Michael Fenech

Michael Fenech, Adjunct Professor at University of South Australia, University of Adelaide and Director of Genome Health Foundation, Australia, is recognised internationally for his research in nutritional genomics and genetic toxicology and for developing the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay to measure DNA damage in human cells. His goal is to determine the nutritional and environmental requirements for DNA damage prevention using in vitro systems, epidemiology and placebo-controlled human intervention trials. Dr. Fenech proposed a novel disease prevention strategy based on personalised diagnosis and prevention of DNA damage by appropriate diet/life-style intervention, which has led to the Genome Health Clinic concept and practice. His laboratory developed the CBMN assay into a 'cytome' assay of six complementary biomarkers of DNA damage and cytotoxicity. He co-founded the HUMN and HUMN-XL projects on micronuclei in human populations and the Micronutrients Genomics Project. His research is currently also focussed on the impact of nutrition on telomere length and function. He was awarded the Flinders University’s Convocation Medal (2007), the Alexander Hollaender Award (USA)(2008), and honorary titles of Adjunct Professor at University of South Australia (2019), University of Adelaide (2019), Taipei Medical University (2010), Flinders University (2011) and Fellow of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (2012) . His 320 publications have been cited 33,486 times and his H-index is 86 in Google Scholar.