Dr. Andrew Mead

PhD MRes BSc(Hons) BA(Hons)
Research Assistant

Department: Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Campus: Hawkshead

Research Groups: Antimicrobial Resistance

Andrew is Lecturer in AMR whoose research focus is to understand and assess the impact of antimicrobial drugs through a combined microbiological and pharmacological approach.

Andrew Mead is Lecturer in Antimicrobial Resistance at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science from the University of Bedfordshire, where he later worked as Senior Laboratory Technician.

He went on to complete an MRes at the RVC, funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), where he established the use of dynamic hollow-fibre infection models (HFIM) to evaluate veterinary antimicrobials. He then earned his PhD in 2022 with a thesis on PK/PD-informed clinical breakpoint determination for colistin in chickens, work recognised with the McKeever Prize for best original research in animal health.

Andrew’s research explores the pharmacology of human and veterinary antimicrobials, with a focus on optimising dosing and understanding the drivers of antimicrobial resistance. His work combines molecular, microbiological, and pharmacological approaches, and he collaborates widely across academia, industry, and regulatory bodies.

He co-leads the AMR Research Group at the RVC and is an active member of the Researcher Association, supporting student supervision, assessment, and research development. Externally, he contributes to the international AMR field as a member of VetCAST (EUCAST), ENOVAT, and ESCMID.

Andrew's research focuses on optimizing antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine through integrated microbiological and pharmacometric approaches. He investigates antimicrobial efficacy, resistance mechanisms, and dosing strategies to inform evidence-based clinical practices. His work encompasses in vitro infection models, advanced pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modelling, and molecular resistance profiling.

Key Research Projects

  • SulTAn (Optimized dosing regimens for the combinations of sulphonamides and trimethoprim in veterinary medicine)
    This project evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sulphonamide-trimethoprim combinations in veterinary species to refine dosing regimens and minimize resistance emergence. It is part of the JPIAMR-funded initiative involving multiple European partners. 

  • EcoFlor (Florfenicol sustained-release formulations and resistance)
    EcoFlor investigates how sustained-release formulations of florfenicol influence antimicrobial efficacy and resistance development. The project employs time-kill assays and PK/PD modelling to optimize dosing strategies and reduce resistance risks.

  • Colistin Clinical Breakpoints in Poultry
    Andrew's PhD research established PK/PD-informed clinical breakpoints for colistin in chickens, aiming to limit resistance emergence and support One Health antimicrobial sustainability. This work was recognized with the McKeever Prize for best original research in animal health.

APPRAISE Facility

Andrew is a co-developer of the Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamic Pharmacokinetic Research Accelerator and Innovator for Sustainable Endeavours (APPRAISE) facility at the RVC. Established in 2022, APPRAISE is a cross-disciplinary platform that integrates in vitro and in silico approaches to optimize antimicrobial dosing, assess resistance, and inform regulatory science. The facility supports both academic and industry collaborations, providing a unique infrastructure for advancing antimicrobial stewardship.

Student Projects

Andrew supervises a range of postgraduate students, focusing on antimicrobial resistance and pharmacometrics. Current and recent projects include:

  • Annelies Van Bohemen (PhD) - Investigating the molecular epidemiology of multi-drug resistant E. coli in Nigerian live-bird markets using a One Health approach

  • Katarina Malgo (MRes): Sustainable Treatment & Evaluation of Practices for Sheep (STEPS)

  • Abigail Hughes (MRes): Florfenicol pharmacodynamics in Glaesserella parasuis and the risk of resistance selection in Pasteurella multocida.

These projects contribute to the development of optimized dosing strategies and the understanding of resistance mechanisms in veterinary medicine.

Publications:

Mead, A., Azzariti, S, Hughes, A., Toutain, P.L., Pelligand, L. (2025) Florfenicol Sustained-Release formulation does not promote resistance emergence in non-target bacteria: hollow-fibre infection studies with pig pathogens and commensals. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 136(8), lxaf200. https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxaf200

Hughes, A., Pelligand, L., Andersson, D.I., Mead, A. (2025) Selection for florfenicol resistance at sub-MIC concentrations in Pasteurella multocida. PLoS One 20(6): e0327115.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327115

Mead, A., Hughes, A., Azzariti, S., Toutain, PL., Pelligand, L. (2025) Phenotype-Specific Semi-Mechanistic Modelling of Florfenicol Time-Kill Curves in G. parasuis Compared to Other Respiratory Pathogens. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (JVPT), https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13500

Mead, A., Azzariti, S. and Pelligand, L., (2024). Hollow-fibre infection model: adaptations for the culture and assessment of fastidious organisms. Access Microbiology, pp.000744-v1. https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000744.v3

Rotchell, J.M., Austin, C., .... Mead, A., Filart, K., Beeby, E. and Cunningham, K., (2024). Microplastics in human urine: Characterisation using μFTIR and sampling challenges using healthy donors and endometriosis participants. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 274, p.116208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116208

Azzariti, S., Mead, A., Toutain, P. L., Bond, R., & Pelligand, L. (2023). Time-Kill Analysis of Canine Skin Pathogens: A Comparison of Pradofloxacin and Marbofloxacin. Antibiotics, 12(10), 1548. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12101548

Buick, E., Mead, A., Alhubaysh, A., ...., Renshaw, D. and Farnaud, S., (2023). CellShip: An Ambient Temperature Transport and Short-Term Storage Medium for Mammalian Cell Cultures. Biopreservation and Biobanking.  https://doi.org/10.1089/bio.2023.0100

Mead, A., Toutain, PL., Richez, P., & Pelligand, L. (2023) Targeted dosing for susceptible heteroresistant subpopulations may improve rational dosage regimen prediction for colistin in broiler chickens. Nature Scientific Reports. (Journal Impact Factor: 4.996) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39727-w

Mead, A., Toutain, PL., Richez, P., & Pelligand, L. (2022) Quantitative pharmacodynamic characterization of resistance vs. heteroresistance of colistin in E. coli using a semi-mechanistic modelling of killing curves. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.  https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.00793-22

Mead, A., Billon-Lotz, C., Olsen, R., Swift, B., Richez, P., Stabler, R., & Pelligand, L. (2022). Epidemiological Prevalence of Phenotypical Resistances and Mobilised Colistin Resistance in Avian Commensal and Pathogenic E. coli from Denmark, France, The Netherlands, and the UK. Antibiotics. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050631

Mead, A., Gillard, N., Robert, C., Pierret, G., Henrottin, J., Richez, P., & Pelligand, L. (2021) Determination of colistin in luminal and parietal intestinal matrices of chicken by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13022

Mead, A., Richez, P., Azzariti, S., & Pelligand, L. (2021). Pharmacokinetics of Colistin in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Poultry Following Dosing via Drinking Water and Its Bactericidal Impact on Enteric Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 634. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.698135

Sadouki, Z., McHugh, T. D., Aarnoutse, R., Ortiz Canseco, J., Darlow, C., Hope, W., Ingen, J., Longshaw, C., Manissero, D., Mead, A., ... & Kloprogge, F. (2021). Application of the hollow fibre infection model (HFIM) in antimicrobial development: a systematic review and recommendations of reporting. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 76(9), 2252-2259. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkab160

Mead, A., Lees, P., Mitchell, J., Rycroft, A., Standing, J., Toutain, PL., & Pelligand, L. (2019) Differential susceptibility to tetracycline, oxytetracycline and doxycycline of the calf pathogens Mannhaemia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida in three growth media. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 42(1), pp. 52-59.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.12719

Hofmann, S., Hardwick, N.R., Malinovskis, A., Mead, A., Greiner, J. & Guinn, B.A.  (2015) Analogue peptides for the immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukaemia. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 64, 1357-67.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-015-1762-9

 

Conference presentations

Mead, A. (2022) Semi-mechanistic modelling of time-kill analysis highlights E. coli heteroresistance to colistin. Antimicrobial Agents in Veterinary Medicine (AAVM), Madrid, Spain.

Mead, A. and Pelligand, L. (2022) PK/PD informed breakpoint determination for colistin in chicken. London Pharmacometric interest group (LPIG), University College London.

Mead, A., Stabler, R., and Pelligand, L. (2021) PK/PD informed clinical breakpoint determination for colistin in chicken to limit emergence of resistance and improve One Health antimicrobial sustainability. Post-graduate research symposium, Royal Veterinary College.

Mead, A., Richez, P., Azzariti, S., and Pelligand, L. (2020) Evaluation of colistin dosing on enteric E. coli in poultry. Antimicrobial Agents in Veterinary Medicine (AAVM), Online.

Mead, A., and Pelligand, L. (2019) Dynamic in vitro modelling: curbing the antimicrobial crisis, iBEST and School of Life sciences seminar series, University of Bedfordshire.

Mead, A., Lees, P., Rycroft, A., Standing J., Mitchell, J. & Pelligand, L. (2018) Hollow-fibre PK/PD modelling of oxytetracycline against bovine Pasteurella multocida. – ECCMID Abstract and Poster

Mead, A., Stabler, R., and Pelligand, L. (2018) PK/PD informed clinical breakpoint determination for colistin in chicken to limit emergence of resistance and improve One Health antimicrobial sustainability. Post-graduate research symposium, Royal Veterinary College.

Mead, A., and Pelligand, L. (2018) Curbing the antimicrobial crisis through dynamic in vitro modelling. Biomedical Seminar Series, University of Hull.

Mead, A., Lees, P., Rycroft, A., Standing J., Mitchell, J. & Pelligand, L. (2017) Dynamic pharmacometrics: Hollow-fibre infection PK PD modelling of veterinary antimicrobials. Bob Michell Symposium, The Royal Veterinary College.

Mead, A., Lees, P., Rycroft, A., Standing J., Mitchell, J. & Pelligand, L. (2017) Comparative pharmacodynamics of oxytetracycline, tetracycline and doxycycline in calf respiratory pathogens: matrix and drug effect. AAVPT, MD, USA.

Andrew contributes to the Principles of Infectious Disease, Control of Infectious Disease, and Biobusiness modules at the RVC. He has broad experience in microbiology teaching across biomedical, veterinary, and life sciences.

He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate projects, with a focus on practical laboratory skills, research development, and interdisplinary pharmacometrics and AMR. Andrew is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and is committed to inclusive, research-led teaching.

Andrew is happy to be contacted regarding outreach activities / opportunities.

Andrew is an active memeber of the Researcher Association (RA) which represents research staff at all stages, from research assistants to fixed-term senior research fellows across the RVC, within the Research Concordat Working Group.

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