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Dr Andrew Blanks


Job Title
Professor
Department
WMS - Biomedical Sciences
Phone
+44(0)24 76968703
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.

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 Sep 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 Sep 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