Howard Mitchell

Howard Mitchell is a Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Human Sciences and the Department of Physiology. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from UWA and has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Sheffield and the Australian National University. His research focuses on respiratory physiology, particularly the control of airways in diseases like asthma, emphasizing airway mechanics, smooth muscle pharmacology, and lung development.

Education: PhD in Pharmacology (UWA), Fellowship at John Curtin School of Medical Research (ANU), and prior work at Royal College of Surgeons and the Pharmaceutical Industry in London.

Research interests include neural control of airway smooth muscle, bronchial tree dynamics, and the impact of inflammatory cytokines on asthma pathogenesis. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing health and well-being. Funding has been secured continuously from the NHMRC since the 1980s, supplemented by the Asthma Foundation of WA.

Collaborators include Associate Professor Peter Noble and Dr. Peter McFawn at UWA. Key grants include NHMRC-funded projects on airway responses to deep inspiration and cyclical breathing mechanics. His lab investigates fetal airway development and the effects of maternal atopy on airway hyperresponsiveness.

Labs/Teams: Mitchell’s research group focuses on pulmonary physiology, with ongoing projects on airway smooth muscle mechanics and inflammatory signaling in asthma. He has led over 23 funded projects and published 92 works.