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Michael Cowley named 2008 VESKI Innovation Fellow.
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Professor Michael Cowley has been recognised with an Innovation Fellowship by the Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge and Innovation (VESKI).
Professor Cowley recently returned to Melbourne after a decade in the US to take up a position with Monash University. He received the award this week during a presentation at the Clayton campus attended by the Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings.
Professor Cowley who is renowned for his work into finding a cure for diabetes has established himself at the University as part of the Monash Obesity Initiative and progress his research into a therapy that has already been shown to reverse diabetes in mice (Nature 2007).
Initial research by Professor Cowley discovered a group of neurons in the brain that detect blood sugar levels. In the case of people with diabetes in combination with obesity, the brain loses the ability to sense blood sugar, and so is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Professor Cowley's research group discovered a molecule based on traditional Chinese medicine which restores sugar-sensing in these neurons and reduces blood sugar levels dramatically in obese mice.
Professor Cowley's new research at Monash will focus on advancing these discoveries to human therapy stage that allows the brain to detect glucose to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics.
The Head of the Department of Physiology, Professor Iain Clarke said there was no doubt that Professor Cowley's recruitment significantly enhances the research profile of Victoria and Australia, and the University's objective to become recognised for its premier research status in obesity research.
"He is a dynamic Australian with a very high international profile who will bring valuable expertise to the biotechnology industry. He is the founder of the very successful biotechnology company 'Orexigen Therapeutics' in the US and will be of considerable importance for his research as well as the in the greater arena of commercialisation in Victoria," Professor Clarke said.
Professor Cowley said he was looking forward to continuing his work into diabetes and obesity.
"My main concern is the illnesses that come with obesity - diabetes and hypertension - and to develop new therapies that will complement existing treatments," Professor Cowley said. | 
