Rate My Professor Michael Pankhurst

Dr. Michael Pankhurst is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago. He obtained his BSc (Hons) and PhD from the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania, completing his doctorate between 2007 and 2011. His academic career at the University of Otago commenced in March 2011 as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Anatomy, advancing to Research Fellow from October 2014 to May 2018, and assuming his current role as Senior Lecturer from June 2018. Earlier research at the University of Tasmania focused on trace metal scavengers in brain injury. Pankhurst's expertise encompasses human fertility and reproduction, including female fertility, reproductive ageing, menopause, assisted reproduction, and IVF.

Pankhurst's research investigates the role of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in female reproduction, with emphasis on its regulation of ovarian follicle development, oocyte quality, ovarian reserve depletion, and ovulation rates. Key questions include the conversion of proAMH to active AMHN,C, molecular pathways inhibiting primordial follicle activation, and relationships between ovarian reserve and fertility. His studies employ human samples, animal models, and ovary culture techniques to elucidate mechanisms underlying reproductive biology and female infertility, including polycystic ovary syndrome. Notable achievements include the University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research in 2018 and the Health Research Council Sir Charles Hercus Research Fellowship in 2017 for bi-modal AMH signalling in the ovary. Ongoing projects are funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the Marsden Fund. Select publications comprise 'AMH regulates ovary size by counteracting the positive influence of clustered ovarian follicle growth' (Human Reproduction, 2026), 'The elusive function of AMH signaling in folliculogenesis' (Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics, 2025), 'Anti-Müllerian hormone-mediated preantral follicle atresia is a key determinant of antral follicle count in mice' (Human Reproduction, 2022), 'Key signalling pathways underlying the aetiology of polycystic ovary syndrome' (Journal of Endocrinology, 2022), 'Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone Is an Effective Indicator of Antral Follicle Counts but Not Primordial Follicle Counts' (Endocrinology, 2023), and 'Fetal resorption coincides with dysregulated LH secretion in AMH-overexpressing mice' (Journal of Endocrinology, 2022).