Michael Cowley

Michael Cowley

Professor Michael Cowley is an Australian physiologist who has mapped the neural circuits involved in metabolism and is now working on an effective therapy to treat obesity and diabetes. He is a Professor in the Department of Physiology at Monash University[1] and director of the Monash Obesity & Diabetes Institute (modi).

In 2009 he was awarded the (Australian) Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year[2] and a Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellowship. Cowley is the inventor of 10 families of patent applications, has published more than 60 papers, with 89 patents relating to obesity, and is the founder of Orexigen Therapeutics.[3] Professor Cowley has over 16 years experience in research and biopharmaceutical drug development. Prior to joining modi, Professor Cowley was the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the biopharmaceutical firm Orexigen Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: OREX), which he took public in April 2007, raising US$ 255M to fund this drug development program. Professor Cowley’s laboratory provided the source intellectual property and was the inventor of three of the four drugs under development, including Contrave®. Previous positions held by Professor Cowley include Core Director, and Associate Scientist at Oregon Health & Sciences University. He also is the inventor of intellectual property that led to the foundation of Thiakis Inc, and validated the obesity drug target Serotonin 2C receptor, now under development by Arena Pharmaceuticals and others.

Memberships and Affiliations

Professor Cowley is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of The Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and Gubra ApS, Denmark. In 2010, Professor Cowley was appointed as a Board member of Merck Sharpe & Dohme’s Science Alliance. He is also a non-executive director of Verva Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., a Victorian-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies to treat metabolic diseases.

Professor Cowley is Member of the Society for Neuroscience, The Endocrine Society, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, and The Obesity Society and has been a Senior Editor for Neuroendocrinology, and a member of the Editorial Board of Endocrinology and The American Journal of Physiology since 2007.

Contents

Qualifications

  • 1999 Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), Monash University [4]
  • 1993 Bachelor of Science, Honours (Physiology), Monash University[4]
  • 1989 Bachelor of Science, The University of Melbourne[4]

Career highlights, awards, fellowships and grants

  • 2009–2014 Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellowship
  • 2009 Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
  • 2008–present Research Professor, Department of Physiology, Monash University
  • 2009 High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia Austin Doyle Lectureship
  • 2008 Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge, and Innovation Fellowship
  • 2008 Monash University STAR recruit
  • 2007–2008 Associate Scientist, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 2006–2008 Member, Heart Research and Diabetes Center, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 2002–2009 Founder, Chief Scientific Officer and Consultant, Orexigen Therapeutics, USA
  • 2002–2007 Director, Electrophysiology Core, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 2001–2007 Assistant Scientist, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 2001–2007 Assistant Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 2000–2002 Consultant, Neurocrine Biosciences, San Diego, USA
  • 2000–2001 Research Assistant Professor, The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 1998–2000 Post-Doctoral Fellow, The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
  • 1996 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians, Queen’s Trust Achiever Award
  • 1996 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians, Future Perspectives Forum: Personal Responsibility for Australia’s Future
  • 1996 Endocrine Society of Australia Travel Award
  • 1994–1998 Graduate Student, Reproductive Neuroendocrinology, Monash University and Prince Henry’s Institute for Medical Research

Research highlights

  • Pioneered the use of patch clamp electrophysiology of genetically labelled neurons to analyse the actions of hormones on the brain
  • Created a circuit diagram of the metabolic control centres of the brain
  • Predicted that the gut peptide PYY3–36 would have anorexic and weight loss effects
  • Invented 10 families of patent applications (85 patents in total with 28 issued, the rest pending) around obesity drug screens and drug targets
  • Developed several drug targets including peptide YY, and several novel drug combinations including Naltrexone + Buproopion; both are now in phase 2/3 development
  • Founding intellectual property behind Thiakis Inc, recently acquired by Wyeth, and founder and chief scientific officer of Orexigen Therapeutics
  • Received 23 sponsored research awards with value in excess of $15 million
  • Has given 50 invited national and international lectures, published 40 original manuscripts and written 15 reviews

References

  1. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2009/2726590.htm
  2. ^ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/csiro-scientist-wins-top-award-for-wifi-technology/story-fn3dxiwe-1225792252802
  3. ^ http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/324087/life_scientist_year_announced
  4. ^ a b c Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year award citation

External links


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