Professor Frank Michelangeli

Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry
Chester Medical School
f.michelangeli@chester.ac.uk
Professor Frank Michelangeli

Frank is an Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Chester. He is an expert in Ca2+ transporters, Ca2+ signalling and cell death mechanism. Frank was previously a Charity trustee of the UK Biochemical Society and is currently a charity trustee and the treasurer for the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

I am a biochemist by training and have been involved in teaching undergraduates and postgraduates for more than 28 years. My areas of expertise are bio-membranes, cell signalling, pharmacology, toxicology and enzymology. I have published over 115 scientific publications in these areas. I am on the editorial boards of several international scientific journals.  I am also actively involved with the Biochemical Society, the Royal Society of Biology, and I am the treasurer and finance director for the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS).

I was recently appointed Sumner Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Chester. Prior to this, for 25 years I was a senior lecturer and Head of Biochemistry programmes at University of Birmingham. I teach a wide range of biochemistry and cell biology related topics in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with specialist interests in membrane biochemistry, cell signalling, metabolic regulation and molecular toxicology.  I now teach these topics in a number of modules at Chester.

Currently, my work has been focusing on links between aberrations in Ca2+ signalling pathways (caused by diseases or toxic insults) and induction of cell death. This work has used a variety of cells derived from neuronal, cardiovascular and testicular sources. My more recent work has involved investigating the molecular basis of toxicity of environmental pollutants and pharmacological drugs and how they can affect male fertility and neuronal function (and dys-function). I am also currently investigating the effects of pharmaceutical drugs and environmental pollutants on cell stress and death mechanisms and how a novel ‘anti-aging’ protein may have a cyto-protective role against this.  I use a variety of biophysical methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy and rapid kinetic stopped-flow analysis in my research. 

Other areas of interest include:

  • Kinetics, pharmacology and regulation of intracellular Ca2+ channels such as the InsP3 receptor and Ryanodine receptor.
  • Kinetics, pharmacology and regulation of Ca2+ ATPases.
  • Drug-membrane interactions.
  • Development of fluorescence-based assays 

Other activities

  • I regularly referee grant applications in the area of calcium homeostasis for possible funding by the research councils and medical charities.
  • I have served as an editorial advisor for the Biochemical Journal (1992-1995) and as an editorial board member from 1995-2002. I am currently the editorial associate for Bioscience Reports an on the editorial board for Frontiers in Pharmacology.
  • I was on the executive committee and council of the Biochemical Society and its Honorary Membership Secretary until end 2013.
  • I am currently a trustee and the treasurer of FEBS.
  • I was on the education committees of both the UK Biochemical Society and FEBS
  • I am a Pharmacology adviser / expert to the Pakistan High Commission for Education, were I have assessed promotions to chairs in several universities in Pakistan.

Books

Recent Advances in Membrane Biochemistry, J.M. East & F. Michelangeli (eds) (2011), ISBN 9781855781832.

2015 - Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy           

2013 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology        

1987 - PhD Biochemistry (University of Southampton)           

1983 - B.Sc. Biochemistry (University of Lancaster)