Professor Michael Fenech

Professor Michael Fenech is recognised internationally for his research in nutritional genomics and genetic toxicology and for developing the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay which is now a standard method used internationally to measure DNA damage in human and mammalian cells. The lymphocyte CBMN assay has been endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD for in vivo radiation bio-dosimetry and in vitro testing of chemical genotoxicity, respectively. From 1990 to 2018 he worked as a principal research scientist in Australia at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in the field of human nutrition. In 1999-2009 his laboratory further developed the lymphocyte CBMN assay into a 'cytome' assay consisting of six complementary biomarkers of DNA damage and cytotoxicity and, in collaboration with other laboratories, he coordinated the establishment of a similar method for buccal epithelial cells. Both methods are published in Nature Protocols. His key goal is to determine the nutritional, lifestyle and environmental requirements for DNA damage prevention. His research is focused on (i) the impact of nutrition on chromosomal and telomere integrity and (ii) personalised nutrition for healthy aging. He co-founded the HUMN project on micronuclei in human populations in 1997 and the Asia Pacific Nutrigenomics Nutrigenetics Organisation (www.apnno.com) in 2014. Since 2010 he has been an invited speaker at 57 international conferences (10 plenary lectures). His H-index is 88 based on 36,861 total career citations according to Google Scholar.