David Fell

Professor David Fell is a leading academic at Oxford Brookes University, serving as Professor of Systems Biology within the School of Biological and Medical Sciences. His career spans over three decades, transitioning from experimental biochemistry to pioneering work in computational systems biology. He is also the part-time Chief Scientific Officer of Physiomics plc, a company he co-founded in 2001, which applies systems biology approaches to drug discovery and therapy design.

Education:

• Oxford University – Biochemistry
• DPhil – Physical biochemistry of yeast pyruvate kinase

Research Interests:

Professor Fell's research focuses on understanding how biological function emerges from the interactions of many components within metabolic systems. His group integrates computational modeling with experimental data to explore microbial, plant, and mammalian metabolism. Key areas include metabolic control analysis, genome-scale metabolic modeling, and the reconstruction of metabolic networks from genomic data. Applications span from improving bioproduct yields to identifying drug targets in pathogens.

Research Trends:

His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on applying genome-scale metabolic models to optimize bioprocesses in microbes and plants. Topics include enhancing oil content in Brassica species, modeling diatom metabolism for biomass production, and identifying metabolic vulnerabilities in pathogens like Salmonella. The work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical biotechnological applications.

Scientific Contributions:

• Authored the textbook Understanding the Control of Metabolism
• Member of the Policy Committee of the Biochemical Society
• Former member of panels and committees of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Research Group:

He leads the Cell Systems Modelling Group at Oxford Brookes, which has been active for nearly 30 years. The group collaborates widely and has contributed to training scientists now employed at Physiomics and other institutions.