Michael T. Bowers

Michael T. Bowers is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on understanding amyloid disease mechanisms in aging-related conditions such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's. He leads the Bowers Group, which develops therapeutic agents targeting amyloid aggregates. Collaborations include work with Prof. Ambuj Singh in Computer Science to design small-molecule drugs inhibiting toxic oligomers.

His research integrates experimental and theoretical methods, including ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry, to study peptide/protein assembly. Key projects involve characterizing toxic oligomers like TDP-43(307–319) in ALS and cross-talk between amyloid diseases. The lab emphasizes drug discovery, structural biology, and biophysical chemistry.

Notable contributions include discoveries on cylindrins—structural motifs in amyloid peptides—and catalytic effects between disease-linked peptides. The Bowers Lab is affiliated with UCSB’s Neuroscience Research Institute and the Center for Aging and Longevity Studies (CALS).