Michael Cowley

Michael Cowley, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University with cross-disciplinary affiliations including the Center for Human Health and the Environment, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD), Program in Genetics, Program in Toxicology, and Chancellor's Faculty Excellence Program.

His research investigates how developmental environmental stressors epigenetically program metabolic disease susceptibility through imprinted gene networks, particularly focusing on Zac1-driven transcriptional regulation in hepatocytes. The lab integrates mouse models, cell culture, and human samples to elucidate mechanisms linking adverse developmental environments to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and fibrotic transformation.

Scientific Awards:

• Pilot and Feasibility Award 2019 from the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease

Dr. Cowley leads the Cowley Lab, which has identified critical pathways where developmental stress activates imprinted gene networks that disrupt hepatic lipid homeostasis and drive MASLD progression, providing foundational insights for therapeutic interventions targeting environmentally induced metabolic disorders.