Michael Findlay completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Otago.  He was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1990 after training in Wellington and Sydney. His post-Fellowship research in the treatment of gastro-intestinal cancers at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London resulted in the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1995. After appointments at Sydney Cancer Centre and Wellington Cancer Centre between 1994 and 2002, he was appointed as the foundation Professor in Oncology at the University of Auckland. With his appointment he established Cancer Trials New Zealand, a clinical trials coordinating centre engaged in the design and conduct of clinical and translational trials in a wide range of cancer types – trials that are considered to be of particular significance to New Zealanders. Other current activities related to cancer and cancer research include: board director and deputy–chairman of the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group and its Scientific Advisory Committee; member of the Genesis Oncology Trust Scientific Evaluation Committee, board member of the Auckland Division of the New Zealand Cancer Society; and member of the National Ethics Advisory Committee. Michael is an advocate of research-driven cancer care.

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract - stomach, liver, pancreas, bowel and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), Cancers of the breast, brain and melanoma, Translational cancer research (laboratory to clinic), Design and conduct of clinical trials, Health service delivery in cancer