- Supplied antibodies and POMC peptides to various labs around the world.
- Purified snake venom proteins that are potential therapeutic targets.
- Various outreach activities for A-level students.
Andrew Bicknell

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+44 (0) 118 378 7050
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Associate Professor
- School Director of Teaching and Learning
- Admissions tutor for BSc Biomedical Sciences
Areas of interest
- Role of POMC derived and tachykinins peptides in the regulation of adrenal, adipocyte and platelet function.
- Purification of peptide and protein hormones.
- Development and purification of antibodies.
Teaching
- Part 1: Genes and Chromosomes, Pathology: Introduction to Human Disease
- Part 2: Immunology, Endocrinology, Recombinant DNA exercise
- Part 3: Selected topics in Endocrinology and Endocrine Disease, Mammalian Reproduction, Therapeutics 3
- Masters: MRes in Biomedical Research.
Research centres and groups
International Collaborators- Dr. Hugh Bennett, Montreal, Canada.
- Dr Patrick McDonough, Vala Biosciences, San Diego, USA.
National Collaborators
- Dr Peter King, William Harvey Research Institute, London
- Dr Dominic Cavlan, William Harvey Research Institute, London.
Selected publications
Pre 2003
Bicknell AB (2002) Identification of a receptor for N-POMC peptides Endo Res 28 309-314.
Bicknell AB and Lowry PJ (2002) Adrenal growth is controlled by expression of specific proopiomelanocortin serine protease in the outer adrenal cortex. Endo Res 28 589-595.
Omer S, Lomthaisong K and Bicknell AB (2002) Identification of two alternate splice variants of a novel serine protease expressed in steroidogenic tissues Endo Res 28 339-348.
Neville SE, Baigent SM, Bicknell AB, Lowry PJ and Gladwell RT (2002) Hox gene expression in adult tissues with particular reference to the adrenal gland. Endo Res 28 669-673.
Bicknell AB (2002) Identification of the protease that cleaves pro-gamma-MSH: the dawning of a new era in adrenal physiology. J Endocrinology 172 405-410.
Bicknell AB, Lomthaisong K, Woods RJ, Hutchinson EG, Bennett HPJ, Gladwell RT, and Lowry PJ (2001) Characterization of a serine protease that cleaves pro-g-melanotropin at the adrenal to stimulate growth. Cell 105 903-912
Bicknell AB, Lomthaisong K, Gladwell RT, and Lowry PJ (2000) Agouti related protein expression in the adrenal cortex. implications for novel autocrine mechanisms modulating the actions of pro-opiomelanocortin peptides. J Neuroend 12 977-982.
Bicknell AB and Lowry PJ (2000) Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). In: Fink, G ed. Encyclopedia of Stress San Diego:Academic Press pp 257-265.
Bicknell AB, Savva D and Lowry PJ (1996) POMC and adrenal function. Endo Res 22 385-393.
Publications
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Arathisenthil, S.
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Senthilkumaran, S.
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Vijayakumar, P.
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Savania, R.
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Williams, H.
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Elangovan, N.
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Bicknell, A.
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Patel, K.
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Trim, S.
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Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P.
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Vaiyapuri, S.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6006-6517 (2022) Rapid development of a salivary calculus in submandibular gland and its potential causes in a young victim following Russell’s viper bite. Toxicon , 206 pp. 85-89. ISSN: 0041-0101 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.12.018
- Layfield, H. , Williams, H. , Ravishankar, D. , Mehmi, A. , Sonavane, M. , Salim, A. , Vaiyapuri, R. , Lakshminarayanan, K. , Vallance, T. , Bicknell, A. , Trim, S. , Patel, K. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2020) Repurposing cancer drugs, batimastat and marimastat, to inhibit the activity of a group I metalloprotease from the venom of the Western Diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox. Toxins , 12 (5). ISSN: 2072-6651 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins12050309
- Laird, M. , Glister, C. , Cheewasopit, W. , Satchell, L. , Bicknell, A. , Knight, P. (2019) ‘Free’ inhibin α subunit is expressed by bovine ovarian theca cells and its knockdown suppresses androgen production. Scientific Reports , 9 ISSN: 2045-2322 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55829-w
- Williams, H. , Layfield, H. , Vallance, T. , Patel, K. , Bicknell, A. , Trim, S. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2019) The urgent need to develop novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of snakebites. Toxins , 11 (6). ISSN: 2072-6651 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins11060363
- Williams, H. , Mellows, B. , Mitchell, R. , Sfyri, P. , Layfield, H. , Salamah, M. , Vaiyapuri, R. , Collins-Hooper, H. , Bicknell, A. , Matsakas, A. , Patel, K. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2019) Mechanisms underpinning the permanent muscle damage induced by snake venom metalloprotease. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases , 13 (1). ISSN: 1935-2735 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007041
- Williams, H. , Hayter, P. , Ravishankar, D. , Baines, A. , Layfield, H. , Croucher, L. , Wark, C. , Bicknell, A. , Trim, S. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2018) Impact of Naja nigricollis venom on the production of methaemoglobin. Toxins , 10 (12). ISSN: 2072-6651 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins10120539
- Holbrook, L. , Sandhar, G. , Sasikumar, P. , Schenk, M. , Stainer, A. , Sahli, K. , Flora, G. , Bicknell, A. , Gibbins, J. (2018) A humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits platelet-surface ERp72 reveals a role for ERp72 in thrombosis. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 16 (2). pp. 367-377. ISSN: 1538-7836 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.13878
- Williams, H. , Vaiyapuri, R. , Gajjeraman, P. , Hutchinson, G. , Gibbins, J. , Bicknell, A. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2017) Challenges in diagnosing and treating snakebites in a rural population of Tamil Nadu, India: the views of clinicians. Toxicon , 130 pp. 44-46. ISSN: 0041-0101 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.02.025
- Satchell, L. , Glister, C. , Bleach, E. , Glencross, R. , Bicknell, A. , Dai, Y. , Anand-Ivell, R. , Ivell, R. , Knight, P. (2013) Ovarian expression of insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and its receptor (RXFP2) during development of bovine antral follicles and corpora lutea and measurement of circulating INSL3 levels during synchronized estrous cycles . Endocrinology , 154 (5). pp. 1897-1906. ISSN: 1945-7170 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-2232
- Glister, C. , Satchell, L. , Michael, A. , Bicknell, A. , Knight, P. (2012) The anti-epileptic drug Valproic Acid (VPA) inhibits steroidogenesis in bovine theca and granulosa cells in vitro. PLoS ONE , 7 (11). pp. e49553. ISSN: 1932-6203 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049553
- Vaiyapuri, S. , Hutchinson, E. , Ali, M. , Dannoura, A. , Stanley, R. , Harrison, R. , Bicknell, A. , Gibbins, J. (2012) Rhinocetin, a venom-derived integrin-specific antagonist inhibits collagen-induced platelet and endothelial cell functions . The Journal of Biological Chemistry , 287 (31). pp. 26235-26244. ISSN: 1083-351X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M112.381483
- Holbrook, L. , Sasikumar, P. , Stanley, R. , Simmonds, A. , Bicknell, A. , Gibbins, J. (2012) The platelet-surface thiol isomerase enzyme ERp57 modulates platelet function. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 10 (2). pp. 278-288. ISSN: 1538-7933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04593.x
- Vaiyapuri, S. , Harrison, R. , Bicknell, A. , Gibbins, J. , Hutchinson, E. (2010) Purification and functional characterisation of Rhinocerase, a novel serine protease from the venom of Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. PLoS ONE , 5 (3). ISSN: 1932-6203 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0009687
- Pepper, . and Bicknell, . (2009) The stimulation of mitogenic signaling pathways by N-POMC peptides. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology , 300 (1-2). pp. 77-82. ISSN: 0303-7207 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2008.09.021
- Bicknell, K. , Harmer, S. , Yiangson, S. , Lockwood, W. , Bicknell, A. (2009) Lys-gamma3-MSH: a global regulator of hormone sensitive lipase activity?. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology , 300 (1-2). pp. 71-76. ISSN: 0303-7207 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2008.09.032
- Harmer, . , Pepper, . , Cooke, . , Bennett, . , Bicknell, . (2008) Evidence of a possible role for Lys-gamma 3-MSH in the regulation of adipocyte function. Journal of Endocrinology , 196 (1). pp. 149-158. ISSN: 0022-0795 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1677/JOE-07-0391
- Bicknell, . (2008) The tissue-specific processing of pro-opiomelanocortin. Journal of Neuroendocrinology , 20 (6). pp. 692-699. ISSN: 0953-8194 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01709.x
- Lichtenauer, . , Duchniewicz, . , Kolanczyk, . , Hoeflich, . , Hahner, . , Else, . , Bicknell, . , Zemojtel, . , Stallings, . , Schulte, . , Kamps, . , Hammer, . , Scheele, . , Beuschlein, . (2007) Pre-B-cell transcription factor 1 and steroidogenic factor 1 synergistically regulate adrenocortical growth and steroidogenesis. Endocrinology , 148 (2). pp. 693-704. ISSN: 0013-7227 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2006-0681
- Bicknell, . (2007) Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). In: Fink, . , (eds.) Encyclopedia of Stress. , 3. Academic Press , Oxford. pp. 233-240. ISBN: 9780120885039
- Harmer, . and Bicknell, . (2005) Role of gamma-MSH peptides in the regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis. Peptides , 26 (10). pp. 1944-1951. ISSN: 0196-9781 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2004.11.028
- Harmer, . and Bicknell, . (2004) The role of the melanocortin 3 receptor in mediating the effects of gamma-MSH peptides on the adrenal. Endocrine Research , 30 (4). pp. 629-635. ISSN: 0743-5800 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1081/erc-200043906
- Hansen, . , Fassnacht, . , Hahner, . , Hammer, . , Schammann, . , Meyer, . , Bicknell, . , Allolio, . (2004) The adrenal secretory serine protease AsP is a short secretory isoform of the transmembrane airway trypsin-like protease. Endocrinology , 145 (4). pp. 1898-1905. ISSN: 0013-7227 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-0930
- Bicknell, . (2003) Identification of a serine protease involved with the regulation of adrenal growth. In: Cone, . , (eds.) Melanocortin System. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences , 994. New York Acad Sciences , New York. pp. 118-122. ISBN: 0077-8923 1573314420