Short presentation

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.

Primary fields of research

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.
 

Current research

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 
   

Fields of interest

Research Vision:

Proteins are major targets for oxidation due to their abundance and rapid rates of reaction with oxidants. We want to understand in a quantitative and rigorous manner, the role of oxidants in protein damage, as such data will allow the rational and informed development of protective strategies against damage and disease.

A particular emphasis is being placed on protein oxidation and modification in cardiovascular disease, but the data obtained is also likely be of direct relevance to the pharmaceutical, food and hygiene industries, and agricultural production.

CV

Career

1978-1981   BSc (1st Class Honours),University of York, UK

1981-1984   D.Phil., University of York, UK

1984-1987   Post-doctoral fellow, Brunel University, UK

1987-1995   Lecturer, University of York, UK

1995-2001   Group Leader, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

1995-2000   Australian Research Council QE2 Fellowship

2000-2004   Australian Research Council Senior Research Fellow

2001-2012   Deputy Director, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

2009-2013   Australian Research Council Professorial Fellow

2012-2014   Director, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

2014-            Professor of Oxidative Biology of Proteins, Copenhagen University

Prizes and Awards       

Society for Free Radical Research - Europe, Lectureship and Award, 2017;

Lifetime Achievement Award, Society for Free Radical Research-India, 2014;

Informa Lecturer, SFRR-Asia 2013;

Distinguished Service Award, Society for Free Radical Research-Australia (2012);

Distinguished Service Award, Asia-Pacific EPR Society (2008);

Piette Memorial Lecture, 49^th Rocky Mountain Analytical Conference (2007);

John Wilberforce Lothian Award for research excellence, National Heart Foundation (2007);

Archibald Olle Prize of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (2006);

Aniko Whealy Research Award of the National Heart Foundation (2004);

Silver Medal of the International EPR Society (2003);

Chartered Chemist;

Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. 

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

Scientific Committees

President, Society for Free Radical Research Europe (2019-2020)

President-Elect, Society for Free Radical Research Europe (2017-2018)

President, Society for Free Radical Research – International (2013-2014)

President-Elect, Society for Free Radical Research – International (2011-2012)

Vice-President, International EPR Society (2008-2011)

Secretary-General, International Society for Free Radical Research (2007-2010)

Council member, American Society for Photobiology (2005-2008)

President, Society for Free Radical Research (Australasia) (2001-2003)

Secretary, Mutagenesis and Experimental Pathology Society Australasia (2003-2006)

Council member, Mutagenesis and Experimental Pathology Society Australasia (2002-2006)

Committee member, International Society for Free Radical Research (2001-present)

President-Elect, Society for Free Radical Research (Australasia) (1999-2001)

Vice-Chairperson, Sydney Free Radical Group (1998-2001)

Biochemical Society, Harden Conference Committee (1993-1995)

Royal Society of Chemistry, ESR Group Committee (1992-1995)

Society for Free Radical Research, European Committee (1992-1994)

Editorial Responsibilities                  

Editor-in-Chief: “Free Radical Research” (2009-2018)

Editor: “Biochemical Journal” (2009-present)

Associate Editor: “Photochemistry and Photobiology” (2009-present)

Editor: Royal Society of Chemistry, ESR/EPR Specialist Periodical Reports (1993-2008, vols. 14-21).

Editorial Boards: Biochemical Journal (2009-); Chemical Research in Toxicology (2003-2005); Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2000-); Free Radical Research (2000-); Redox Report (1994-); Spectroscopy (2001-2012); Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) Specialist Periodical Reports (1994 - 2008); Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (2006-); Biomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging (2012-present); Redox Biology (2013-).

Recent Plenary and Invited Lectures (last 5 years only)

2 Gordon Conferences, USA (x 4), Italy (x 3) and Turkey (x 3), Japan (x 3), UK (x 3), India (x 3), Spain, Taiwan, China, Denmark, Poland (x 2), Greece, France, Canada, Malaysia, Puerto Rico and Belgium.

Conference Organisation (last 5 years only)

Co-Chair: Gordon Conference on Oxygen Radicals (2018)

Co-Chair: 10th Human Peroxidase meeting (2018)

Vice-Chair: Gordon Conference on Oxygen Radicals (2016)

Chair: Asia-Pacific EPR Society meeting (2008);

Chair: 8th International Human Peroxidase meeting (2013);

Chair: 6th JointMeetingofthe SocietiesforFree Radical Research Australasia and Japan (2013).

International Scientific Program Committees: SFRR-Australasia/SFRR-Japan/MEPSA /ASCEPT meeting, 2009; Soc. Free Radical Research-India, India, 2010; EPR 2010, Puerto Rico; 15^th Congress Intl. Soc. for Free Radical Research, USA, 2010; Spin 2011, France; Intl. Conf. on Free Radicals, Antioxidants and Nutraceuticals, India, 2012; 16^th Intl. Soc. for Free Radical Research, UK, 2012; SFRR–Europe, Greece, 2013; AOCP, 2013; SFRR-Europe, 2014; 16^th Amine Oxidase Conference, 2014; Spin, 2014.

Supervisory and Management Experience       

Director, Seleno Therapeutics Ltd

Senior Scientific Advisor: EU International Training Network: MASSTRPLAN (MASS spectrometry TRaining in Protein Lipoxidation ANalysis for Inflammation).

Management Committee member: EU COST Action CA16116 (NutRedOx) and EU COST Action CM1001 (Biomimetic Chemistry)

International member: EU COST Action CM1201 (Post translational modification of proteins)

Director and Deputy Director of Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia;

Chair - Biomedical Science and Biotechnology Grant Committee for Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering;  Management committee of Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence.

Supervision of 45 PhD students to successful completion. Mentored 29 post-doctoral researchers.

Bibliometrics                  

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.