MF

Matthew Fisher

Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh

Research areas: Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics · Amphibian and Reptile Biology · Fungal Infections and Studies · Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

ORCID iD 0000-0002-1862-6402
Follow

About

Prof Matthew Fisher is a biologist with a focus on the biodiversity and evolutionary ecology of pathogenic fungi. He heads the Fungal Pathogens Research Group in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and leads the Fungal Pathogens theme in the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis. His research uses evolutionary genomics, molecular taxonomy, field ecology and experimentation to investigate the biological and environmental factors that are driving emerging fungal diseases across managed and natural ecosystems. His lab works across scales ranging from single-hosts through to whole-earth studies; he has maintained a continual presence at ecological study sites for over 15 years where he studies the impact of environmental change on host/pathogen dynamics and and uses fieldwork sites across Africa, Madagascar, Europe and Asia. His research investigates complex cross-Kingdom interactions using big-data approaches and draws on world-wide collaborations and datasets that he has nurtured over 20 years of ecological research. His ultimate research goal is focused on developing novel genomic, epidemiological and experimental methods to understand the complex interactions leading to upswings of new fungal infections in new places and their ensuing impact on ecosystem health. Professor Fishers laboratory is supported by a diverse array of funders including the Wellcome Trust, NERC, BBSRC, MRC, the Leverhulme Trust and BioDiversa.

Employment

Education

Projects & Funding

  • Understanding and mitigating the impact of emerging antifungal resistance Wellcome Trust
    2020 - 2024
  • Understanding links between microbial communities and emerging fungal pathogens in complex ecosystem Natural Environment Research Council
    2018 - 2021
  • The evolutionary dynamics of multiazole resistance in pathogenic Aspergillus fungi Natural Environment Research Council
    2016 - 2019
  • The spatial epidemiology and molecular evolution of panzootic amphibian chytridiomycosis Natural Environment Research Council
    2013 - 2017
  • An evolutionary population genomics approach to determine the genetic basis of virulence in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans Medical Research Council
    2012 - 2015
  • Quantifying the population-level cost of amphibian chytridiomycosis in a changing montane ecosystem Natural Environment Research Council
    2010 - 2014
  • RACE: Risk Assessment of Chytridiomycosis to European amphibian biodiversity Natural Environment Research Council
    2009 - 2013
  • Comparative and functional genomic analysis of pathogenicity in Penicillium marneffei. Wellcome Trust
    2009 - 2012
  • Relationship between environmental, ecological and genetic drivers of emergence in amphibian chytridiomycosis. Natural Environment Research Council
    2007 - 2010
  • Relationship between environmental, ecological and genetic drivers of emergence in amphibian chytridiomycosis. Natural Environment Research Council
    2007 - 2011
  • The Xenopus tropicalis response to infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
    2007 - 2008
  • The population genetics and biology of emerging opportunistic pathogens. Wellcome Trust
    2003 - 2005
  • The population genetics and biology of emerging opportunistic pathogens. Wellcome Trust
    2002 - 2005

Publications (225)