Professor Cowley has over 15 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®, an investigational medicine that is currently awaiting FDA approval for the treatment of obesity following its successful completion of Phase III trials. 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. Prof. Cowley has published more than 60 papers and is the inventor of 90 patents related to obesity, diabetes and the role of the CNS in metabolic disorders.
Experience
2008–present
Research Professor, Monash University
2009–present
Director, Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute
Education
1999
Monash University, PhD
1993
Monash University, Bachelor of Science (Honours)
1989
University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Science
Publications
2010
Synaptic Input Organization of the Melanocortin System Predicts Diet-Induced Obesity , Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
2010
Diet-induced obesity causes ghrelin resistance in NPY/AgRP neurons, Endocrinology
2010
Early overnutrition results in early-onset leptin resistance and sensitivity to high-fat diet, Endocrinology
2009
Changes of peripheral alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in childhood obesity, Metabolism
2008
2008 Starvation after AgRP neuron ablation is independent of melanocortin signaling, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
2007
Glucose-Sensing by POMC Neurons Regulates Glucose Homeostasis and is Impaired in Obesity, Nature
2007
Insulin Action in AgRP-Expressing Neurons Is Required for Suppression of Hepatic Glucose Production, Cell Metabolism
2002
Gut hormone PYY(3-36) physiologically inhibits food intake, Nature
Grants and Contracts
2011
The Role of Brain Inflammation in Leptin Resistance
Role:
Chief Investigator
Funding Source:
NHMRC
2010
Does Leptin Cause Hypertension?
Role:
Chief Investigator
Funding Source:
Heart Research Foundation
2010
Does Loss of Melanocortin Glucose Sensing Contribute to Diet Induced Diabetes?
Role:
Chief Investigator
Funding Source:
NHMRC
2009
Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellowship
Role:
Chief Investigator
Funding Source:
Pfizer Australia
Research Areas
Autonomic Nervous System (110901)
Medical Physiology Not Elsewhere Classified (111699)
Endocrinology (110306)
Animal Physiology Cell (060602)
Animal Physiology Systems (060603)
Metabolic Medicine (110107)
Central Nervous System (110903)
Honours
Science Ministers Prize for Australian Life Scientist of the Year (2009)
The Age Top 100 Most Influential Melbournians (2009)