Meet Dr. Mike Davis
MEET DR. MIKE DAVIS
We are excited to introduce Dr. Mike Davis, Ph.D. of the Enduring Hearts Scientific Advisory Committee!
Dr. Davis holds positions as a Professor in both Cardiology and Biomedical Engineering at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. Additionally, he serves as director of the Children’s Heart Research and Outcomes (HeRO) Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology at Emory University in 2003 working on the molecular regulation of eNOS expression by shear stress. From 2003-2006, he completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital working on cardiac tissue engineering with collaborators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He moved back to Emory in 2006 to join the faculty in the Division of Cardiology and Biomedical Engineering Department.
Dr. Davis has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, authored several book chapters on heart tissue engineering, has been continuously funded by the NIH for his entire tenure, and holds leadership positions in several national organizations. He has been elected a fellow of both the American Heart Association and the International Society for Heart Research. His research focus is on adult and pediatric heart failure, stem cells, big data, and tissue engineering.
Q & A WITH
DR. MIKE DAVIS
Q: What made you decide to go into medicine and focusing on specifically pediatric heart transplantation?
A: My grandfather was a doctor and I always felt it was an important thing to do. I realized about a few years into my faculty position that we spend a great deal of time and money trying to cure adult heart disease, but pediatric heart disease is not as well studied. Children are not just tiny adults!
Q: What new emerging technologies are most exciting to you personally/professionally?
A: My lab uses a lot of 3D printing and big data analysis. Things like AI and machine learning are going to be so important in the next decade that we really need to get ahead of the curve and see how it can be used for kids.
Q: What area would you like to see more research investment?
A: It’s nothing that I do, but I think a lot more money needs to go into the psychology of being a CHD family. What effects are prevalent on the patients themselves, their parents, their siblings, etc. We are always looking at new therapies, but there is an emotional and mental toll as well.
Q: On a personal note, What was your favorite toy growing up?
A: I played with a lot of GI Joe figures for sure. I also had a love-hate thing with Simon and honing my memory.
Q: As a child, what were your favorite tv shows or Disney movies?
A: I did not watch a ton of TV, but for some reason, I remember really liking the Wonder Years and Quantum Leap. When I was older, I watched a lot of Seinfeld!
