Professor Michael Bowen
Professor Michael Bowen is a neuroscientist and psychopharmacologist at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology. His research is focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for substance use disorders and social challenges in brain disorders.
Professor Bowen’s lab uses cutting-edge computational, cellular and preclinical research techniques to discover and develop novel pharmacotherapies for serious brain disorders that currently lack effective treatments. Some of the most important work involves the discovery and development of KNX100, which is currently being developed for the treatment of several substance use disorders and agitation and aggression in Alzheimer’s and dementia, and the development of novel pharmacological treatments targeting the brain oxytocin system for the treatment of substance-use disorders and social challenges in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Professor Bowen co-founded a University of Sydney spinout company, Kinoxis Therapeutics, to commercialise these potential therapeutics.
2021 Recipient – Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Prize for New Innovators
2020 Chair – Australia Academy of Science, EMCR Forum
2019Finalist – Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Prize for New Innovators
2018Editor’s Choice: Best Review from 2017, Trends in Neurosciences
2018 World Economic Forum Code of Ethics I co-authored focus of editorial in Nature, 555(7694): 5
2018 Feature Article on my work in New Scientist (3rd Feb issue)
2018 - 2019Featured in exhibition "Leadership for good starts here", University of Sydney
2018 - 2020Elected to EMCR Forum Executive, Australian Academy of Science
2017Keynote Address - Challis Bequest Lunch, University of Sydney
2017Sydney Science Forum Public Lecture, University of Sydney
2016Winner – Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher, Australian Museum
2016Inducted into World Economic Forum Young Scientists Community
2016Occasional Address at University of Sydney Graduation Ceremony, University of Sydney
2016Runner-up - Lawrence Creative Prize, Centenary Institute
2016 Day of Biosciences Public Lecture, University of Regensburg, Germany
2016International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Early Career Award
2015Early Career Researcher of the Year - NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering
2015PNAS paper featured as Editor's Choice, Science Signaling
2015Australian Psychological Society Award for Excellent PhD Thesis Awarded in 2014
2015Runner-up - Science Leadership Award, Awards Australia Young Achiever Awards
2015 Article on work in New Scientist (28th Feb issue)
2015Rita and John Cornforth Medal for PhD Achievement, University of Sydney Alumni Awards
2014Postdoctoral Travel Award, International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
2014H. Tasman Lovell Medal for best PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, University of Sydney
2014Postgraduate Publication Prize, University of Sydney
2013Winner - Glenn I. Hatton Memorial Award, International Neuroendocrine Federation
2012Postgraduate Publication Prize, University of Sydney
2012Graduate Student Travel Award, International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
2011Campbell Perry International Research Award, University of Sydney
2011Young Investigator Award, 9th World Congress on Neurohypophysial Hormones
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Novel approaches for targeting the oxytocin system to treat methamphetamine addiction | Tylah DOOLAN |
| Vasopressin V1a receptor agonists for the treatment of social disorders: target validation and exploration of novel small molecules | Oliver TAN |
Publications
Book Chapters
- Bowen, M., Neumann, I. (2018). The Multidimensional Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the Brain Oxytocin System for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. In R. Hurlemann, V. Grinevich (Eds.), Behavioral Pharmacology of Neuropeptides: Oxytocin, (pp. 269-287). Cham: Springer. [More Information]
- Bowen, M., Liu, J., Buisman-Pijlman, F. (2016). Oxytocin: Providing New Avenues for Treating and Understanding Problematic Drug Use. In Victor R. Preedy (Eds.), Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse Volume 3: General Processes and Mechanisms, Prescription Medications, Caffeine and Areca, Polydrug Misuse, Emerging Addictions and Non-Drug Addictions, (pp. 82-92). London: Academia Press. [More Information]
- Bowen, M. (2014). Miscellaneous Hormones. In Sidhartha D. Ray (Eds.), Side Effects of Drugs Annual: A worldwide yearly survey of new data in adverse drug reactions, (pp. 659-673). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. [More Information]
Journals
- Raymond, J., Rehn, S., James, M., Everett, N., Bowen, M. (2024). Sex differences in the social motivation of rats: Insights from social operant conditioning, behavioural economics, and video tracking. Biology of Sex Differences, 15(1). [More Information]
- Raymond, J., Everett, N., Gururajan, A., Bowen, M. (2023). Quiet wakefulness: the influence of intraperitoneal and intranasal oxytocin on sleep–wake behavior and neurophysiology in rats. Sleep, 46(7). [More Information]
- Milligan, C., Anderson, L., Bowen, M., Banister, S., McGregor, I., Arnold, J., Petrou, S. (2022). A nutraceutical product, extracted from Cannabis sativa, modulates voltage-gated sodium channel function. Journal of Cannabis Research, 4(1). [More Information]
Patents
- McGregor, I., Kassiou, M., Bowen, M., Hicks, C., Jorgensen, W. (2020). Novel small molecules that target social impairment and addictions (SOC 1). Patent No. 2715384. Russian Federation.
- Jorgensen, W., Bowen, M., McGregor, I., Werry, E., Reekie, T., Kassiou, M. (2017). Small molecule treatments for mental illness. Patent No. International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT/AU2017/051371. , .
- McGregor, I., Carson, D., Guastella, A., Bowen, M. (2015). Pat: Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders With Oxytocin and Other Agents Acting at Oxytocin Receptors. Patent No. 2010302945, 2010302945, 2010302945, 2482835, 9119805, 2482835, 2482835. , , , Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
2024
- Raymond, J., Rehn, S., James, M., Everett, N., Bowen, M. (2024). Sex differences in the social motivation of rats: Insights from social operant conditioning, behavioural economics, and video tracking. Biology of Sex Differences, 15(1). [More Information]
2023
- Raymond, J., Everett, N., Gururajan, A., Bowen, M. (2023). Quiet wakefulness: the influence of intraperitoneal and intranasal oxytocin on sleep–wake behavior and neurophysiology in rats. Sleep, 46(7). [More Information]
2022
- Milligan, C., Anderson, L., Bowen, M., Banister, S., McGregor, I., Arnold, J., Petrou, S. (2022). A nutraceutical product, extracted from Cannabis sativa, modulates voltage-gated sodium channel function. Journal of Cannabis Research, 4(1). [More Information]
- Bowen, M., George, O., Muskiewicz, D., Hall, F. (2022). FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ESCALATION OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 132, 730-756. [More Information]
- Kevin, R., Cairns, E., Boyd, R., Arnold, J., Bowen, M., McGregor, I., Banister, S. (2022). Off-target pharmacological profiling of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists including AMB-FUBINACA, CUMYL-PINACA, PB-22, and XLR-11. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. [More Information]
2021
- Martin, L., Cairns, E., Heblinski, M., Fletcher, C., Krycer, J., Arnold, J., McGregor, I., Bowen, M., Anderson, L. (2021). Cannabichromene and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid Identified as Lactate Dehydrogenase-A Inhibitors by in Silico and in Vitro Screening. Journal of Natural Products, 84(5), 1469-1472. [More Information]
- Anderson, L., Heblinski, M., Absalom, N., Hawkins, N., Bowen, M., Benson, M., Zhang, F., Bahceci, D., Doohan, P., Collins, M., McGregor, I., Arnold, J., et al (2021). Cannabigerolic acid, a major biosynthetic precursor molecule in cannabis, exhibits divergent effects on seizures in mouse models of epilepsy. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178(24), 4826-4841. [More Information]
- Smith, A., Jurek, B., Grinevich, V., Bowen, M. (2021). Editorial: The Oxytocin System in Fear, Stress, Anguish, and Pain. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12, 737953. [More Information]
2020
- Martin, L., Bowen, M. (2020). Comparing Fingerprints for Ligand-Based Virtual Screening: A Fast and Scalable Approach for Unbiased Evaluation. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 60(10), 4536-4545. [More Information]
- Tan, O., Martin, L., Bowen, M. (2020). Divergent pathways mediate 5-HT1A receptor agonist effects on close social interaction, grooming and aggressive behaviour in mice: Exploring the involvement of the oxytocin and vasopressin systems. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 34(7), 795-805. [More Information]
- Absalom, N., Liao, V., Kothur, K., Indurthi Venkata, D., Bennetts, B., Troedson, C., Mohammad, S., Gupta, S., McGregor, I., Bowen, M., Ahring, J., Collins, M., et al (2020). Gain-of-function GABRB3 variants identified in vigabatrin-hypersensitive epileptic encephalopathies. Brain Communications, 2(2), fcaa162. [More Information]
2019
- Raymond, J., Wilson, B., Tan, O., Gururajan, A., Bowen, M. (2019). Acute alcohol exposure dose-dependently alleviates social avoidance in adolescent mice and inhibits social investigation in adult mice. Psychopharmacology, 236, 3625-3639. [More Information]
- Bowen, M. (2019). Does peripherally administered oxytocin enter the brain? Compelling new evidence in a long-running debate. Pharmacological Research, 146, 1-2. [More Information]
- Absalom, N., Ahring, J., Liao, V., Balle, T., Jiang, T., Anderson, L., Arnold, J., McGregor, I., Bowen, M., Chebib, M. (2019). Functional genomics of epilepsy-associated mutations in the GABAa receptor subunits reveal that one mutation impairs function and two are catastrophic. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(15), 6157-6171. [More Information]
2018
- Meiser, B., Quinn, V., Mitchell, G., Tucker, K., Watts, K., Rahman, B., Peate, M., Saunders, C., Geelhoed, E., Gleeson, M., Barlow-Stewart, K., Bowen, M., Kirk, J., et al (2018). Psychological outcomes and surgical decisions after genetic testing in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with and without a family history. European Journal of Human Genetics, 26(7), 972-983. [More Information]
- Bowen, M., Neumann, I. (2018). The Multidimensional Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the Brain Oxytocin System for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. In R. Hurlemann, V. Grinevich (Eds.), Behavioral Pharmacology of Neuropeptides: Oxytocin, (pp. 269-287). Cham: Springer. [More Information]
2017
- Suraev, A., Todd, L., Bowen, M., Allsop, D., McGregor, I., Ireland, C., Lintzeris, N. (2017). An Australian nationwide survey on medicinal cannabis use for epilepsy: History of antiepileptic drug treatment predicts medicinal cannabis use. Epilepsy and Behavior, 70, 334-340. [More Information]
- Jorgensen, W., Bowen, M., McGregor, I., Werry, E., Reekie, T., Kassiou, M. (2017). Small molecule treatments for mental illness. Patent No. International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT WO2017004674 A1, International PCT/AU2017/051371. , .
- Peters, S., Bowen, M., Bohrer, K., McGregor, I., Neumann, I. (2017). Oxytocin inhibits ethanol consumption and ethanol-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Addiction Biology, 22(3), 702-711. [More Information]
2016
- Bowen, M., Liu, J., Buisman-Pijlman, F. (2016). Oxytocin: Providing New Avenues for Treating and Understanding Problematic Drug Use. In Victor R. Preedy (Eds.), Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse Volume 3: General Processes and Mechanisms, Prescription Medications, Caffeine and Areca, Polydrug Misuse, Emerging Addictions and Non-Drug Addictions, (pp. 82-92). London: Academia Press. [More Information]
2015
- Bowen, M., Peters, S., Absalom, N., Chebib, M., Neumann, I., McGregor, I. (2015). Oxytocin prevents ethanol actions at δ subunitcontaining GABAA receptors and attenuates ethanolinduced motor impairment in rats. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(10), 3104-3109. [More Information]
- McGregor, I., Carson, D., Guastella, A., Bowen, M. (2015). Pat: Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders With Oxytocin and Other Agents Acting at Oxytocin Receptors. Patent No. 2010302945, 2010302945, 2010302945, 2482835, 9119805, 2482835, 2482835. , , , Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
2014
- Bowen, M., Hari Dass, S., Booth, J., Suraev, A., Vyas, A., McGregor, I. (2014). Active coping toward predatory stress is associated with lower corticosterone and progesterone plasma levels and decreased methylation in the medial amygdala vasopressin system. Hormones and Behavior, 66(3), 561-566. [More Information]
- Suraev, A., Bowen, M., Ali, S., Hicks, C., Ramos, L., McGregor, I. (2014). Adolescent exposure to oxytocin, but not the selective oxytocin receptor agonist TGOT, increases social behavior and plasma oxytocin in adulthood. Hormones and Behavior, 65(5), 488-496. [More Information]
- Bowen, M. (2014). Miscellaneous Hormones. In Sidhartha D. Ray (Eds.), Side Effects of Drugs Annual: A worldwide yearly survey of new data in adverse drug reactions, (pp. 659-673). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. [More Information]
2013
- Bowen, M., Kevin, R., May, M., Staples, L., Hunt, G., McGregor, I. (2013). Defensive Aggregation (Huddling) in Rattus Norvegicus toward Predator Odor: Individual Differences, Social Buffering Effects and Neural Correlates. PloS One, 8(7), 1-15. [More Information]
- Motbey, C., Clemens, K., Apetz, N., Winstock, A., Ramsey, J., Li, K., Wyatt, N., Callaghan, P., Bowen, M., Cornish, J., McGregor, I. (2013). High levels of intravenous mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) self-administration in rats: Neural consequences and comparison with methamphetamine. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27(9), 823-836. [More Information]
- McGregor, I., Bowen, M. (2013). Oxytocin and addiction: recent preclinical advances and future clinical potential. In E. Choleris, D. W. Pfaff, & M. Kavaliers (Eds.), Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Related Peptides in the Regulation of Behavior, (pp. 270-287). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
2012
- Bowen, M., Keats, K., Kendig, M., Cakic, V., Callaghan, P., McGregor, I. (2012). Aggregation in quads but not pairs of rats exposed to cat odor or bright light. Behavioural Processes, 90(3), 331-336. [More Information]
- McGregor, I., Bowen, M. (2012). Breaking the loop: Oxytocin as a potential treatment for drug addiction. Hormones and Behavior, 61(3), 331-339. [More Information]
- Motbey, C., Hunt, G., Bowen, M., Artiss, S., McGregor, I. (2012). Mephedrone (4-Methylmethcathinone, "Meow"): Acute Behavioural Effects and Distribution of Fos Expression in Adolescent Rats. Addiction Biology, 17(2), 409-422. [More Information]
2011
- Bowen, M., Carson, D., Spiro, A., Arnold, J., McGregor, I. (2011). Adolescent Oxytocin Exposure Causes Persistent Reductions in Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption and Enhances Sociability in Rats. PloS One, 6(11), e27237-1-e27237-11. [More Information]
- Kendig, M., Bowen, M., Kemp, A., McGregor, I. (2011). Predatory threat induces huddling in adolescent rats and residual changes in early adulthood suggestive of increased resilience. Behavioural Brain Research, 225(2), 405-414. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2022
- Translational Psychopharmacology, Bowen M, Brain and Mind Centre/BMC Strategic Program Support
2018
- Characterising and exploiting d subunit-containing GABA-A receptors as novel targets for treating social disorders, Bowen M, Neumann I, Collins M, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Project Grants
Patents
Patent family: Therapeutic compounds and compositions for treating social disorders and substance use disorders. Bowen MT (co-lead inventor), McGregor IS, Kassiou M, Hicks C, Jorgensen W.
- USA Patent 15/738532 (Granted 2021).
- Australian Patent 2016289271 (Granted 2021).
- Chinese Patent 201680040337.2 (Granted 2021).
- Russian Federation Patent 2715384 (Granted 2020).
- Brazilian Patent Application BR1120180000590 (Published 2018)
- Canadian Patent Application 2991236 (Published 2018)
- European Patent Convention Patent Application 16820570.6 (Published 2018)
- Hong Kong Patent Application 18112118.2 (Published 2018)
- Indian Patent Application 201717046363 (Published 2018)
- Israeli Patent Application 256684 (Published 2018)
- Japan Patent Application 2018-500416 (Published 2018)
- Mexican Patent Application MX/a/2017/017171 (Published 2018)
- New Zealand Patent Application 738672 (Published 2017)
- Republic of Korea Patent Application 10-2018-7003161 (Published 2018)
- South African Patent Application 2018/00530 (Published 2018)
Patent family:Non-peptide oxytocin receptor agonists. Kassiou M, Jorgensen W, Reekie T, Werry E, Bowen MT (co-inventor), McGregor IS.
- Russian Federation Patent Application 2019120162 (Published 2021)
- Brazilian Patent Application BR1120190120491 (Published 2019)
- Chinese Patent Application 201780085825.X (Published 2019)
- Indian Patent Application 201917026397 (Published 2019)
- Israeli Patent Application 267276 (Published 2019)
- Japanese Patent Application 2019-531447 (Published 2019)
- Mexican Patent Application MX/a/2019/006942 (Published 2019)
- New Zealand Patent Application 754890 (Published 2019)
- Republic of Korean Patent Application 10-2019-7019977 (Published 2019)
- South African Patent Application 2019/04290 (Published 2019)
- Australian Patent Application 2017377653 (Published 2018)
- Canadian Patent Application 3046809 (Published 2018)
- European Patent Convention Patent Application 17880082.7 (Published 2018)
- Hong Kong Patent Application 62020004269.0 (Published 2018)
- USA Patent Application 16/439570 (Published 2018)
Patent family: Methods for management of weight. Bowen MT (co-lead inventor), McGregor IS, Baracz S, Cornish J.
- USA Patent Application 17/295638 (Published 2020)
- Australian Patent Application 2019383052 (Published 2020)
Patent family: Treatment of opioid withdrawal. Bowen MT (lead inventor), McGregor IS.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application PCT/AU2020/050941 (Published 2021)
Patent family: Salts and crystals. Bowen MT (lead inventor)
- Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application PCT/AU2021/051033 (Published 2021)
Patent family: Methods for treating aggression. Bowen MT (lead inventor)
- Australian Patent Application 2021900789 (Filed 2021).
Patent family: Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. Bowen MT (co-lead inventor), McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A
- US Patent US9119805B2 (Granted 2015). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- Australian Patent 2010302945 (Granted 2015). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- European Patent EP2482835B1 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- German Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- Irish Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- Italian Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- Spanish Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- Swedish Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
- UK Patent 2482835 (Granted 2014). Bowen MT, McGregor IS, Carson DS, Guastella A. Therapy and Prevention of Problem Drinking. (co-lead inventor)
