Rate My Professor Michael Cameron

Michael Cameron, Ph.D., is the Senior Scientific Director of the Translational Research Institute and a Professor – Research in the Department of Molecular Medicine at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Utah State University in 2000 and his B.S. in Chemistry from Gonzaga University in 1994. Earlier in his career, he held positions as Associate Professor (2013-2017) and Assistant Professor (joint appointment, 2007-2013) in the Department of Molecular Therapeutics at Scripps Research, and served as Senior Scientist at CellzDirect (2003-2005).

Dr. Cameron's laboratory investigates the metabolic fate of novel chemical compounds, emphasizing the role of drug metabolism in chemical-induced toxicity and drug-drug interactions. Key areas include cytochrome P450-catalyzed metabolism, responsible for pharmaceutical drug breakdown, steroid and bile acid biosynthesis, and lipid oxidation to signaling molecules. Ongoing projects examine reactive metabolites in toxicity, mechanism-based P450 inhibition, and tools to distinguish CYP3A4 from CYP3A5. The lab contributes to translational research by developing clinical candidates and probes, such as antagonists for neuropeptide Y Y2 and orexin-1 receptors, positive allosteric modulators for GABAB and α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, neurotensin 1 receptor agonists, kappa opioid receptor antagonists, and biased mu opioid receptor agonists. It offers comprehensive DMPK services, including assessments of metabolic stability, solubility, oral bioavailability, rodent pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, plasma protein binding, CYP inhibition, reactive intermediates, and metabolite identification. Representative publications include "Oregano Oil and Its Principal Component, Carvacrol, Inhibit HIV-1 Fusion into Target Cells" (Journal of Virology, 2020), "A G protein signaling-biased agonist at the μ-opioid receptor reverses morphine tolerance while preventing morphine withdrawal" (Neuropsychopharmacology, 2020), "Design of a small molecule that stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor A enabled by screening RNA fold-small molecule interactions" (Nature Chemistry, 2020), and "Precise small-molecule cleavage of an r(CUG) repeat expansion in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model" (PNAS, 2019). With over 13,600 citations on Google Scholar, his contributions have significantly impacted drug metabolism and translational science.