Nationality United Kingdom | Name Michael Owen | |
Occupation Psychiatrist Neurologist | ||
Alma mater Birmingham University, | ||
Professor Sir Michael John Owen is a Welsh research scientist in the area of psychiatry, currently the head of the Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University.
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Career
Owen studied medicine and neurosciences at Birmingham University, gaining a B.Sc in Anatomy in 1977 and then studied psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London, before training in molecular genetics at St Mary’s Hospital, London.
His main research interests are in the genetics of major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, through using a combination of molecular genetic approaches including genome-wide association, copy number variant analysis and second generation sequencing to identify the specific genetic variants that confer risk to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Having published over 600 scientific papers, he has been praised for his research programmes on: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and depression; and in the relationship between 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and psychosis.
He continues to work as a Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry, and is a member of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. He was President of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics (2000-2005) and was a member of the council of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2001-2004).
Awards
In recognition of his achievements Professor Owen was elected to Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1997, and to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999. In 2011, he was awarded the Stromgren Medal for psychiatric research, in 2012 the Lieber Prize jointly with Prof Michael O'Donovan for schizophrenia research, and in 2013 the William K Warren Distinguished Investigator Award for schizophrenia research.
He was knighted in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to neuroscience and mental health.