Howard Mitchell is a Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology at The University of Western Australia. Holding a PhD, he has conducted extensive research on respiratory physiology, focusing on airway smooth muscle dynamics, bronchial narrowing, and responses to mechanical and pharmacological stimuli. His work examines how smooth muscle shortening influences airway resistance, the role of deep inspiration in bronchodilation, and factors contributing to airway hyperresponsiveness in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mitchell has developed and applied methods to measure lumen narrowing, muscle pitch, and flow in isolated bronchial segments from animal models and human tissues, providing insights into the biomechanical properties of airways.

Mitchell's career at The University of Western Australia spans decades, during which he held positions including Professor and Head of the Department of Physiology. He supervised PhD students, such as Peter McFawn, and collaborated with researchers like Malcolm Sparrow, Peter Noble, and Lynette Fernandes on studies involving simulated tidal breathing, cytokine effects on airways, and extracellular matrix changes in obstructed airways. His publication record comprises 109 papers, with over 2,500 citations. Notable publications include 'Airway Smooth Muscle Dynamics and Hyperresponsiveness: In and outside the Clinic' (2012), 'Bronchodilatory response to deep inspiration in bronchial segments: The effects of stress vs. strain' (2013), 'Pharmacological bronchodilation is partially mediated by reduced airway wall stiffness' (2014), 'Airflow obstruction is associated with increased smooth muscle extracellular matrix' (2016), 'Airway wall response to deep inspiration in COPD' (2016), and 'Relationship Between Smooth Muscle Shortening and Resistance in Isolated Airways' (2020). Earlier works feature 'Multiple motor pathways to single smooth muscle cells in the ferret trachea' (1992), 'The relevance of pharmacological dose-response curves' (1989), and 'Quantitation of lumen narrowing by video imaging of bronchial segments in vitro' (1993). These contributions have advanced knowledge of airway function in health and disease.