معرفی
Professor Mark Fisher is Professor of Molecular Biology and a Principal Investigator at St George's, University of London. He has made significant contributions to the field of DNA topoisomerases, with research spanning molecular biology, structural biology, and drug discovery. His work has been instrumental in understanding the mechanisms of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, particularly in relation to antibacterial and anticancer drug action.
Professor Fisher earned his Chemistry degree from University College, Oxford (1970-74) and completed his PhD in mechanistic enzymology at Harvard University (1974-78) under Jeremy Knowles FRS. His postdoctoral work at the National Institutes of Health with Marty Gellert led to key discoveries about DNA gyrase mechanisms. He joined St George's in 1983 as a Lecturer in Biochemistry, becoming Reader in 1993 and Professor of Molecular Biology in 1996.
His research focuses on DNA topoisomerases as ATP-driven molecular machines, their biological functions, and their role as targets for therapeutics. He has co-discovered the human topoisomerase IIbeta isoform, cloned and characterized various topoisomerases from pathogens, and made significant contributions to understanding fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms. His work has directly contributed to FDA approvals of certain antibiotics.
Professor Fisher has held significant administrative roles including Deputy Principal (2017-2018), Dean of Research (2015-18), and Joint Foundation Director of the Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute (2013-16). He has organized numerous international conferences on DNA topoisomerases and serves on editorial boards for several journals.
His research has been supported by major grants from MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, and pharmaceutical companies. He collaborates extensively with researchers across the UK, Europe, and the United States.
Professor Fisher contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at St George's, supervising 16 PhD students to completion. Several of his former postdoctoral fellows have become professors, and others have held senior positions in pharmaceutical companies.
