Professor Michael Sorich

Professor in Clinical Pharmacology

College of Medicine and Public Health

+61 8 82013217

michael.sorich@flinders.edu.au

Health and Medical Research Building

GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

I am a pharmacist, biostatistician, and AI researcher with over 20 years of experience applying data science and artificial intelligence to improve how medicines are used and how healthcare decisions are made.

My research spans three main areas. In precision oncology, I use machine learning and advanced biostatistical methods - often with individual participant data from clinical trials - to predict who will benefit from anti-cancer treatments and who is at risk of serious side effects. I also develop and critically evaluate health applications of generative AI, with a focus on clinical reliability, safety, and oversight. A third strand of my work, led in collaboration with colleagues, investigates extracellular vesicle biomarkers as liquid biopsies to track drug effects on specific organs in real time.

With extensive expertise in clinical data science - including prediction models, generative AI, survival analysis, treatment heterogeneity, clinical trial evaluation, and meta-analysis - I translate complex data into actionable insights using Python and R programming languages. I welcome opportunities for collaboration to advance healthcare through innovative research and education.

Qualifications

PhD
Graduate Diploma in Medical Statistics
Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours (1A)
Bachelor of Pharmacy

Honours, awards and grants

Selected Awards

2019: Principal Cancer Research Fellowship, Beat Cancer Project
2008: South Australian Tall Poppy Award, Australian Institute of Policy and Science
2006: Denis Wade Johnson & Johnson New Investigator Award, Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
2004: CJ Martin Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
2003: New Investigator Award, Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association
2002: Scholarship, Machine Learning Summer School, Australian National University

Selected Research Grants

Electronic Patient REPorted Outcome MeAsures for REmote Symptom Monitoring. CIs: Kichenadasse G, Ostroff C, Corsini N, Sorich M, et al. MRFF Project Grant. (2023 -2027)
Machine learning of randomised controlled trials. Sorich MJ, Kichenadasse G. NHMRC Ideas Grant. (2021-2025)
From Big Data to Precision Medicine. Sorich MJ. Cancer Council SA / Beat Cancer (2020-2026).
ADMExosomes: A new paradigm for tracking variability in drug exposure. Rowland A, Sorich MJ, Makenzie P. NHMRC Project Grant (2019-2021)
Improving the evaluation of new cancer therapies to expedite patient access. Karnon J, Sorich MJ, Ward R, Latimer N, Coory M. Project grant. NHMRC Project Grant (2017-2019)
Dynamic Prediction of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response and Toxicity. Sorich MJ, Gurney H, Kichenadasse G, McKinnon RA, Wiese MD, Rowland A. Cancer Council SA Project Grant (2017-2018)
Optimisation of the safety and efficacy of protein kinase inhibitors using endogenous and dietary biomarkers. Sorich MJ, Rowland A, Wiese M, Miners J, Gurney H. NHMRC Project Grant. (2016-2018)
Personalised medicine markers of anti-EGFR antibody therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. Karapetis, C, Sorich MJ, McKinnon RA, Buyse M. NHMRC Project Grant (2015-2018)
Flinders Centre for Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention. Watson D, Karapetis C, Young G, Wilson C, Fraser R, Reed R, Sorich M, et al. Beat Cancer Hospital Research Package. (2014-2018).

Key responsibilities

Member, NHMRC Grant Review Panel Working Committee
Member, Editorial Board of Translational Lung Cancer Research
Member, Executive Committee, FHMRI Cancer
Topic Coordinator, Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MMED9110), Flinders University
Topic Coordinator, Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice (MMED9111), Flinders University
Member, Master of Nurse Practitioner Course Committee, Flinders University

Topic coordinator

MMED9110 Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice

Topic lecturer

MMED8203 Knowledge of Health and Illness 2

MMED3934 Principles of pharmacology and toxicology

MMED8103 Knowledge of Health and Illness 1A

MMED9110 Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice

PARA3006 Applied Pharmacology

NUTD3102 Nutrients Role & Function

Professional engagement