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Contact Details

Phone
+64 20 4133 5102
Email
michael.garelja@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Research Fellow
Department
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Qualifications
PhD
Research summary
Molecular basis of migraine
Teaching
  • PHAL303, PHAL421, PHAL423, PHAL431
  • Molecular pharmacology of GPCRs
  • Neuroscience
Memberships
  • OMSRS Editorial Board
  • Division of Health Sciences Early and Mid-Career Researchers Group
  • Biomedical Research Facility Users Group

Research

Michael Garelja obtained a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland in 2020. His PhD work focused on the molecular pharmacology of adrenomedullin, a hormone involved in cardiovascular development and maintenance.

In late 2020 Michael moved to the University of Otago, to begin work on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a hormone linked to migraine. Michael has recently completed a First Fellowship, awarded by the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, in which he focused on understanding the distribution of CGRP, its related peptides, and their receptors in the context of migraine.

Working in the lab of his mentor, Professor Debbie Hay, Michael uses a range of techniques to investigate the molecular basis of migraine, including molecular biology, microscopy, and pharmacological signalling assays. These techniques are also applied to research outside of migraine, such as diabetes and the evolution of GPCRs.

Publications

Rees, T. A., Tasma, Z., Garelja, M. L., O'Carroll, S. J., Walker, C. S., & Hay, D. L. (2024). Calcitonin receptor, calcitonin gene-related peptide and amylin distribution in C1/2 dorsal root ganglia. Journal of Headache & Pain, 25, 36. doi: 10.1186/s10194-024-01744-z Journal - Research Article

Mazzini, G., Le Foll, C., Boyle, C. N., Garelja, M. L., Zhyvoloup, A., Miller, M. E. T., Hay, D. L., … Lutz, T. A. (2024). The processing intermediate of human amylin, pro-amylin(1–48) has in vivo and in vitro bioactivity. Biophysical Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107201 Journal - Research Article

Garelja, M. L., Alexander, T. I., Bennie, A., Nimick, M., Petersen, J., Walker, C. S., & Hay, D. L. (2024). Pharmacological characterisation of erenumab, Aimovig, at two calcitonin gene-related peptide responsive receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 181, 142-161. doi: 10.1111/bph.16218 Journal - Research Article

Alexander, T., Garelja, M., & Hay, D. (2023). Differential interaction of β-arrestin with the CGRP and AMY1 receptors. Cephalalgia, 43(1 Suppl.), (pp. 180). doi: 10.1177/03331024231189112 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rees, T., Tasma, Z., Garelja, M., Walker, C., & Hay, D. (2023). The trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia exhibit differences in calcitonin receptor, CGRP, and amylin expression. Cephalalgia, 43(1 Suppl.), (pp. 177). doi: 10.1177/03331024231189112 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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