Michael is a molecular cell biologist whose research has reshaped our understanding of how the cytoskeleton is used by viruses to promote their spread. Using Vaccinia as a model, he revealed how RhoGTPase signalling, microtubule transport and the actin cytoskeleton are subverted by the virus, identifying viral proteins driving the spread of infection and elucidating their mechanisms of action.
His work has also characterized the family of Arp2/3 iso-complexes, with each of its 8 members presenting distinct functional properties and regulatory mechanisms. This advance has opened new dimensions in our understanding of actin assembly, which must be tightly controlled in diverse cellular processes and contexts that are essential for development and tissue homeostasis.
Michael, who is a Principal Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute and Professor of Virology at Imperial College London, is an elected member of EMBO (2006), a Fellow of The Academy of Medical Sciences (2015) and a Fellow of The American Society of Cell Biology (2023).
Professional position
- Principal Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute
- Professor of Virology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London
