Robert Wilkins graduated in Physiology from University College in 1990. He subsequently undertook a research degree under the supervision of Professor Clive Ellory and Dr Andrew Hall in the Laboratory of Physiology, studying the cellular physiology of cartilage. After successfully completing his D.Phil., he was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship at Christ Church. Two fixed-term Fellowships at Trinity and Wadham followed, associated with a Research Fellowship from the Arthritis Research Campaign. In January 2004 he was appointed to a University Lectureship in Epithelial Physiology. At St Edmund Hall, Dr Wilkins holds the American Fellowship in Physiology; as the medical tutor, he overseas the teaching of the four or five pre-clinical students in each year and provides tutorials covering cellular and systems physiology.

His research seeks to understand the involvement of membrane transport pathways in the processes regulating the synthesis and degradation of cartilage. Cell synthesis of matrix macromolecules and degradative enzymes is sensitive to mechanical and physical factors, the chemical composition of the extracellular matrix, growth factors and cytokines, oxygen and cell-matrix interactions. Ongoing work characterises how transporter activity is determined by O₂/ATP levels and ionic gradients; regulated by osmolytes, mechanical factors, growth factors and cytokines; tailored to the tissue by expression of specific isoforms. Transporter activity can be altered in disease states when gradients change, the influence of regulators is varied, or isoform properties are inappropriate or altered. Areas of interest include the influence of intracellular composition (H⁺ , Ca²⁺) and availability of substrates (glucose, SO₄^2-) for glycosaminoglycan production; the role of H⁺ and P_i transport in degradative enzyme activation.

Further information can be found at Wilkins Research