Michael J. Davies

Kort præsentation

Prof. Michael Davies has pioneered studies on the formation and subsequent reactions of oxidants and other reactive species with proteins, DNA and carbohydrates, and the role of such reactions in biological damage. Recent publications are given at the “Research Output” tab above.

His group have made major contributions to the field of oxidants and oxidative damage. His work on protein modification and the detection and reactions of reactive intermediates is recognised nationally and internationally and has resulted in a number of significant awards, his editorship of journals and his election to a number of prestigious leadership positions in scientific societies.

He has held three prestigious fellowships from the Australian Research Council (QE2, Senior and Professorial), was Director of a (~25 million US$ per annum turnover) research institute, and led the Sydney (Australia) node of a highly-successful Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology (2006-2013) before moving to the University of Copenhagen, in 2014, after being awarded a Novo Nordisk Laureate research grant.

Prof. Davies has published 368 peer-reviewed journal articles, 1 book, 8 edited volumes, 26 book chapters and 8 patents. His work has been cited ~ 22,000 times as of September 2019 (ISI Web of Science). He has an h-index of 71 (ISI Web of Science) and an m-index (h index divided by number of years since first paper published) of ~2. His work is currently attracting > 1000 citations per year and he averages > 60 citations per paper.

Primære forskningsområder

Protein oxidation has been detected at elevated levels on proteins present with human atherosclerotic lesions, the major underlying cause of most heart attacks and strokes. This damage is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and has massive economic and social costs, but the processes that give rise to oxidation and the consequences of these reactions are poorly understood.

Prevention of oxidant damage in cardiovascular disease is in its infancy - many agents are being screened, but without adequate knowledge of the species involved and their reactions these efforts may not be well guided.

A key goal of our research is understanding the biochemical behaviour of oxidants associated with inflammation (e.g. hypochlorous acid, peroxynitrous acid, metal ions and radicals derived from these species) and elevated glucose levels (as seen in diabetes), and how these damage cells (endothelial, smooth muscle and macrophages) of relevance to cardiovascular disease, and their associated extracellular matrix.

These multidisciplinary projects are using a battery of tools including quantification of modified materials in human and animal tissues, cellular and animal studies, kinetic and mechanistic experiments, and computational chemistry. Such quantitative analysis is allowing the informed and rational development of novel preventive strategies.
 

Aktuel forskning

Prof. Davies' research interests lie in the mechanisms of protein modification by reactive species (radicals, two-electron oxidants, glycation reactions), the biological consequences of such reactions, and the development of methods to quantify protein damage in disease with a particular emphasis on cardiovascular pathologies.

He also has interests in peroxidase enzymes (particularly myeloperoxidase), EPR spectroscopy for the detection of transient radicals, the kinetics of oxidant reactions, extracellular matrix damage and the development of antioxidants and inhibitors of oxidant formation.

Current projects:

• Oxidation- and glycation-induced changes in protein structure and function
• Extracellular matrix damage and atherosclerosis
• Kinetics and mechanisms of oxidative damage to proteins induced by hypochlorous acid, peroxynitrous acid, singlet oxygen, peroxides, sugars and metal ions
• Myeloperoxidase, inflammation and cardiovascular disease
• Novel selenium- and sulphur-based antioxidants