vascular endothelium in the mechanical detection of blood flow.

Adipose biology and dysfunction  We are interested in the role of efferent and afferent nervous innervation of human white adipose tissue and regulatory changes associated with metabolic disease. 

Receptor-ligand interactions and drug discovery We have an active programme to investigate novel molecules that allosterically modulate human P2X receptors (a family of ligand-gated ion channels). We are interested in the identification (via HTS) and molecular interaction of (in silico docking, receptor-ligand SAR) small molecules, natural products and antibodies with human P2X receptors.

Our research programme is generously funded by the British Heart Foundation, BBSRC, Merck and AstraZeneca.

Major experimental techniques available in the lab

Pressure myography using human and animal blood vessels

Wire myography using human and animal blood vessels

Single-cell calcium imaging

Manual patch-clamp electrophysiology

Planar patch-clamp electrophysiology

Sharp electrode tissue recording

High throughput compound screens 

Molecular modelling and ligand docking

PhD and MSc by Research Positions

Click here for current PhD opportunities in Biological Sciences. Candidates for self/scholarship-funded MSc by Research opportunities should contact me directly. But feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.