Job Title
Professor
Department
WMS - Biomedical Sciences
Phone
+44(0)24 76968703
Web Link
Research Interests
Research Interests: Parturition in mammalian species, uterine physiology, microgenomics, molecular basis of electrogenesis in smooth muscle, mathematical biology. Summary:Rises in intracellular calcium are essential for contraction in myometrial smooth muscle. Calcium is not only an important second messenger for the generation of force via myosin light chain kinase, but also depolarizes the plasma membrane allowing for activation of other voltage dependent ion channels. This voltage dependent control of excitability is modulated in a gestation dependent manner in all mammalian species such that as gestation progresses the myometrium becomes increasingly excitable. These biophysical changes are mediated by alterations in ion channels, pumps, agonist receptors and the sub cellular architecture of heterogeneous cell types within the uterus. In order to considered the process of activation of the uterus in its entirety there is a requirement for a combination of molecular, biophysical, and modelling techniques.
- Brighton, Paul (Paul J.), Fossler, Michael J., Quenby, Siobhan, Blanks, Andrew M., 2020. Functionally selective inhibition of the oxytocin receptor by retosiban in human myometrial smooth muscle. Endocrinology, 161 (2)
- Dunford, Joseph, Lutton, E. Josiah, Atia, Jolene, Blanks, Andrew M., Van Den Berg, Hugo, 2019. Computational physiology of uterine smooth muscle. Science Progress, 102 (2), pp. 103-126
- Stanfield, Zachary, Lai, Pei F., Lei, Kaiyu, Johnson, Mark R. D., Blanks, Andrew M., Romero, Roberto, Chance, Mark R., Mesiano, Sam, Koyutürk, Mehmet, 2019. Myometrial transcriptional signatures of human parturition. Frontiers in Genetics, 10
- Danielsson, Jennifer, Vink, Joy, Hyuga, Shunsuke, Fu, Xiao Wen, Funayama, Hiromi, Wapner, Ronald, Blanks, Andrew M., Gallos, George, 2018. Anoctamin channels in human myometrium : a novel target for tocolysis. Reproductive Sciences, 25 (11), pp. 1589-1600
- Lutton, E. Josiah, Lammers, Wim J. E. P., James, Sean G., Berg, Hugo van den, Blanks, Andrew M., 2018. Identification of uterine pacemaker regions at the myometrial-placental interface in the rat. The Journal of Physiology, 596 (14), pp. 2841-2852
- Lutton, E. Josiah, Lammers, Wim J. E. P., James, Sean G., Berg, Hugo van den, Blanks, Andrew M., 2017. A computational method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the microarchitecture of myometrial smooth muscle from histological sections. PLoS One, 12 (3)
- Kim, Sung Hye, MacIntyre, David A., Hanyaloglu, Aylin C., Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Bennett, Phillip R., Terzidou, Vasso, 2016. The oxytocin receptor antagonist, Atosiban, activates pro-inflammatory pathways in human amnion via Gai signalling. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 420, pp. 11-23
- Muter, Joanne, Brighton, Paul, Lucas, Emma S., Lacey, Lauren, Shmygol, Anatoly, Quenby, Siobhan, Blanks, Andrew M., Brosens, Jan J., 2016. Progesterone-dependent induction of phospholipase C-related catalytically inactive protein 1 (PRIP-1) in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells. Endocrinology, 157 (7), pp. 2883-2893
- Kim, Sung Hye, MacIntyre, David A., Firmino Da Silva, Maria, Blanks, Andrew M., Lee, Yun S., Thornton, Steven, Bennett, Phillip R., Terzidou, Vasso, 2015. Oxytocin activates NF-?B-mediated inflammatory pathways in human gestational tissues. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 403, pp. 64-77
- Sheldon, Rachel E., Shmygol, Anatoly, Berg, Hugo van den, Blanks, Andrew M., 2015. Functional and morphological development of the womb throughout life. Science progress, 98 (Pt 2), pp. 103-127
- Lammers, Wim J. E. P., Stephen, Betty, Al-Sultan, Mahmood Ahmed, Subramanya, Sandeep B., Blanks, Andrew M., 2015. The location of pacemakers in the uteri of pregnant guinea pigs and rats. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 309 (11), pp. R1439-R1446
- Wright, P. D., Kanumilli , S., Tickle, David, Cartland, J., Bouloc, N., Dale, T., Tresize, D. J., McCloskey, Conor, McCavera, Samantha, Blanks, Andrew M., Kettleborough, Catherine, Jerman, Jeff, 2015. A high-throughput electrophysiology assay identifies inhibitors of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir7.1. Journal of Biomolecular Screening, 20 (6), pp. 739-747
- Sheldon, Rachel E., Mashayamombe, Chipo, Shi, S. -Q., Garfield, R. E., Shmygol, Anatoly, Blanks, Andrew M., Berg, Hugo van den, 2014. Alterations in gap junction connexin43/connexin45 ratio mediate a transition from quiescence to excitation in a mathematical model of the myometrium. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 11 (101)
- McCloskey, Conor, Rada, Cara, Bailey, Elizabeth, McCavera, Samantha, Berg, Hugo van den, Atia, Jolene, Rand, D. A., Shmygol, Anatoly, Chan, Yi-Wah, Quenby, Siobhan, Brosens, Jan J., Vatish, Manu, Zhang, Jie, Denton, Jerod S., Taggart, Michael J., Kettleborough, Catherine, Tickle, David, Jerman, Jeff, Wright, Paul, Dale, Timothy et al (Select to open full list), 2014. The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 6 (9), pp. 1161-1174
- Brosens, Jan J., Blanks, Andrew M., Lucas, Emma S., 2014. LRH-1 : orphaned, adopted and needed for pregnancy. Nature Medicine, 19 (8), pp. 968-969
- Chan, Yi-Wah, Berg, Hugo van den, Moore, Jonathan D., Quenby, Siobhan, Blanks, Andrew M., 2014. Assessment of myometrial transcriptome changes associated with spontaneous human labour by high throughput RNA-seq. Experimental Physiology, 99 (3), pp. 510-524
- Kuroda, Keiji, Venkatakrishnan, R., Salker, Madhuri S., Lucas, Emma S., Shaheen, Fozia, Blanks, Andrew M., Christian, Mark, Quenby, Siobhan, Brosens, Jan J., 2013. Induction of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and activation of distinct mineralocorticoid receptor- and glucocorticoid receptor-dependent gene networks in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells. Molecular Endocrinology, 27 (2), pp. 192-202
- Sheldon, Rachel E., Baghdadi, Marc, McCloskey, Conor, Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly, Berg, Hugo van den, 2013. Spatial heterogeneity enhances and modulates excitability in a mathematical model of the myometrium. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 10 (86), pp. 20130458-20130458
- Kuroda, Keiji, Venkatakrishnan, R., Salker, Madhuri S., Lucas, Emma S., Shaheen, Fozia, Kuroda, Masako, Blanks, Andrew M., Christian, Mark, Quenby, Siobhan, Brosens, Jan J., 2013. Induction of 11 -HSD 1 and activation of distinct mineralocorticoid receptor- and glucocorticoid receptor-dependent gene networks in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells. Molecular Endocrinology, 27 (2), pp. 192-202
- Blanks, Andrew M., Brosens, Jan J., 2013. Meaningful menstruation : cyclic renewal of the endometrium is key to reproductive success. BioEssays, 35 (5), pp. 412-412
- Blanks, Andrew M., Brosens, Jan J., 2012. Progesterone action in the myometrium and decidua in preterm birth. Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn, 4 (3), pp. 188-194
- Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Gullam, Joanna E., Thornton, Steven, Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly, 2012. Characterization of the tissue-level Ca2+signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Vol.16 (No.12), pp. 2990-3000
- Terzidou, Vasso, Blanks, Andrew M., Kim, Sung Hye, Thornton, Steven, Bennett, Phillip R., 2011. Labor and inflammation increase the expression of oxytocin receptor in human amnion. Biology of Reproduction, 84 (3), pp. 546-552
- Aslanidi, O., Atia, Jolene, Benson, Alan P., Berg, Hugo van den, Blanks, Andrew M., Choi, C., Gilbert, S. H., Goryanin, Igor, Hayes-Gill, Barrie, Holden, Arun V., Li, P., Norman, Jane E., Shmygol, Anatoly, Simpson, N. A. B., Taggart, Michael J., Tong, Wing Chiu, Zhang, Henggui, 2011. Towards a computational reconstruction of the electrodynamics of premature and full term human labour. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Vol.107 (No.1), pp. 183-192
- Vatish, Manu, Steer, P. J., Blanks, Andrew M., Hong, M., Thornton, Steven, 2010. Diurnal variation is lost in preterm deliveries before 28 weeks of gestation. BJOG - An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vol.117 (No.6), pp. 765-767
- Higgins, Claire A., Martin, William, Anderson, Laurie, Blanks, Andrew M., Norman, Jane E., McConnachie, A., Nelson, S. M., 2010. Maternal obesity and its relationship with spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractility of human myometrium in vitro. Reproductive Sciences, Vol.17 (No.2), pp. 177-185
- Higgins, Claire A., Martin, William, Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Norman, Jane E., Nelson, Scott M., 2008. Maternal obesity does not impair spontaneous or oxytocin-induced contractility of human myometrium in vitro. Reproductive Sciences, Vol.15 (No.2, Suppl.), pp. 113A-114A
- Blanks, Andrew M., Zhao, ZhengHang Zhao, Shmygol, Anatoly, Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Astle, Shirley, Thornton, Steven, 2008. Characterization of the molecular and electrophysiological properties of the T-type calcium channel in human myometrium. The Journal of Physiology, Vol.581 (No.3), pp. 915-926
- Gullam, Joanna E., Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Shmygol, Anatoly, 2008. Oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions in the presence of Nifedipine, what is the mechanism?. Reproductive Sciences, Vol.15 (No.2, Suppl.), pp. 116A-116A
- Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, 2007. Myometrial function in prematurity. Best Practice & Research: Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vol.21 (No.5), pp. 807-819
- Taggart, Michael J., Blanks, Andrew M., Kharche, Sanjay, Holden, Arun, Wang, Bin, Zhang, Henggui, 2007. Towards understanding the myometrial physiome: approaches for the construction of a virtual physiological uterus. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Vol.7 (No.1)
- Shmygol, Anatoly, Gullam, Joanna, Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, 2006. Multiple mechanisms involved in oxytocin-induced modulation of myometrial contractility. Acta Pharmacoligica Sinica, 27 (7), pp. 827-832
- Whyment, Andrew D., Blanks, Andrew M., Lee, Kevin, Renaud, L. P., Spanswick, David, 2006. Histamine excites neonatal rat sympathetic preganglionic neurons in vitro via activation of H-1 receptors. Journal of Neurophysiology, 95 (4), pp. 2492-2500
- Zhang, Jie, Taggart, Michael J., Thornton, Steven, Shmygol, Anatoly, Blanks, Andrew M., 2010. The pregnancy dependent expression profile of the genomic complement of K plus channels in human myometrial smooth muscle and vasculature. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Gynecologic-Investigation, Orlando, FL, March 24-27, 2010, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 78A-78A
- Higgins, C. A., Martin, W., Blanks, Andrew M., Nelson, S. M., 2010. Lipopolysaccharide induces and intense inflammatory response to myometrium, but is not associated with a functional contractile response in-vitro. Annual meeting of the Blair Bell Research Society, London, England, November 5, 2009, Published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, pp. 631-632
- Higgins, Claire A., Martin, William, Blanks, Andrew M., Catalano, Roberto D., Thornton, Steven, Nelson, Scott M., 2010. Myometrial cytokines and chemokines during human labour: a co-ordinated time and contraction dependent event. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Gynecologic-Investigation, Orlando, FL, March 24-27, 2010, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 179A-179A
- Blanks, Andrew M., Tong, Wing Chiu, Benson, Alan P., Holden, Arun V., 2010. Digital reconstruction of the fibre architecture of the pregnant human uterus in vivo and in vitro by diffusion MRI.. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Orlando, FL, March 24-27, 2010, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 332A-333A
- Bailey, Elizabeth H., Bradley, A., Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, Blanks, Andrew M., 2010. Combination of potassium channel openers with nifedipine to reduce myometrial contractility. Blair Bell Research Society annual meeting, London, England, November 5, 2009, Published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, pp. 624-624
- Bailey, Elizabeth H., Bradley, Angela, Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly, Gordon, David, Thornton, Steven, 2009. Effects of a b(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, solabegron, on spontaneous myometrial contractility in isolated human myometrial strips. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Glasgow, Scotland, March 17-21, 2009, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 289A-289A
- Bailey, Elizabeth H., Bradley, Angela, Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, Blanks, Andrew M., 2009. Combination therapy using potassium channels openers and nifedipine in human myometrium in vitro. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Glasgow, Scotland, March 17-21, 2009, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 290A-290A
- Jiménez Roldán, J. E. (José Emilio), Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Shmygol, Anatoly, 2009. Extracellular cyclic ADP-ribose modulates Ca signalling in human myometrium. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Glasgow, Scotland, March 17-21, 2009, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 198A-198A
- Gullam, J. E., Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Shmygol, Anatoly, 2009. Phase-plot analysis of the oxytocin effect on human myometrial contractility. 1st Meeting on Reproductive Bioengineering, Pitztal, Austria, April, 2008, Published in European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, pp. S20-S24
- Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Shmygol, Anatoly, 2009. T-type calcium channels contribute to synchronisation of oxytocin(OT)-induced oscillations of intracellular calcium in human myometrium. XXXVI International Congress of Physiological Sciences (IUPS2009) Function of Life: Elements and Integration, Kyoto, Japan, July 27-August 01, 2009, Published in Journal of Physiological Sciences, pp. 363-363
- Higgins, Claire A., Martin, William, Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Nelson, S., 2009. Investigation of myometrial gene expression in response to sustained spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction in-vitro. 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Glasgow, Scotland, March 17-21, 2009, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 292A-293A
- Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, Blanks, Andrew M., 2008. Spontaneous activity and the complex action potential require the myometrial network. 55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, San Diego, CA, Mar 26-29, 2008, Published in Reproductive Sciences, pp. 114A-115A
- Gullam, J. E., Blanks, Andrew M., Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, 2008. Oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions in the presence of Nifedipine. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 7th International Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 17-20 September 2008, Published in BJOG -An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, pp. 123-123
- Shmygol, Anatoly, Blanks, Andrew M., Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Gullam, Joana E., Thornton, Steven, 2007. Control of uterine Ca2+ by membrane voltage toward understanding the excitation-contraction coupling in human myometrium. 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, 29 Jul - 4 Aug 2006, Published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 97-109
- McCloskey, Conor, Bailey, Elizabeth H., Zhang, J. (Jie), Shmygol, Anatoly, Thornton, Steven, Catalano, Roberto D., England, Sarah, Rada, Cara, Blanks, Andrew M., 2011. The novel potassium channel Kir7.1 is a critical component of uterine quiescence in mice and human. Reproductive Sciences, Sage Publications, Inc, pp. 159A-159A
- Kim, S. H. (Sung Hye), Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Johnson, M. R. (Mark R.), Bennett, Phillip R., Terzidou, Vasso, 2011. Cytokines regulated by oxytocin in human amnion. Reproductive Sciences, Sage Publications, Inc, pp. 299A-299A
- Kim, S. H. (Sung Hye), Blanks, Andrew M., Thornton, Steven, Johnson, M. R. (Mark R.), Bennett, Phillip R., Terzidou, Vasso, 2011. Expression and regulation of cPLA2 isoforms in human amnion. Reproductive Sciences, Sage Publications, Inc, pp. 300A-300A
| Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development of endometrial/myometrial organoids to study disorders of pregnancy and parturition | MRC | 01 Dec 2022 | 30 Nov 2025 |
| Bioreactor infrastructure for organoid culture in human models of reproductive diseases | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research | 07 Oct 2024 | 14 Mar 2025 |
| NIH award year 5 - linked to 62095 and 47241 | National Institutes of Health | 01 Feb 2020 | 31 Jan 2021 |
| Andy Blanks year 4 NIH award | National Institutes of Health | 01 Feb 2019 | 31 Jan 2020 |
| BRU Prediction of Innapropriate Myometrial Function WCPRS | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 01 Mar 2015 | 28 Feb 2019 |
| PIMF WCPRS Consumables | Grace Research Fund | 01 Mar 2015 | 28 Feb 2018 |
| NIH via Columbia University Medical Center: TBC | National Institutes of Health | 10 Apr 2016 | 31 Jan 2018 |
| Ferring Compound Analysis | Ferring Pharmaceuticals | 01 Feb 2014 | 31 Jan 2015 |
| Cost extension to: Investigation into the mechanism of action of an oxytocin receptor antagonist | GlaxoSmithKline PLC | 28 Feb 2013 | 31 Mar 2014 |
| MRC Centenary Early Career Award (individual) | MRC | 01 Sept 2012 | 31 Jul 2013 |
| MRC New Investigator Grant | MRC | 01 May 2010 | 30 Apr 2013 |
| Supplement to Project: Investigation into the mechanism of action of an oxytocin receptor antagonist.Linked to the main project: RMRRH0009 / 29945 | GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development Ltd | 01 Jan 2012 | 31 Dec 2012 |
| Investigation into the mechanism of action of an oxytocin receptor antagonist. | GlaxoSmithKline PLC | 01 Jan 2012 | 31 Dec 2012 |
| MRC Capacity Building Studentships. | MRC | 01 Oct 2008 | 30 Sept 2012 |
| Specific targeting of nifedipine action to the uterus by manipulation of myometrical specific ion channels | Action Medical Research | 01 Jan 2010 | 31 Dec 2011 |