معرفی
Dr. Michael Downey is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. His research focuses on non-histone protein acetylation, polyphosphate biology, and their roles in cellular stress responses and disease pathologies. His lab uses yeast and human cell culture models to explore how acetylation and polyphosphate signaling regulate metabolism, genome stability, and ribosome biogenesis.
Key research interests include the functional consequences of acetylome regulation by HAT/HDAC enzymes, the interplay between polyphosphate and protein modifications in prokaryotic/eukaryotic systems, and translational applications for cancer and aging-related therapies. The lab has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, including an Early Researcher Award supporting community outreach initiatives like the ‘SUPER COOL SCIENTISTS’ coloring book project.
Dr. Downey actively collaborates on projects integrating genomic screens, mass spectrometry, and functional assays to map acetylation/polyphosphate networks. His team participates in public engagement activities such as annual Science Days at York Street Public School and fundraising for muscular dystrophy research. Future work aims to bridge yeast and mammalian studies to develop diagnostic/treatment strategies targeting acetylation pathways.
