Newcastle University

Introduction

I am a Principal Investigator in the Fibrosis and Repair Group, a major research group in the Institute of Cellular Medicine. The work of the group covers basic, translational and clinical studies into the aetiology, mechanisms, prognosis and therapeutics of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases across a range of organs. Major research themes within my own group include COPD, Pulmonary fibrosis, Lung infections, Cystic Fibrosis and graft injury after lung transplantation.

Roles and Responsibilities

Honorary Consultant Chest and Transplant Physician, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 

Academic Director, Institute of Transplantation, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Chair of the European Respiratory Society Lung Transplantation Group   Sept 2010- Sept 2013
Chair of the British Thoracic Society Science and Research Committee     Dec 2009- Dec 2012

Qualifications

BMedSci First Class
BMBS

FRCP
FRCP (Edinburgh)
PhD

Memberships

British Thoracic Society
European Thoracic Society
International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation 

Honours and Awards

MRC Clinical Training Fellow 1996-1999
GSK Clinical Fellow 2005-2010

Research Interests

Acute Lung injury
Pulmonary Innate Immunity
COPD
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
Airway remodelling in chronic lung disease
Pulmonary Hypertension
Lung Transplantation

Other Expertise

Honorary Consultant Chest Physician
Northern Pulmonary Vascular Unit
Institute of Transplantation, Freeman Hospital

Postgraduate Supervision

4 PhD students, 2 Masters students
1 Academic Foundation Doctor

Esteem Indicators

Associate Editor Thorax
Editor ERS Monograph on Lung Transplantation

Funding

MRC Project Grant (PI)
CF Trust Research Grant (PI)
MRC Poject Grant (Co-I)
MRC Clinical Training Fellowship (Co-supervisor)
Marie Curie Fellowship (Lead supervisor)
MRC studentship (Lead supervisor)
GlaxoSmith Kline Fellowship (PI)

Projects

• CRAFT – GSK Creative Advances in Fibrosis Therapuetics
  Project Leader(s): Professor Derek Mann, Professor Andrew Fisher, Professor Neil Sheerin, Dr Fiona Oakley, Dr Stuart Kendrick
  This project is sponsored by Glaxo Smith Kline
• Mechanisms of Tissue Injury and Repair in COPD
  Project Leader(s): Professor Andrew Fisher.
  This reseach is funded by the Medical Research Council.

Undergraduate Clinical Teaching of Medical Students 

Lectures on Certificate in Clinical Transplantation

Lectures on Cerificate in Clinical Research 

Guest Lecture MRes Transplantation Module 

• Gorowiec MR, Borthwick LA, Parker SM, Kirby JA, Saretzki GC, Fisher AJ. Free radical generation induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in lung epithelium via a TGF-beta 1-dependent mechanism. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 2012, 52(6), 1024-1032.
• Borthwick LA, Botha P, Verdon B, Brodlie MJ, Gardner A, Bourn D, Johnson GE, Gray MA, Fisher AJ. Is CFTR-delF508 Really Absent from the Apical Membrane of the Airway Epithelium?. PLoS One 2011, 6(8).
• Borthwick LA, Sunny SS, Oliphant V, Perry J, Brodlie M, Johnson GE, Ward C, Gould K, Corris PA, De Soyza A, Fisher AJ. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accentuates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the airway. European Respiratory Journal 2011, 37(5), 1237-1247.
• Fisher AJ. Azithromycin and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation: is prevention better than cure?. European Respiratory Journal 2011, 37(1), 10-12.
• Church C, Bayes HK, Fisher AJ, BTS Sci Res Comm. A review of the British Thoracic Society scientific meeting 1-3 December 2010. Thorax 2011, 66(3), 253-258.
• Verleden GM, Fisher AJ. Lung Transplantation and Lung Cancer: Is There a Link?. Respiration 2011, 81(6), 441-445.
• Savelev S, Perry J, Bourke S, Taylor R, Fisher A, Corris P, Jary H, Petrie M, De Soyza A. Volatile biomarkers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis and non cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Letters in Applied Microbiology 2011, 52(6), 610-613.
• Rostron AJ, Cork DMW, Avlonitis VS, Fisher AJ, Dark JH, Kirby JA. Contribution of Toll-Like Receptor Activation to Lung Damage After Donor Brain Death. Transplantation 2010, 90(7), 732-739.
• Brodlie M, McKean MC, Johnson GE, Gray J, Fisher AJ, Corris PA, Lordan JL, Ward C. Ceramide is Increased in the Lower Airway Epithelium of People with Advanced Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2010, 182(3), 369-375.
• Borthwick LA, McIlroy EI, Gorowiec MR, Brodlie M, Johnson GE, Ward C, Lordan JL, Corris PA, Kirby JA, Fisher AJ. Inflammation and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Transplant Recipients: Role in Dysregulated Epithelial Wound Repair. American Journal of Transplantation 2010, 10(3), 498-509.
• Brodlie M, McKean MC, Johnson GE, Perry JD, Nicholson A, Verdon B, Gray MA, Dark JH, Pearson JP, Fisher AJ, Corris PA, Lordan J, Ward C. Primary bronchial epithelial cell culture from explanted cystic fibrosis lungs. Experimental Lung Research 2010, 36(2), 101-110.
• Gardner A, Borthwick L, Fisher A. Lung epithelial wound healing in health and disease. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine 2010, 4(5), 647-660.
• De Soyza A, Meachery G, Hester KLM, Nicholson A, Parry G, Tocewicz K, Pillay T, Clark S, Lordan JL, Schueler S, Fisher AJ, Dark JH, Gould FK, Corris PA. Lung transplantation for patients with cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia cepacia complex infection: A single-center experience. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2010, 29(12), 1395-1404.
• Brodlie M, McKean MC, Johnson GE, Anderson AE, Hilkens CM, Fisher AJ, Corris PA, Lordan JL, Ward C. Raised interleukin-17 is immuno-localised to neutrophils in cystic fibrosis lung disease. European Respiratory Journal 2010, 37(6), 1378-1385.
• Ward C, Eger K, Diboll J, Jones D, Haniffa MA, Fisher A, Brodlie M, Lordan JL, Corris PA, Hilkens CM. Bronchial epithelial cells cultured from clinically stable lung allograft patients promote the development of macrophages from monocytes rather than dendritic cells. Thorax 2009, 64, 430-435.
• Borthwick LA, Parker SM, Brougham KA, Johnson GE, Gorowiec MR, Ward C, Lordan JL, Corris PA, Kirby JA, Fisher AJ. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and airway remodelling after human lung transplantation. Thorax 2009, 64(9), 770-777.
• Parker SM, Goriwiec MR, Borthwick LA, Johnson G, Ward C, Lordan JL, Corris PA, Saretzki GC, Fisher AJ. Airway epithelial cell senescence in the lung allograft. American Journal of Transplantation 2008, 8(7), 1544-1549.
• Murphy DM, Forrest IA, Corris PA, Johnson GE, Small T, Jones D, Fisher AJ, Egan JJ, Cawston TE, Lordan JL, Ward C. Azithromycin attenuates effects of lipopolysaccharide on lung allograft bronchial epithelial cells. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2008, 27(11), 1210-6.
• Anderson RL, Hiemstra PS, Ward C, Forrest IA, Murphy D, Proud D, Lordan J, Corris PA, Fisher AJ. Antimicrobial Peptides in Lung Transplant Recipients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. European Respiratory Journal 2008, 32(3), 670-677.
• Botha P, Archer L, Anderson RL, Lordan JL, Dark JH, Corris PA, Gould KA, Fisher AJ. Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization of the allograft after lung transplantation and the risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Transplantation 2008, 85(5), 771-774.
• Meachery G, De Soyza A, Nicholson A, Parry G, Hasan A, Tocewicz K, Pillay T, Clark S, Lordan JL, Schueler S, Fisher AJ, Dark JH, Gould FK, Corris PA. Outcomes of lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis in a large UK cohort. Thorax 2008, 63(8), 725-731.
• Mackay LS, Anderson RL, Parry G, Lordan J, Corris PA, Fisher AJ. Pulmonary fibrosis: Rate of disease progression as a trigger for referral for lung transplantation. Thorax 2007, 62(12), 1069-1073.
• Fisher AJ. Selecting Patients Suitable for Lung Transplantation: the art of balancing risks. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine 2007, 1(3), 299-301.
• Fisher AJ. Clinical trials of immunosuppression in lung transplantation: A coming of age. Transplantation 2006, 81(7), 980-981.
• Botha P, Fisher AJ, Dark JH. Marginal lung donors: A diminishing margin of safety?. Transplantation 2006, 82(10), 1273-1279.
• Murphy DM, Ward C, Forrest IA, Pritchard G, Jones D, Stovold R, Fisher AJ, Cawston TE, Lordan JL, Corris PA. The phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor cilomilast decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine production from primary bronchial epithelial cells in lung transplantation patients. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2006, 25(12), 1436-1440.
• Ward C, De Soyza A, Fisher AJ, Pritchard G, Forrest I, Corris P. A descriptive study of small airway reticular basement membrane thickening in clinically stable lung transplant recipients. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2005, 24(5), 533-537.
• Yates B, Murphy DM, Forrest IA, Ward C, Rutherford RM, Fisher AJ, Lordan JL, Dark JH, Corris PA. Azithromycin reverses airflow obstruction in established bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2005, 172(6), 772-775.
• Fisher AJ, Rutherford RM, Bozzino J, Parry G, Dark JH, Corris PA. The safety and efficacy of total lymphoid irradiation in progressive bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation 2005, 5(3), 537-543.
• Fisher AJ, Donnelly SC, Pritchard G, Dark JH, Corris PA. Objective assessment of criteria for selection of donor lungs suitable for transplantation. Thorax 2004, 59(5), 434-437.
• Fisher AJ, Donnelly SC, Hirani N, Burdick MD, Strieter RM, Dark JH, Corris PA. Enhanced pulmonary inflammation in organ donors following fatal non-traumatic brain injury. Lancet 1999, 353(9162), 1412-1413.
• Fisher AJ, Gabbay E, Small T, Doig S, Dark JH, Corris PA. Cross sectional study of exhaled nitric oxide levels following lung transplantation. THORAX 1998, 53(6), 454-458.
• Gabbay E, Fisher AJ, Small T, Leonard AJ, Corris PA. Exhaled single-breath nitric oxide measurements are reproducible, repeatable and reflect levels of nitric oxide found in the lower airways. EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL 1998, 11(2), 467-472.
• Fisher AJ, Dark JH, Corris PA. Improving donor lung evaluation: a new approach to increase organ supply for lung transplantation. THORAX 1998, 53(10), 818-820.
• Rutherford RM, Fisher AJ, Hilton C, Forty J, Hasan A, Gould FK, Dark JH, Corris PA. Functional status and quality of life in patients surviving 10 years after lung transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation 2005, 5(5), 1099-1104.
• Arcasoy SM, Fisher A, Hachem RR, Scavuzzo M, Ware LB. Report of the ISHLT Working Group on Primary Lung Graft Dysfunction part V: Predictors and outcomes. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2005, 24(10), 1483-1488.
• Fisher AJ, Donnelly SC, Pritchard G, Dark JH, Corris PA. Objective evaluation of selection criteria to assess donor lung suitability show poor discrimination of infection or inflammation. Thorax 2004, 59(5), 434-438.
• Ward C, De Soyza A, Fisher AJ, Pritchard G, Forrest IA, Corris PA. Reticular basement membrane thickening in airways of lung transplant recipients is not affected by inhaled corticosteroids. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2004, 34(12), 1905-1909.
• Avlonitis VS, Fisher AJ, Kirby JA, Dark JH. Pulmonary transplantation: The role of brain death in donor lung injury. Transplantation 2003, 75(12), 1928-1933.
• Fisher AJ, Wardle J, Dark JH, Corris PA. Non-immune acute graft injury after lung transplantation and the risk of subsequent bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2002, 21(11), 1206-1212.
• Fisher AJ, Donnelly SC, Hirani N, Haslett C, Strieter RM, Dark JH, Corris PA. Elevated levels of interleukin-8 in donor lungs is associated with early graft failure after lung transplantation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2001, 163(1), 259-265.
• De Soyza A, Fisher AJ, Small T, Corris PA. Inhaled corticosteroids and the treatment of lymphocytic bronchiolitis following lung transplantation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2001, 164(7), 1209-1212.
• A. J. Fisher, J. H. Dark and P. A. Corris. Improving donor lung evaluation: a new approach to increase organ supply for lung transplantation. Thorax 1998, 53, 818-820.
• A. J. Fisher, E. Gabbay, T. Small, S. Doig, J. H. Dark and P. A. Corris. Cross sectional study of exhaled nitric oxide levels following lung transplantation. Thorax 1998, 53, 454-458.
• E. Gabbay, A. J. Fisher, T. Small, A. J. Leonard and P. A. Corris. Exhaled single-breath nitric oxide measurements are reproducible, repeatable and reflect levels of nitric oxide found in the lower airways. European Respiratory Journal 1998, 11, 467-472.
• Corris PA, Small T, Ryan VA, Lordan J, Fisher AJ, Meachery G, Johnson G, Ward C. A Randomised Controlled Trial of Azithromycin Therapy in Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) Post Lung Transplantation. In: 32nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2012, Prague, Czech Republic: Elsevier Inc.
• Mahida RY, Wiscombe S, Fisher AJ. Current status of lung transplantation. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2012, 9(2), 131-145.
• Majo J, Mahida R, Thampy N, Black F, Meachery G, Lordan JL, Corris PA, Fisher AJ. Prospective Evaluation of Alveolar and Bronchiolar C4d Expression in Transbronchial Biopsies from Lung Transplanted Recipients. In: 32nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2012, Prague, Czech Republic: Elsevier Inc.
• Mydin HH, Fisher AJ. Pulmonary hypertension and lung transplantation: Thorax publication activity review 2008-2010. Thorax 2012, 67(9), 828-831.
• Dark JH, Karamanou D, Clark S, Mahesh P, Watson B, Corris PA, Fisher AJ. Successful Transplantation of Unusable Donor Lungs Using Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion: The Newcastle Experience. In: 32nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2012, Prague, Czech Republic: Elsevier Inc.
• Haja Mydin H, Corris PA, Nicholson A, Perry JD, Meachery G, Marrs EC, Peart S, Fagan C, Lordan JL, Fisher AJ, Gould FK. Targeted Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Lung Transplantation in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Colonised with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using Multiple Combination Bactericidal Testing. Journal of Transplantation 2012, 2012, 135738.
• Gardner A, Fisher AJ, Richter C, Johnson GE, Moisey EJ, Brodlie M, Ward C, Krippner-Heidenreich A, Mann DA, Borthwick LA. The Critical Role of TAK1 in Accentuated Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Obliterative Bronchiolitis after Lung Transplantation. American Journal of Pathology 2012, 180(6), 2293-2308.
• Fisher A. The role of pulmonary innate immunity after lung transplantation. In: Innovations in Lung Transplantation. 2005, University of Pavia, Italy.
• Borthwick LA, Wynn TA, Fisher AJ. Cytokine mediated tissue fibrosis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Mackay LS, Dodd S, Dougall IG, Tomlinson W, Lordan J, Fisher AJ, Corris PA. Isolation and characterisation of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells from patients with severe emphysema. Respiratory Research 2013, 14, 23.
• Bayes HK, Church AC, Fisher AJ, BTS Sci Res Comm. Review of the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2012, 5 to 7 December, London, UK. Thorax 2013, 68(3), 277-282.
• Borthwick LA, Corris PA, Mahida R, Walker A, Gardner A, Suwara M, Johnson GE, Moisey EJ, Brodlie M, Ward C, Perry JD, de Soyza A, Mann DA, Fisher AJ. TNFα From Classically Activated Macrophages Accentuates Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Obliterative Bronchiolitis. American Journal of Transplantation 2013, 13(3), 621-633.
• Ling Y, Johnson MK, Kiely DG, Condliffe R, Elliot CA, Gibbs JS, Howard LS, Pepke-Zaba J, Sheares KK, Corris PA, Fisher AJ, Lordan JL, Gaine S, Coghlan JG, Wort SJ, Gatzoulis MA, Peacock AJ. Changing demographics, epidemiology, and survival of incident pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from the pulmonary hypertension registry of the United Kingdom and Ireland. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2012, 186(8), 790-796.
• Suwara MI, Borthwick LA, Mahida R, Green NJ, Mayer-Barber K, Gardner A, Mann J, Wynn TA, Corris PA, Farrow SN, Mann DA, Fisher AJ. Interleukin-1 Alpha (IL-1α) Released from Injured Lung Epithelium is a Critical Alarmin Driving Activation of a Potent Inflammatory Phenotype in Lung Fibroblasts. In: Winter Meeting of the British Thoracic Society. 2012, London: BMJ Group.
• Green NJ, Suwara MI, Borthwick LA, Mann DA, Fisher AJ. Interleukin-33 in Chronic Lung Disease. In: Winter Meeting of the British Thoracic Society. 2012, London: BMJ Group.
• Borthwick LA, Gardner A, De Soyza A, Mann DA, Fisher AJ. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) Driven Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is Accentuated by Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) via Crosstalk Between the SMAD and NF-κB Pathways. Cancer Microenvironment 2012, 5(1), 45-57.