Dr Michael Lovelace
B. Sc (Hons). Deakin University 1999, PhD 2006
Dr. Lovelace has over 15 years’ experience working in the interrelated fields of neuroscience, immunology and developmental neurobiology/stem cell biology, and currently works as a Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the laboratory of clinical neurologist Prof. Bruce Brew (August 2015-present). He is also the manager of the St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research (AMR) Live Imaging Facility (LIF), a flow cytometry and microscope core facility. His previous positions have included working with esteemed neuroscientist Prof. Max Bennett OA, at Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, and Opthalmologist and Developmental Neurobiologist Prof. Tailoi Chan-Ling in 2009-11 (an ongoing collaboration). He has 29 total published articles and conference abstracts (8 of those first author), which in total to date have garnered 851 citations (64 last 5 years). An additional 10 publications are in revision or preparation for submission.
Positions - 2015 Aug – present: St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research. 2015: Haematology Laboratory, Nepean Clinical School, USYD (2 x 3 month 0.5 FTE positions). 2012-2014: Research Officer, Vascular Lab, Centenary Institute, Sydney. 2009-October 2011: Postdoctoral Fellow, Retinal and Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Histology, USYD, including previous Charles D. Kelman M.D. Postdoctoral Scholar (International Retinal Research Foundation, United States).
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Dr. Lovelace has attracted a total of $1,229,808 in competitive grant funding - $144,000 in grants for salary and research support (including 1 x $75,000 Perpetual IMPACT Grant), $150,000 for Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) completion, $926,808 from 28 equipment grants in a variety of schemes (2 x NHMRC equipment grants, 3 x Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation grants, multiple Bosch Institute small equipment grants, 7 x St. Vincent's AMR Equipment Grants, 2 x Ian Potter Foundation grants (2018 and 2020, $100,000 each) and one 2019 Perpetual IMPACT grant ($50,000, funded by Baxter Charitable Foundation). Also $9,000 in travel grants for conference or collaborator short-stays.
Grants for Research and Salary Support (subtotal $144,000)
4. Title: “Trialing a therapy in a brain organoid model: a potential therapy for neurodegenerative disease”
Chief Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew and Dr. Michael Lovelace
Funding Agency: Perpetual IMPACT grant
Goals: This grant funded a project to investigate a therapeutic in a human brain organoid model.
Total Budget: $75,000 Duration of Funding: 2022
3. Title: “Expression and function of BCL11b in Multiple Sclerosis patients”
Principal Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (5 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s Clinic Research Grant
Goals: This grant funded a project to examine expression and possible role of Bcl11b in Multiple Sclerosis.
Total Budget: $30,000 Duration of Funding: 2017
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s Clinic Research Grant
Goals: This grant funded a project to examine expression and possible role of Bcl11b in Multiple Sclerosis.
Total Budget: $30,000 Duration of Funding: 2017
2. Title: “The kynurenine pathway as therapeutic target for Multiple Sclerosis”
Principal Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (12 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s Clinic Research Grant
Goals: This grant funded a project to examine therapeutic inhibition of the kynurenine pathway as a possible mechanism for MS therapy.
Total Budget: $30,000 Duration of Funding: 2017
1. Title: “Elucidating the role of Astrocytes in Glaucoma”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tailoi Chan-Ling Other Investigators: Dr. Michael Lovelace
Funding Agency: International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) Charles D. Kelman Postdoctoral Scholar Award 2010.
Goals and Responsibilities: The grant funded salary support for myself, to perform experiments into the role of astrocytes in glaucoma.
Total Budget: $39,000 Duration of Funding: 2010
Equipment Grants (subtotal $926,808)
28. Title: “Infrastructure upgrades to sustain the AMR Live Imaging Facility”
Principal Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace and Prof. Bruce Brew (18 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of upgrades to a Muse cytometer and parts for an Incucyte Zoom.
Total Budget: $15,000 Duration of Funding: 2023
27. Title: “Upgrades for Leica Thunder microscope and AMR Live Imaging Facility”
Principal Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace and Prof. Bruce Brew (23 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of upgrades to a Thunder live cell imaging microscope.
Total Budget: $15,000 Duration of Funding: 2022
26. Title: “Upgrades to the Leica Thunder microscope”
Principal Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace and Prof. Bruce Brew (15 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of upgrades to a Thunder live cell imaging microscope.
Total Budget: $30,000 Duration of Funding: 2021
25. Title: “High-speed 2D/3D microscope imaging platform with image-enhancing capability for disease modelling and testing novel therapies”
Principal Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew and Dr. M. Lovelace (15 CIs)
Funding Agency: Ian Potter Foundation Medical Research Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of a live cell imaging microscope with tissue clearing capability.
Total Budget: $100,000 Duration of Funding: 2020
24. Title: “Tri-gas mixer upgrade for Cellasic microfluidic perfusion system”
Chief Investigators: Dr. Michael Lovelace and Prof. Bruce Brew
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a digital gas mixer upgrade for a Cellasic microfluidic perfusion system.
Total Budget: $15,000 Duration of Funding: 2020
23. Title: “Automated high-throughput and specific live cell imaging facility for drug discovery and targeted therapies”
Chief Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew and Prof. David Ma
Project Lead, Activity contact and co-grant writer: Dr. M Lovelace
Funding Agency: Perpetual IMPACT grant.
Goals: This grant funded a scratch wound migration assay upgrade for the Incucyte Zoom and an Incustore extended storage module.
Total Budget: $50,000 Duration of Funding: 2019
22. Title: “Automated high-throughput and specific live cell imaging facility for drug discovery and targeted therapies”
Principal Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew and Dr. M. Lovelace (12 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of an Incucyte automated live imaging machine and a Cellasic microfluidic perfusion machine.
Total Budget: $15,000 Duration of Funding: 2019
21. Title: “Automated high-throughput and specific live cell imaging facility for drug discovery and targeted therapies”
Principal Investigators: Prof. Bruce Brew and Dr. M. Lovelace (17 CIs)
Funding Agency: Ian Potter Foundation Medical Research Grant
Goals: This grant funded purchase of an Incucyte automated live imaging machine and a Cellasic microfluidic perfusion machine.
Total Budget: $100,000 Duration of Funding: 2019
20. Title: “Muse benchtop flow cytometer”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Bruce Brew Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace, Assoc. Prof. Kurosh Parsi, Dr. David Connor
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Muse benchtop flow cytometer.
Total Budget: $17,500 Duration of Funding: 2018
19. Title: “Cellasic ONIX microfluidic system for live cell imaging”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tailoi Chan-Ling Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (13 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Cellasic ONIX microfluidic system for live cell imaging.
Total Budget: $12,000 + $15,000 co-funding Duration of Funding: 2017
18. Title: “Repair of Gamma Counter”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Des Richardson Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (multiple CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded repair of a gamma counter machine.
Total Budget: $7,000 + $2000 departmental co-funding Duration of Funding: 2017
17. Title: “QIAExpert System”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Rebecca Mason Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (multiple CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a QIAExpert System for amino acid analysis.
Total Budget: $12,000 Duration of Funding: 2017
16. Title: “Countess II automated cell counter”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Bruce Brew Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (8 CIs)
Funding Agency: St. Vincent’s AMR Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Countess II automated cell counter for counting cultured cells.
Total Budget: $15,000 Duration of Funding: 2017
15. Title: “State-of-the-Art Nanolive 3D Cell Explorer for the Multi-User Bosch Molecular Biology Facility”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Des Richardson Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (24 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Nanolive 3D explorer for imaging of live cells.
Total Budget: $29,600 Duration of Funding: 2016
14. Title: “State-of-the-Art Nitric Oxide Analyser for the Multi-User Bosch Molecular Biology Facility”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Des Richardson Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (31 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Nitric oxide analyser for animal studies of inflammatory diseases.
Total Budget: $26,000 Duration of Funding: 2014
13. Title: “Application for Nuance FX Multispectral Imaging System”
Principal Investigator: Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (38 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a Nuance spectral camera for microscope separation of fluorophores.
Total Budget: $23,500 Duration of Funding: 2014
12. Title: “A light-sheet microscope; revolutionary technology for improved imaging of thick fluorescent samples, tissues and whole small organisms”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Chris Murphy Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (16 CIs)
Funding Agency: NHMRC Equipment Grant Scheme
Goals: This grant funded a light sheet microscope for imaging of biological specimens in high detail.
Total Budget: $198,038 Duration of Funding: 2014
10-11. I sequentially wrote equipment grants which facilitated the purchase of a CO2 controller and heated stage live cell imaging upgrade to an existing PALM Laser Capture Microdissection microscope, and also a micromanipulator stand enabling the use of an existing micromanipulator in physiology experiments.
Title: “Application for heated stage for PALM Laser Capture Microdissection microscope and accessories, enabling long-term live cell imaging and physiological experiments”
Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Morris Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (10 CIs total)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Total Budget: $4008 (2013) and $15,900 (2014) Duration of Funding: 2013/2014
9. Title: “State-of-the-Art Hypoxia Chamber for Incubation at Physiological Oxygen Concentrations for the Multi-User Bosch Molecular Biology Facility”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Des Richardson Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (21 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a hypoxia chamber for culture culture studies under physiological conditions.
Total Budget: $16,400 Duration of Funding: 2013
8. Title: “Bringing CLARITY to Bosch Institute Research”
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dan Johnstone Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (13 CIs)
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant funded a tissue clearing technique for ultrastructural imaging of thick tissue specimens.
Total Budget: $3,480 Duration of Funding: 2013
7. Title: “Wide field super-resolution microscopy with ground state depletion — Exploring nanoscopic life in chronic diseases”
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Filip Braet Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (14 CIs)
Funding Agency: University of Sydney DVC Research/Equipment Grant
Goals: This grant part funded a super-resolution microscope for localization of small proteins and protein-protein interactions inside cells with high spatial resolution.
Total Budget: $89,262 Duration of Funding: 2013
6. Title: “Leica PowerMosaic Plus Microscope Upgrade for Flexible, High-Resolution Slide Scanning”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Jennifer Gamble Other Investigators: Dr. M. Lovelace (20 CIs)
Funding Agency: NHMRC Equipment Grant Scheme
Goals: This grant funded a slide scanner upgrade; scans of slides for archival purposes and analyses.
Total Budget: $40,120 Duration of Funding: 2013
5. Title: “An Investigation of purinergic nucleotides in directing the differentiation of human neural precursor cell populations: application to cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease”
Principal Investigator: Dr. M. Lovelace Other Investigators: Prof. Tailoi Chan-Ling
Funding Agency: Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation
Goals: The goals of this grant were to determine the potential of purinergic nucleotides to direct the lineage specification of neural precursor cells into the neuronal lineage, for future cell therapy use.
Total Budget: $22,000 Duration of Funding: 2012
4. Title: “Application for CO2 controller, facilitating long term live-cell imaging and physiological experiments”
Principal Investigator: Dr. M. Lovelace Other Investigators: D. Richardson, A. Sharland, S. Assinder.
Funding Agency: Bosch Institute Small Equipment Grant Scheme
Total Budget: $10,000 Duration of Funding: 2011
3. Title: “A live cell Imaging-based investigation of novel physiological functions of neural stem cells”
Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Lovelace Other Investigators: Prof. Tailoi Chan-Ling
Funding Agency: Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation
Goals: The goals of this grant were to determine the roles of calcium signaling in human neural precursor cells, specifically the signaling initiated by purinergic receptors.
Total Budget: $20,000 Duration of Funding: 2010
2. Title: “Pathogenic mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction and drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Michael Lovelace, Dr. Claire Goldsbury, Prof. Michael Kassiou, Dr. Emily Mathey and Dr. Padraig Strappe
Funding Agency: Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation
Goals: This grant part funded the purchase of a Carl Zeiss AxioObserver Live Cell Imaging microscope.
Total Budget: $20,000 Duration of Funding: 2009
1. Title: “Homogeniser for assay of Salmonellla Typhimurium Infection load”
Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Lovelace Other Investigators: Prof. Denise Jackson
Funding Agency: Burnet Institute Equipment Grant Scheme
Goals: This was an equipment grant to purchase a homogeniser for plating of homogenates of different organs, in an mouse in vivo assay of Salmonella bacteria infection.
Total Budget: $5,000 Duration of Funding: 2008
Travel Grants for Conference Attendance or Research Training (subtotal $9,000)
- Research Training: April-May 2017, Montreal, Canada - Recipient of the 2017 Ian Ballard Travel Award ($6,000) from Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) for 5 week's overseas training.
- Conference: Focus on Microscopy 2015, Gottingen, Germany. $2,000 from The University of Sydney to support my attendance and oral presentation.
- Conference: Purine 2012, Fukuoka, Japan. $1,000 to support my attendance and poster presentation.
Prizes and Awards
2019 – Winner of Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology (ARVO) Scientific Image Contest.
2017 – Awarded 5th Prize, Bosch Institute Annual Scientific Meeting poster prize.
2016 – Top 20 Finalist, Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility Micrograph of the Year competition.
2016 – Awarded 2nd prize in the Light Microscopy Australia (LMA) Micrograph Competition.
2015 – Shortlisted finalist for Stem Cells (Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal) Young Investigator Award.
2014 – Winner of Rebecca L. Cooper Medal and Prize for best postdoctoral publication in a Bosch Institute Laboratory, University of Sydney.
2013 – Finalist in the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research “Small Objects, Big Impact Image Competition. Image selected for exhibition at Questacon, and toured around Australia.
2013 – Winner of the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Science to Art Prize.
2013 – Awarded Joint 3rd Prize, Centenary Institute Scientific Image Award.
2013 – Top 10 Finalist and highly commended award, Australia Museum New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography.
2012 – Top 20 Finalist (2 images) and 9th prize winner, Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility Micrograph of the Year competition.
2012 – Top 5 Finalist, Centenary Institute Scientific Image Award.
2011 – Highly commended award in the Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility Molecular Probes Image Prize.
2011 – Highly commended award in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Science to Art Prize.
2010 – Awarded 2nd prize in the Bosch Institute Advanced Microscopy Facility Micrograph of the Year competition.
2010 – Awarded 2nd prize in the Mater Medical Research Institute Stem Cell Symposium poster competition.
2010 – Awarded the Charles D Kelman Postdoctoral Scholar Award (International Retinal Research Foundation, USA).
2009 – Awarded the Dintenfass Memorial Plaque for the most interesting or innovative Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation research grant proposal
Dr. Lovelace has current interests in understanding the impact of a dysregulated Kynurenine pathway and production of neurotoxic metabolites on regeneration and repair in Multiple Sclerosis, using mouse cell culture and disease models, and human iPS-derived cells.
My Research Supervision
One UNSW Med Honours student in 2022, one in 2023. One received a High Distinction, the other a Distinction (very close to HD cutoff).