Education
Cowley has aCareer
Cowley began his research career at Monash University and at the Prince Henry Institute of Medical Research. He then went to the US, where he was assistant professor atMemberships and affiliations
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. 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 and The Endocrine Society. He is a senior editor for ''Neuroendocrinology'', and was a member of the editorial board of ''Endocrinology'' and The ''American Journal of Physiology''.Qualifications
*1999 Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), Monash University Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year award citationCareer highlights, awards, fellowships and grants
Cowley has secured funding support in excess of $18m. *2008–present Research professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University *2015-2019 NHMRC Fellowship: Breaking the link between obesity and metabolic disease *2014-2018 NHMRC Project Grant: Effects of melanocortin neurons on systemic glucose homeostasis *2014-2019 NovoNordisk Diabetes target Discovery Research Collaboration *2014 Inaugural Jacques Miller Medal for Experimental Biomedicine, Australian Academy of Science *2013-2014 Australia Academy of Science German-Australian Mobility Call *2013 NHMRC Equipment grant *2013 NovoNordisk Peptide YY Regulation of Blood Glucose *2012 NHMRC Equipment grant *2012-2014 NHMRC Project Grant: Can Blockade of Leptin Action in the Brain Reduce Blood Pressure in Obese Mice?” *2012-2013 NHMRC Development Grant : Development of a modified gp130 ligand to treat obesity-induced insulin resistance *2012 NHMRC Equipment Grant *2011-2014 NHMRC Project Grant: The Role of Brain Inflammation in Leptin Resistance *2010 NHMRC Equipment grant *2010-2012 aHeart Research Foundation Project Grant: Does Leptin Cause Hypertension? *2010-2013 NHMRC Project Grant: Does Loss of Melanocortin Glucose Sensing Contribute to Diet Induced Diabetes? *2011 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) *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 Health and Science University, US *2006–2008 Member, Heart Research and Diabetes Center, Oregon Health and Science University, US *2002–2009 Founder, chief scientific officer and consultant, Orexigen Therapeutics, US *2002–2007 Director, Electrophysiology Core, Oregon Health and Science University, US *2001–2007 Assistant scientist, Oregon Health and Science University, US *2001–2007 Assistant professor, physiology and pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, US *2000–2002 Consultant, Neurocrine Biosciences, San Diego, US *2000–2001 Research assistant professor, The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, US *1998–2000 Postdoctoral fellow, The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, US *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 ResearchResearch highlights
Cowley's greatest research achievements have been to describe the fundamental physiological mechanisms of homeostasis of weight, temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. His work has shown new light on how these basic processes are physiologically regulated, and some of the causes of diseases and disorders of these processes. He has described the neural mechanisms and circuits that decode the body signals of weight (fat) and glucose stores, which has led to new treatments for both obesity and diabetes. Cowley has invented and developed novel drugs to redress aberrant weight control and food cravings, and one of these drugs, Contrave, was approved by the FDA in 2014. Cowley established and led a multinational drug target discovery program with a US University and with a global pharmaceutical company, spanning five years. Other achievements include: *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 37 sponsored research awards with value in excess of $18 million *Has given 120 invited national and international lectures, published 61 original manuscripts and written 24 reviewsReferences
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