Mike graduated from the University of Sheffield, UK, in 1989 with a first class honours in Biochemistry and in 1994 with a PhD in bone pharmacology. After postdoctoral studies in Sheffield he moved to the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1997 he was appointed Professor of Musculoskeletal Pharmacology and from 2005-2010 he led the Musculoskeletal Research Programme, recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the European League Against Rheumatism. Mike relocated to the Garvan Institute in Sydney 2012 to establish and lead the Bone Therapeutics Group within the Healthy Ageing Theme.

Mike's ground-breaking research elucidated the mechanisms of action of bisphosphonates, a blockbuster class of anti-resorptive drug used worldwide and the gold standard treatment for osteoporosis, bone metastases, childhood bone disorders and other skeletal diseases. His work identified two classes of bisphosphonate drug with distinct mechanisms of action and transformed understanding of bisphosphonate pharmacology. These findings provided an explanation for the adverse effects of bisphosphonates and offer new insights into the possible mechanisms underlying pleiotropic effects of bisphosphonates on tumour growth and mortality. His research continues to focus on the anti-cancer and immune-modulatory actions of bisphosphonates, as well as autoinflammatory disorders that have mechanistic similarities to the actions of bisphosphonate drugs. He has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry, served on various Editorial Boards including Bone and Journal of Endocrinology, numerous grant and fellowship committees, the Board of Directors of the International Bone & Mineral Society and the committee of the UK Bone Research Society. He has published more than 90 papers and 38 reviews and book chapters, with >15,000 citations.