Associate Professor Fiona Simpson
Associate Professor

Fiona Simpson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 36930

Background

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY AUTHORSHIP ALTERATIONS LISTING ME AS SIMPSON-FRASER BELOW ARE INCORRECT. ALL PUBLICATIONS ARE FIONA SIMPSON. MY PROFESSIONAL NAME IS FIONA SIMPSON.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/the-tricky-business-of-cancer-research/9498246

Our laboratory is involved in cross-discipline research studying endocytosis, cancer, pharmacology and immunology to improve therapies used in cancer treatment.

Availability

Associate Professor Fiona Simpson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Clinical sciences Genetics

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Biochemistry, University of Edinburgh

Research interests

  • Changing the timing of anti-tumour therapy

    We are interested in slowing down or speeding up the delivery of drugs into tumour cells to maximise their anti-tumour activity and improve outcomes for cancer patients while reducing side-effects.

Search Professor Fiona Simpson’s works on UQ eSpace

84 works between 1993 and 2024
All (84) Journal Article (65) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (17)

1 - 20 of 84 works

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Scientifically based combination therapies with immuno‐oncology checkpoint inhibitors

Chew, Hui Yi, Dolcetti, Riccardo and Simpson, Fiona (2020). Scientifically based combination therapies with immuno‐oncology checkpoint inhibitors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 86 (9) bcp.14338, 1711-1725. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14338

Scientifically based combination therapies with immuno‐oncology checkpoint inhibitors

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Endocytosis Inhibition in Humans to Improve Responses to ADCC-Mediating Antibodies

Chew, Hui Yi, De Lima, Priscila O., Gonzalez Cruz, Jazmina L., Banushi, Blerida, Echejoh, Godwins, Hu, Lingbo, Joseph, Shannon R., Lum, Benedict, Rae, James, O'Donnell, Jake S., Merida de Long, Lilia, Okano, Satomi, King, Brigid, Barry, Rachael, Moi, Davide, Mazzieri, Roberta, Thomas, Ranjeny, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Foote, Matthew, McCluskey, Adam, Robinson, Phillip J., Frazer, Ian H., Saunders, Nicholas A., Parton, Robert G., Dolcetti, Riccardo, Cuff, Katharine, Martin, Jennifer H., Panizza, Benedict, Walpole, Euan ... Simpson, Fiona (2020). Endocytosis Inhibition in Humans to Improve Responses to ADCC-Mediating Antibodies. Cell, 180 (5), 895-914.e27. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.019

Endocytosis Inhibition in Humans to Improve Responses to ADCC-Mediating Antibodies

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor’s Function in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Role as a Therapeutic Target in the Age of Immunotherapies

de Lima, Priscila Oliveira, Joseph, Shannon, Panizza, Benedict and Simpson, Fiona (2020). Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor’s Function in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Role as a Therapeutic Target in the Age of Immunotherapies. Current Treatment Options in Oncology, 21 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1007/s11864-019-0697-3

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor’s Function in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Role as a Therapeutic Target in the Age of Immunotherapies

Featured

2018

Journal Article

An ex vivo human tumour assay reveals distinct patterns of EGFR trafficking in squamous cell carcinoma correlating to therapeutic outcomes

Joseph, Shannon R., Gaffney, Daniel, Barry, Rachael, Hu, Lingbo, Banushi, Blerida, Wells, James W., Lambie, Duncan, Strutton, Geoff, Porceddu, Sandro V., Burmeister, Bryan, Leggatt, Graham R., Schaider, Helmut, Dolcetti, Riccardo, Frazer, Ian H., Saunders, Nicholas A., Foote, Matthew, Soyer, H. Peter and Simpson, Fiona (2018). An ex vivo human tumour assay reveals distinct patterns of EGFR trafficking in squamous cell carcinoma correlating to therapeutic outcomes. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 139 (1), 213-223. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.06.190

An ex vivo human tumour assay reveals distinct patterns of EGFR trafficking in squamous cell carcinoma correlating to therapeutic outcomes

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Phenothiazine-derived antipsychotic drugs inhibit dynamin and vlathrin-mediated endocytosis

Daniel, James A., Chau, Ngoc, Abdel-Hamid, Mohammed K., Hu, Lingbo, von Kleist, Lisa, Whiting, Ainslie, Krishnan, Sai, Maamary, Peter, Joseph, Shannon R., Simpson, Fiona, Haucke, Volker, McCluskey, Adam and Robinson, Philip J. (2015). Phenothiazine-derived antipsychotic drugs inhibit dynamin and vlathrin-mediated endocytosis. Traffic, 16 (6), 635-654. doi: 10.1111/tra.12272

Phenothiazine-derived antipsychotic drugs inhibit dynamin and vlathrin-mediated endocytosis

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Phase II study of single-agent panitumumab in patients with incurable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Foote, M. C., McGrath, M., Guminski, A., Hughes, B. G. M., Meakin, J., Thomson, D., Zarate, D., Simpson, F. and Porceddu, S. V. (2014). Phase II study of single-agent panitumumab in patients with incurable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Annals of Oncology, 25 (10), 2047-2052. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu368

Phase II study of single-agent panitumumab in patients with incurable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2024

Journal Article

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed on both stromal and epithelial cells prior to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: implications for early diagnosis on 68Ga-FAPI-PET/CT

McGahan, William, Gough, Madeline, Liu, Cheng, Hoyte, Sharon, Gill, Anthony J., Cavallucci, David, Hooper, John D., Thomas, Paul A., Cooper, Caroline, O'Rourke, Thomas, Butler, Nick, Yeung, Shinn, Kryza, Thomas, Gulhane, Brook, Latter, Melissa J., Waddell, Nicola, Samra, Jaswinder S., Simpson, Fiona and Pajic, Marina (2024). Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed on both stromal and epithelial cells prior to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: implications for early diagnosis on 68Ga-FAPI-PET/CT. Gastroenterology. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.06.033

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed on both stromal and epithelial cells prior to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: implications for early diagnosis on 68Ga-FAPI-PET/CT

2024

Journal Article

TGF-β signalling limits effector function capacity of NK cell anti-tumour immunity in human bladder cancer

Wong, Joshua K. M., McCulloch, Timothy R., Alim, Louisa, Omer, Natacha, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Tuong, Zewen Kelvin, Bonfim-Melo, Alexis, Chung, Eric, Nicol, Alice, Simpson, Fiona, Rhee, Handoo, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). TGF-β signalling limits effector function capacity of NK cell anti-tumour immunity in human bladder cancer. EBioMedicine, 104 105176. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105176

TGF-β signalling limits effector function capacity of NK cell anti-tumour immunity in human bladder cancer

2024

Journal Article

Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity-inducing anti-EGFR antibodies as effective therapeutic option for cutaneous melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors

Muraro, Elena, Montico, Barbara, Lum, Benedict, Colizzi, Francesca, Giurato, Giorgio, Salvati, Annamaria, Guerrieri, Roberto, Rizzo, Aurora, Comaro, Elisa, Canzonieri, Vincenzo, Anichini, Andrea, Del Vecchio, Michele, Mortarini, Roberta, Milione, Massimo, Weisz, Alessandro, Pizzichetta, Maria Antonietta, Simpson, Fiona, Dolcetti, Riccardo, Fratta, Elisabetta and Sigalotti, Luca (2024). Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity-inducing anti-EGFR antibodies as effective therapeutic option for cutaneous melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors. Frontiers in Immunology, 15 1336566. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1336566

Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity-inducing anti-EGFR antibodies as effective therapeutic option for cutaneous melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors

2024

Journal Article

A PEGylated liposomal formulation of prochlorperazine that limits brain exposure but retains dynamin II activity: A potential adjuvant therapy for cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic mAbs

Subasic, Christopher N., Simpson, Fiona, Minchin, Rodney F. and Kaminskas, Lisa M. (2024). A PEGylated liposomal formulation of prochlorperazine that limits brain exposure but retains dynamin II activity: A potential adjuvant therapy for cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic mAbs. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 56 102733, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2024.102733

A PEGylated liposomal formulation of prochlorperazine that limits brain exposure but retains dynamin II activity: A potential adjuvant therapy for cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic mAbs

2024

Journal Article

Steroid premedication and monoclonal antibody therapy: should we reconsider?

Karlsen, Emma-Anne, Walpole, Euan and Simpson, Fiona (2024). Steroid premedication and monoclonal antibody therapy: should we reconsider?. Current Treatment Options in Oncology, 25 (3), 275-283. doi: 10.1007/s11864-023-01170-4

Steroid premedication and monoclonal antibody therapy: should we reconsider?

2023

Journal Article

Epidermal growth factor potentiates EGFR(Y992/1173)-mediated therapeutic response of triple negative breast cancer cells to cold atmospheric plasma-activated medium

Wang, Peiyu, Zhou, Renwu, Zhou, Rusen, Feng, Shuo, Zhao, Liqian, Li, Wenshao, Lin, Jinyong, Rajapakse, Aleksandra, Lee, Chia-Hwa, Furnari, Frank B., Burgess, Antony W., Gunter, Jennifer H., Liu, Gang, Ostrikov, Kostya (Ken), Richard, Derek J., Simpson, Fiona, Dai, Xiaofeng and Thompson, Erik W. (2023). Epidermal growth factor potentiates EGFR(Y992/1173)-mediated therapeutic response of triple negative breast cancer cells to cold atmospheric plasma-activated medium. Redox Biology, 69 102976, 102976. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102976

Epidermal growth factor potentiates EGFR(Y992/1173)-mediated therapeutic response of triple negative breast cancer cells to cold atmospheric plasma-activated medium

2023

Journal Article

Development of an in vivo murine model of perineural invasion and spread of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

de Lima, Priscila O., Broit, Natasa, Huang, Johnson D., Lim, Jae H., Gardiner, Damien J., Brown, Ian S., Panizza, Benedict J., Boyle, Glen M. and Simpson, Fiona (2023). Development of an in vivo murine model of perineural invasion and spread of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 ARTN 1231104, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1231104

Development of an in vivo murine model of perineural invasion and spread of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

2023

Journal Article

Dose-dependent effect of phenothiazines as dynamin II inhibitors on the uptake of PEGylated liposomes by endocytic cells and in vivo pharmacokinetics of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in rats

Subasic, Christopher N., Butcher, Neville J., Simpson, Fiona, Minchin, Rodney F. and Kaminskas, Lisa M. (2023). Dose-dependent effect of phenothiazines as dynamin II inhibitors on the uptake of PEGylated liposomes by endocytic cells and in vivo pharmacokinetics of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in rats. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 20 (9), 4468-4477. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00102

Dose-dependent effect of phenothiazines as dynamin II inhibitors on the uptake of PEGylated liposomes by endocytic cells and in vivo pharmacokinetics of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in rats

2023

Journal Article

Endocytosis in cancer and cancer therapy

Banushi, Blerida, Joseph, Shannon R., Lum, Benedict, Lee, Jason J. and Simpson, Fiona (2023). Endocytosis in cancer and cancer therapy. Nature Reviews Cancer, 23 (7), 1-24. doi: 10.1038/s41568-023-00574-6

Endocytosis in cancer and cancer therapy

2023

Conference Publication

HER2Pro: A Phase 1b dose de-escalation study of high dose prochlorperazine added to paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

Downton, Teesha, Karlsen, Emma, Cuff, Katharine, Walpole, Euan, Simpson, Fiona and Lim, Elgene (2023). HER2Pro: A Phase 1b dose de-escalation study of high dose prochlorperazine added to paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX United States, 6-10 December 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs22-ot2-10-05

HER2Pro: A Phase 1b dose de-escalation study of high dose prochlorperazine added to paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

2023

Journal Article

Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy

Wong, Joshua K.M., Dolcetti, Riccardo, Rhee, Handoo, Simpson, Fiona and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2023). Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy. Trends in Cancer, 9 (2), 111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.009

Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy

2022

Journal Article

Overlapping machinery in lysosome-related organelle trafficking: a lesson from rare multisystem disorders

Banushi, Blerida and Simpson, Fiona (2022). Overlapping machinery in lysosome-related organelle trafficking: a lesson from rare multisystem disorders. Cells, 11 (22) 3702, 1-26. doi: 10.3390/cells11223702

Overlapping machinery in lysosome-related organelle trafficking: a lesson from rare multisystem disorders

2022

Journal Article

Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages

Tran, Thao Thanh, Mathmann, Carmen D., Gatica-Andrades, Marcela, Rollo, Rachel F., Oelker, Melanie, Ljungberg, Johanna K., Nguyen, Tam T. K., Zamoshnikova, Alina, Kummari, Lalith K., Wyer, Orry J. K., Irvine, Katharine M., Melo-Bolívar, Javier, Gross, Annette, Brown, Darren, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Hansford, Karl A., Cooper, Matthew A., Giri, Rabina, Schreiber, Veronika, Joseph, Shannon R., Simpson, Fiona, Barnett, Timothy C., Johansson, Jörgen, Dankers, Wendy, Harris, James, Wells, Timothy J., Kapetanovic, Ronan, Sweet, Matthew J. ... Blumenthal, Antje (2022). Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages. PLoS Pathogens, 18 (1) e1010166, e1010166. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010166

Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages

2021

Journal Article

Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis

McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Chew, Hui Yi, Inglis, Po-Ling, Leo, Paul J., Joseph, Shannon R., Cooper, Caroline L., Okano, Satomi, Hassall, Tim, Anderson, Lisa, Bowman, Rayleen V., Gattas, Michael, Harris, Jessica E., Marshall, Mhairi S., Shaw, Janet G., Wheeler, Lawrie, Yang, Ian A., Brown, Matthew A., Fong, Kwun M., Simpson, Fiona and Duncan, Emma L. (2021). Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis. Human Molecular Genetics, 30 (24), 2393-2401. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddab172

Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    Building mRNA Cancer Vaccines for Australia.
    MRFF - National Critical Infrastructure Initiative
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Traffic calming: Clinically applicable ways of altering endocytosis (cell uptake) to improve drug pharmacology and efficacy.
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Personalising Innate-immunotherapy for Superior Treatment Outcomes with Large anticancer applicability (PISTOL)
    NHMRC MRFF EMCR - Early to Mid-Career Researchers
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Cold atmospheric Plasma in the treatment and sensitisation of Radiation Therapy in extensive skin field cancerisation - PlasmaRT study
    Metro South Health Research Support Scheme Early Career Researcher Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    The Ins and Outs of Endocytosis inhibition: Providing diverse opportunities for treatment of incurable cancers
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2025
    Improving immune memory responses to monoclonal antibody therapies.
    Merchant Charitable Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Donation to support the research of Fiona Simpson
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Laser capture microdissection to empower cancer discoveries, improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in amyloidosis patients
    IPF Healthy - Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Increasing the number of breast cancer therapeutic antibody possibilities, patient choices and success rates.
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Towards effective treatment of cutaneous SCC of the head and neck with perineural invasion.
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Dynamin modulators for reversing immunotherapy resistance in head and neck cancer (NHMRC Project Grants led by The University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Pre-clinical testing for combination therapy
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Increasing the number of breast cancer therapeutic antibody possibilities, patient choices and success
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Adjuvant therapy for checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in murine oncology models
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    CESTEM-1 research support
    Princess Alexandra Hospital R&D Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Cell biological mechanism of reversing resistance to cancer therapeutic antibodies
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Molecular mechanisms of perineural invasion in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Making Herceptin-resistant tumours Herceptin responsive: adapting new therapeutic potential from Head and Neck Cancer research to improve breast cancer outcomes
    National Breast Cancer Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Next-generation cell analysis: Automated high-throughput 3D microscope and multimode microplate reader
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    The role of epidermal growth factor receptor trafficking in tumor progression and patient therapy resistance
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.1 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Growth factor signalling in health and squamous cell carcinoma.
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2012
    NHMRC Career Development Award: Endosomal tubule formation in health and disease
    NHMRC Career Development Award
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    The making of a sea shell: function and evolution of genes encoding calcareous architectures of phenomenal strength purity and beauty
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Building Bridges at the Nexus of Cell and Developmental Biology
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Development of an in vitro assay for GLUT4 trafficking to the cell surface
    Pfizer Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: the molecular mechanism of GLUT4 translocation in response to insulin receptor activation
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - International
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Fiona Simpson is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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