Personal profile
Biography
I am a former research scientist with a background in molecular biology / virology and have over 25+ years' experience in using small animal models for studies in infectious diseases and cancer research. Between 2008-2024, I have focused on cancer immunology and immunotherapy. My main area of research was centred on the use of pre‑clinical mouse models of mesothelioma (transplantable and transgenic), to better understand; a) how host genetics affect mesothelioma development after asbestos exposure; b) assess the carcinogenic potential of different asbestos and asbestiform fibres; c) assess the impact of voluntary exercise as an adjunctive strategy to improve the efficacy and tolerability of anti-cancer treatment for mesothelioma and d) understanding the host-cancer immune response to better develop and use novel immunotherapies with the aim of improving current treatment options for mesothelioma and other solid malignancies. As of August 2025, I no longer work at UWA as I am now the Manager of Research Ethics and Governance at the Child and Adolescent Health Service (PCH, QEII).
Previous positions
2025-2025: Commercial Development Partner. UWA Office of Industry and Commercial Development.
2024-2025: Manager Research Infrastrcuture and Patnerships, UWA Office of Research.
2008-2024: Research Scientist. Tumour Immunology Group/National Centre for Asbestos Relasted Diseases (NCARD) UWA School of Biomedical Sciences. Perth, Western Australia.
May 2006-May 2008: PostDoc. Laboratory of Vaccine Research. Beckman Research Institute/City of Hope National Medical Centre. Duarte CA USA.
Nov 2004-May 2006: PostDoc University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA). School of Microbiology and Immunology.
Research
Molecular biology
Mesothelioma
Research expertise keywords
- Abestos
- Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma, genetics of
- Immunology—T cell
- Immunotherapy
- Cancer immunology
- Tumour immunology
- Tumour immunotherapy
- Viral vectors
- Molecular and cellular biology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Co-targeting of VEGFR2 and PD-L1 promotes survival and vasculature normalization in pleural mesothelioma
Rovers, S., Van Audenaerde, J., Verloy, R., De Waele, J., Brants, L., Hermans, C., Lau, H. W., Merlin, C., Möller Ribas, M., Ponsaerts, P., Van Laere, S., Lardon, F., Wouters, A., Fisher, S. A., van Meerbeeck, J., Marcq, E. & Smits, E., 2025, In: OncoImmunology. 14, 1, 15 p., 2512104.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Anti-metabolite chemotherapy increases LAG-3 expressing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes which can be targeted by combination immune checkpoint blockade
Principe, N., Phung, A. L., Stevens, K. L. P., Elaskalani, O., Wylie, B., Tilsed, C. M., Sheikh, F., Orozco Morales, M. L., Kidman, J., Marcq, E., Fisher, S. A., Nowak, A. K., McDonnell, A. M., Lesterhuis, W. J. & Chee, J., 28 Sept 2024, In: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer. 12, 9, 15 p., e008568.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)70 Downloads (Pure) -
Mesothelioma survival prediction based on a six-gene transcriptomic signature
Behrouzfar, K., Mutsaers, S. E., Chin, W. L., Patrick, K., Ng, I. T., Pixley, F. J., Morahan, G., Lake, R. A. & Fisher, S. A., 18 Oct 2024, In: Iscience. 27, 10, 23 p., 111011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The MexTAg collaborative cross: host genetics affects asbestos related disease latency, but has little influence once tumours develop
Fisher, S. A., Patrick, K., Hoang, T., Marcq, E., Behrouzfar, K., Young, S., Miller, T. J., Robinson, B. W. S., Bueno, R., Nowak, A. K., Lesterhuis, W. J., Morahan, G. & Lake, R. A., 17 Apr 2024, In: Frontiers in Toxicology. 6, 19 p., 1373003.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Tretinoin improves the anti-cancer response to cyclophosphamide, in a model-selective manner
Tilsed, C. M., Morales, M. L. O., Zemek, R. M., Gordon, B. A., Piggott, M. J., Nowak, A. K., Fisher, S. A., Lake, R. A. & Lesterhuis, W. J., 13 Feb 2024, In: BMC Cancer. 24, 1, 11 p., 203.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Datasets
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Tretinoin improves the anti-cancer response to cyclophosphamide, in a model-selective manner
Tilsed, C. M. (Contributor), Morales, M. L. O. (Contributor), Zemek, R. M. (Contributor), Gordon, B. A. (Contributor), Piggott, M. J. (Contributor), Nowak, A. K. (Contributor), Fisher, S. A. (Contributor), Lake, R. A. (Contributor) & Lesterhuis, W. J. (Contributor), Figshare, 14 Feb 2024
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7073211
Dataset
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Mesothelioma survival prediction based on a six-gene transcriptomic signature
Fisher, S. (Contributor) & Behrouzfar, K. (Creator), Mendeley Data, 5 Sept 2024
DOI: 10.17632/84kjtptmd8.1, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/84kjtptmd8
Dataset
Projects
- 12 Finished
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Circular RNAs - Novel Biomarkers Detectable in Blood Plasma to Facilitate Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Fisher, S. (Investigator 01)
Department of War (United States)
2/01/23 → 2/02/26
Project: Research
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How genetic background influences the development of mesothelioma (in asbestos exposed populations)
Fisher, S. (Investigator 01), Morahan, G. (Investigator 02) & Lake, R. (Investigator 03)
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
1/01/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
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The MexTAg Collaborative Cross: understanding genetic modifiers in mesothelioma
Lake, R. (Investigator 01), Fisher, S. (Investigator 02), Morahan, G. (Investigator 03), Ram, R. (Investigator 04), Lesterhuis, W. (Investigator 05) & Nowak, A. (Investigator 06)
Department of War (United States)
1/05/18 → 31/01/22
Project: Research
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Analysis of T cell receptor diversity in animal models of mesothelioma
Lake, R. (Investigator 01), Chee, J. (Investigator 02), Lesterhuis, W. (Investigator 03), Robinson, B. (Investigator 04), Fisher, S. (Investigator 05), Watson, M. (Investigator 06), Chopra, A. (Investigator 07) & Holt, R. (Investigator 08)
1/04/18 → 30/09/21
Project: Research
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The MexTAg Collaborative Cross
Lake, R. (Investigator 01), Fisher, S. (Investigator 02), Morahan, G. (Investigator 03), Lesterhuis, W. (Investigator 04), Nowak, A. (Investigator 05) & Ram, R. (Investigator 06)
1/02/18 → 30/06/20
Project: Research