Dr Michael Morgan
Research Fellow
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Researcher biography
Dr Michael Morgan is a mid-career academic with a robust foundation in basic sciences, who has built a distinguished path exploring the biological underpinnings of pain—particularly musculoskeletal pain and osteoarthritis. With influential lead author publications in PAIN, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage and Bone his work bridges molecular mechanisms and translational insights. Now pivoting toward clinical research, he is deepening his focus on another musculoskeletal condition, focusing on whiplash injury and the multidimensional nature of pain, driving cross-disciplinary studies that aim to connect lab findings with real-world patient outcomes.
Journal Articles
Morgan, Michael, Lee, Hoi Ying, Moe, Aung Aung Kywe, Thai, Jenny, Hart, Jackson and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2025). An in vivo electrophysiological preparation for mechanical, electrical and optical stimulation of sensory neurons that innervate murine bone. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine, 8 (10), 1915-1920. doi: 10.1002/ame2.70097
Hewage, Wenu, Vidimce, Josif, Shiels, Ryan G., Morgan, Michael and Bulmer, Andrew C. (2025). Systematic review of the subcutaneous air pouch model using monosodium urate and calcium pyrophosphate and recommendations for studying crystal-related arthropathies. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine, 8 (9), 1611-1627. doi: 10.1002/ame2.70058
Morgan, Michael, Nazemian, Vida, Thai, Jenny, Lin, Irene, Northfield, Susan and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2024). BDNF sensitizes bone and joint afferent neurons at different stages of MIA-induced osteoarthritis. Bone, 189 117260. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2024.117260
Morgan, Michael, Thai, Jenny, Nencini, Sara, Xu, James and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2023). Stomatin-like protein 3 modulates the responses of Aδ, but not C fiber bone afferent neurons to noxious mechanical stimulation in an animal model of acute experimental bone pain. Molecular Pain, 19, 17448069231222407. doi: 10.1177/17448069231222407
Morgan, Michael, Nazemian, Vida, Ooi, Li Sha, Burger, Sarah, Thai, Jenny and Ivanusic, Jason (2023). Artemin sensitizes nociceptors that innervate the osteoarthritic joint to produce pain. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31 (10), 1342-1352. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.06.003
Morgan, Michael, Nazemian, Vida, Harrington, Kate and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2022). Mini review: The role of sensory innervation to subchondral bone in osteoarthritis pain. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13 1047943. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1047943
Morgan, Michael, Thai, Jenny, Nazemian, Vida, Song, Richard and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2022). Changes to the activity and sensitivity of nerves innervating subchondral bone contribute to pain in late-stage osteoarthritis. Pain, 163 (2), 390-402. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002355
Patkar, Omkar L., Mohamed, Abdalla Z., Narayanan, Ashwin, Mardon, Karine, Cowin, Gary, Bhalla, Rajiv, Stimson, Damion H. R., Kassiou, Michael, Beecher, Kate, Belmer, Arnauld, Alvarez Cooper, Ignatius, Morgan, Michael, Hume, David A., Irvine, Katharine M., Bartlett, Selena E., Nasrallah, Fatima and Cumming, Paul (2021). A binge high sucrose diet provokes systemic and cerebral inflammation in rats without inducing obesity. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 11252, 11252. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90817-z
Nencini, Sara, Morgan, Michael, Thai, Jenny, Jobling, Andrew I. I., Mazzone, Stuart B. and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2021). Piezo2 knockdown inhibits noxious mechanical stimulation and NGF-induced sensitization in A-Delta bone afferent neurons. Frontiers in Physiology, 12 644929. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.644929
Morgan, Michael, Thai, Jenny, Trinh, Phu, Habib, Mohamed, Effendi, Kelly N. and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2020). ASIC3 inhibition modulates inflammation-induced changes in the activity and sensitivity of Aδ and C fiber sensory neurons that innervate bone. Molecular Pain, 16, 1744806920975950. doi: 10.1177/1744806920975950
Shiels, Ryan G., Hewage, Wenu, Pennell, Evan N., Vidimce, Josif, Grant, Gary, Pearson, Andrew G., Wagner, Karl-Heinz, Morgan, Michael and Bulmer, Andrew C. (2020). Biliverdin and bilirubin sulfonate inhibit monosodium urate induced sterile inflammation in the rat. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 155 105546, 105546. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105546
Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Morgan, Michael, Dekan, Zoltan, Cheneval, Olivier, Schroeder, Christina I., Alewood, Paul F., Deuis, Jennifer R. and Vetter, Irina (2019). Antiallodynic effects of the selective NaV1.7 inhibitor Pn3a in a mouse model of acute postsurgical pain: evidence for analgesic synergy with opioids and baclofen. Pain, 160 (8), 1766-1780. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001567
Morgan, Michael, Nencini, Sara, Thai, Jenny and Ivanusic, Jason J. (2019). TRPV1 activation alters the function of Aδ and C fiber sensory neurons that innervate bone. Bone, 123, 168-175. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.03.040
Israel, Mathilde R., Morgan, Michael, Tay, Bryan and Deuis, Jennifer R. (2018). Toxins as tools: fingerprinting neuronal pharmacology. Neuroscience Letters, 679, 4-14. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.02.001
Morgan, Michael, Deuis, Jennifer R., Woodruff, Trent M., Lewis, Richard J. and Vetter, Irina (2018). Role of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in a mouse model of acute burn-induced pain. Molecular Immunology, 94, 68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.12.016
Morgan, Michael, Deuis, Jennifer R., Frøsig-Jørgensen, Majbrit, Lewis, Richard J., Cabot, Peter J., Gray, Paul D. and Vetter, Irina (2017). Burn pain: a systematic and critical review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. Pain Medicine, 19 (4), 708-734. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx228
Shariff, Masroor, Klenowski, Paul, Morgan, Michael, Patkar, Omkar, Mu, Erica, Bellingham, Mark, Belmer, Arnauld and Bartlett, Selena E. (2017). Binge-like sucrose consumption reduces the dendritic length and complexity of principal neurons in the adolescent rat basolateral amygdala. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0183063, e0183063. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183063
Casewell, Nicholas R., Visser, Jeroen C., Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Han, Han, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Morgan, Michael, Romilio, Anthony, Weisbecker, Vera, Mardon, Karine, Ali, Syed A., Debono, Jordan, Koludarov, Ivan, Que, Ivo, Bird, Gregory C., Cooke, Gavan M., Nouwens, Amanda, Hodgson, Wayne C., Wagstaff, Simon C., Cheney, Karen L., Vetter, Irina, van der Weerd, Louise, Richardson, Michael K. and Fry, Bryan G. (2017). The Evolution of Fangs, Venom, and Mimicry Systems in Blenny Fishes (vol 27, pg 1184, 2017). Current Biology, 27 (10), 1549-1550. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.009
Rahiman, Siti Sarah Fazalul, Morgan, Michael, Gray, Paul, Shaw, Paul Nicholas and Cabot, Peter John (2017). Inhibitory effects of dynorphin 3-14 on the lipopolysaccharide-induced toll-like receptor 4 signalling pathway. Peptides, 90, 48-54. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.02.004
Casewell, Nicholas R., Visser, Jeroen C., Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Han, Han, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Morgan, Michael, Romilio, Anthony, Weisbecker, Vera, Ali, Syed A., Debono, Jordan, Koludarov, Ivan, Que, Ivo, Bird, Gregory C., Cooke, Gavan M., Nouwens, Amanda, Hodgson, Wayne C., Wagstaff, Simon C., Cheney, Karen L., Vetter, Irina, van der Weerd, Louise, Richardson, Michael K. and Fry, Bryan G. (2017). The evolution of fangs, venom, and mimicry systems in blenny fishes. Current Biology, 27 (8), 1184-1191. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.067
Morgan, M., Heffernan, A., Benhabib, F., Wagner, S., Hewavitharana, A. K., Shaw, P. N. and Cabot, P. J. (2017). The efficacy of Dynorphin fragments at the κ, μ and δ opioid receptor in transfected HEK cells and in an animal model of unilateral peripheral inflammation. Peptides, 89, 9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.12.019
Fazalul Rahiman, Siti Sarah, Morgan, Michael, Gray, Paul, Shaw, Paul Nicholas and Cabot, Peter John (2016). Dynorphin 1-17 and Its N-Terminal Biotransformation Fragments Modulate Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Nuclear Factor-kappa B Nuclear Translocation, Interleukin-1beta and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Differentiated THP-1 Cells. PLoS One, 11 (4) e0153005, e0153005.1-e0153005.18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153005
Shariff, Masroor, Quik, Maryka, Holgate, Joan, Morgan, Michael, Patkar, Omkar L., Tam, Vincent, Belmer, Arnauld and Bartlett, Selena E. (2016). Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators reduce sugar intake. PLoS One, 11 (3) e0150270, 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150270
Woodruff, Trent M., Wu, Mike C.-L., Morgan, Michael, Bain, Nathan T., Jeanes, Angela, Lipman, Jeffrey, Ting, Michael J., Boyd, Andrew W., Taylor, Stephen M. and Coulthard, Mark G. (2016). EPHA4-FC treatment reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced intestinal injury by inhibiting vascular permeability. Shock, 45 (2), 184-191. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000000494
Patkar, Omkar L., Belmer, Arnauld, Holgate, Joan Y., Tarren, Josephine R., Shariff, Masroor R., Morgan, Michael, Fogarty, Matthew J., Bellingham, Mark C., Bartlett, Selena E. and Klenowski, Paul M. (2016). The antihypertensive drug pindolol attenuates long-term but not short-term binge-like ethanol consumption in mice. Addiction Biology, 22 (3), 679-691. doi: 10.1111/adb.12359
Klenowski, Paul, Morgan, Michael and Bartlett, Selena E. (2015). The role of δ-opioid receptors in learning and memory underlying the development of addiction. British Journal of Pharmacology, 172 (2), 297-310. doi: 10.1111/bph.12618
Asvadi, Naghmeh Hajarol, Morgan, Michael, Herath, Herath M., Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Shaw, P. Nicholas and Cabot, Peter J. (2014). Beta-Endorphin 1-31 Biotransformation and cAMP Modulation in Inflammation. PLoS One, 9 (3) e90380, e90380.1-e90380.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090380
Asvadi, Naghmeh H., Morgan, Michael, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Shaw, P. Nicholas and Cabot, Peter J. (2014). Biotransformation of beta-endorphin and possible therapeutic implications. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 5 (Article 18) Article 18, 18. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00018
Morgan, M., Herath, H. M. D. R., Cabot, P. J., Shaw, P. N. and Hewavitharana, A. K. (2012). Dynorphin A 1–17 biotransformation in inflamed tissue, serum and trypsin solution analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 404 (10), 3111-3121. doi: 10.1007/s00216-012-6406-8
Coulthard, Mark G., Morgan, Michael, Woodruff, Trent M., Arumugam, Thiruma V., Taylor, Stephen M., Carpenter, Todd C., Martin Lackmann, and Boyd, Andrew W. (2012). Eph/Ephrin signaling in injury and inflammation. American Journal of Pathology, 181 (5), 1493-1503. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.06.043
Kotiw, Michael, Morgan, Michael, Taylor, Stephen M. and Shiels, Ian A. (2009). Detection of anti-TNFα activity in canine hyperimmune serum using a TNFα inhibition assay. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 39 (1), 46-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-165X.2009.00166.x
Morgan, Michael, Bulmer, Andrew C., Woodruff, Trent M., Proctor, Lavinia M., Williams, Hua M., Stocks, Shelli Z., Pollitt, Sandra, Taylor, Stephen M. and Shiels, Ian A (2008). Pharmacokinetics of a C5a receptor antagonist in the rat after different sites of enteral administration. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 33 (4-5), 390-398. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2008.01.009
Michael Morgan, Taylor, Stephen M. and Shiels, I (2007). A C5a receptor antagonist provides greater protection than an NSAID in a skin pouch model of sodium urate induced inflammation. Molecular Immunology, 44 (1-3), 217-217. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2006.07.164
Conference Papers
Rahiman, Fazalul S. S., Morgan, M., Gray, P., Shaw, P. and Cabot, P. (2016). Peripheral kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) stimulation exerts anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. ICI 2016 International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
Patkar, O., Klenowski, P., Tarren, J., Holgate, J., Shariff, M., Morgan, M., Molenaar, P. and Bartlett, S. (2015). Pindolol, an FDA approved antihypertensive drug, decreases ethanol consumption in mice following long but not short-term exposure. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, Australia, Aug 23-27, 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Shariff, M., Klenowski, P., Morgan, M., Holgate, J., Belmer, A., Patkar, O. and Bartlett, S. (2015). A novel treatment approach for obesity and over-weight - targeting brain nicotinic receptors with Champix. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, Australia, Aug 23-27, 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Morgan, Michael, Holgate, Jan, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Shaw, Nick, Cabot, Peter and Bartlett, Selena E. (2013). The biotransformation of beta-endorphin in the rat brain after a single sedating dose of ethanol. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 24-27 November 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/dar.12077
Asvadi, Naghmeh Hajarol, Morgan, Michael, Hewavitharana, Amitha, Shaw, P. Nicholas and Cabot, Peter J. (2013). Biotransformation within inflamed tissue of beta-endorphin 1-31 and three major N-terminal fragments; beta-endorphin 1-17, beta-endorphin 1-13, and beta-endorphin 1-11. HPLC 2013: 40th International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 18-21 November, 2013. Royal Australian Chemical Institute (raci).
Morgan, Michael (2012). The efficacy of κ-opioid The efficacy of κ-opioid receptor agonists in pain and inflammation. Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association Conference, Sydney, Australia, 2-5 December 2012.
Thesis
Michael Morgan (2010). Preclinical Drug Development: The properties of the gastrointestinal tract that affect drug absorption and the pharmacology of gout. PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland.