• Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Loughborough University
• T:+44(0)1509 564891
• E: 

Andrew Picken is a cell biologist with a research focus on bioprocessing. Previous work at The University of Manchester (with GlaxoSmithKline) looked at the metabolic behaviour of industrial CHO cells used to manufacture high-value antibody therapeutics. He has also worked for UCB-Celltech, optimising the chromatographic purification of novel engineered antibody fragments expressed in bacterial cultures. His current research in the Cell Technologies group is focused on the improvement of cryopreservation, particularly through the systematic optimisation of cryoprotectant mixtures to improve cell recovery with minimal use of toxic cryoprotectants (e.g. DMSO). In collaboration with Cambridge University, the aim of the research is to exploit a novel polymer to load cells with previously impermeable cryoprotectants (e.g. trehalose), to provide safer preservation of cells needed for regenerative medicine applications. This work is funded by the BBSRC and EPSRC via the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC).