Professor Fiona Simpson
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

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)

21 - 40 of 84 works

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

2021

Journal Article

Evolution of cancer vaccines—challenges, achievements and future directions

Tay, Ban Qi, Wright, Quentin, Ladwa, Rahul, Perry, Christopher, Leggatt, Graham, Simpson, Fiona, Wells, James W., Panizza, Benedict J., Frazer, Ian H. and Cruz, Jazmina L. G. (2021). Evolution of cancer vaccines—challenges, achievements and future directions. Vaccines, 9 (5) 535, 535. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9050535

Evolution of cancer vaccines—challenges, achievements and future directions

2021

Journal Article

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and resistance patterns to targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a review

Karlsen, Emma-Anne, Kahler, Sam, Tefay, Joan, Joseph, Shannon R. and Simpson, Fiona (2021). Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and resistance patterns to targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a review. Cells, 10 (5) 1206, 1206. doi: 10.3390/cells10051206

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and resistance patterns to targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a review

2021

Journal Article

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: a review of clinical features, treatment targets and advancement in improving the immune response to monoclonal antibody therapy

Nightingale, James, Lum, Benedict, Ladwa, Rahul, Simpson, Fiona and Panizza, Benedict (2021). Adenoid cystic carcinoma: a review of clinical features, treatment targets and advancement in improving the immune response to monoclonal antibody therapy. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Reviews on Cancer, 1875 (2) 188523, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188523

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: a review of clinical features, treatment targets and advancement in improving the immune response to monoclonal antibody therapy

2020

Journal Article

Therapeutic implications of immune-profiling and EGFR expression in salivary gland carcinoma

Guazzo, Emily, Cooper, Caroline, Wilkinson, Lisa, Feng, Sophie, King, Brigid, Simpson, Fiona, Porceddu, Sandro, Panizza, Benedict and Coward, Jermaine I G (2020). Therapeutic implications of immune-profiling and EGFR expression in salivary gland carcinoma. Head and neck, 43 (3) hed.26529, 768-777. doi: 10.1002/hed.26529

Therapeutic implications of immune-profiling and EGFR expression in salivary gland carcinoma

2020

Journal Article

Will next-generation immunotherapy overcome the intrinsic diversity and low immunogenicity of sarcomas to improve clinical benefit?

Chew, Hui Yi, Chan, Victor, Simpson, Fiona and Dolcetti, Riccardo (2020). Will next-generation immunotherapy overcome the intrinsic diversity and low immunogenicity of sarcomas to improve clinical benefit?. Cancers, 12 (11) 3392, 1-29. doi: 10.3390/cancers12113392

Will next-generation immunotherapy overcome the intrinsic diversity and low immunogenicity of sarcomas to improve clinical benefit?

2020

Journal Article

Cetuximab exhibits sex differences in lymphatic exposure after intravenous administration in rats in the absence of differences in plasma exposure

Kuilamu, Esther, Subasic, Christopher, Cowin, Gary J., Simpson, Fiona, Minchin, Rodney F. and Kaminskas, Lisa M. (2020). Cetuximab exhibits sex differences in lymphatic exposure after intravenous administration in rats in the absence of differences in plasma exposure. Pharmaceutical Research, 37 (11) 224, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11095-020-02945-2

Cetuximab exhibits sex differences in lymphatic exposure after intravenous administration in rats in the absence of differences in plasma exposure

2020

Journal Article

Antibody/ligand-target receptor internalization assay protocol using fresh human or murine tumor ex vivo samples

Joseph, Shannon R., Lum, Benedict, Banushi, Blerida, Barry, Rachael, Panizza, Benedict, Walpole, Euan and Simpson, Fiona (2020). Antibody/ligand-target receptor internalization assay protocol using fresh human or murine tumor ex vivo samples. STAR Protocols, 1 (2) 100087, 100087. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100087

Antibody/ligand-target receptor internalization assay protocol using fresh human or murine tumor ex vivo samples

2020

Journal Article

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Beyond an era of chemoradiation?

Masterson, Liam, Howard, James, Gonzalez-Cruz, Jazmina, Jackson, Christopher, Barnett, Catherine, Overton, Lewis, Liu, Howard, Ladwa, Rahul, Simpson, Fiona, McGrath, Margie, Wallwork, Ben, Jones, Terry, Ottensmeier, Christian, Chua, Melvin L. K., Perry, Chris, Khanna, Rajiv, Panizza, Benedict, Porceddu, Sandro and Lechner, Matt (2020). Immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Beyond an era of chemoradiation?. International Journal of Cancer, 146 (8) ijc.32869, 2305-2314. doi: 10.1002/ijc.32869

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Beyond an era of chemoradiation?

2019

Journal Article

Cytokine/chemokine profiles in squamous cell carcinoma correlate with precancerous and cancerous disease stage

Tuong, Zewen, Lewandowski, Andrew, Bridge, Jennifer, Gonzalez-Cruz, Jazmina, Yamada, Miko, Lambie, Duncan, Lewandowski, Richard, Steptoe, Raymond, Leggatt, Graham, Simpson, Fiona, Frazer, Ian, Soyer, Peter and Wells, James W. (2019). Cytokine/chemokine profiles in squamous cell carcinoma correlate with precancerous and cancerous disease stage. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 17754, 17754. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54435-0

Cytokine/chemokine profiles in squamous cell carcinoma correlate with precancerous and cancerous disease stage

2018

Journal Article

Clinically-relevant rapamycin treatment regimens enhance CD8+ effector memory T cell function in the skin and allow their infiltration into cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Jung, Ji-Won, Veitch, Margaret, Bridge, Jennifer A., Overgaard, Nana H., Cruz, Jazmina L., Linedale, Richard, Franklin, Michael E., Saunders, Nicholas A., Simpson, Fiona, Frazer, Ian H., Steptoe, Raymond J. and Wells, James W. (2018). Clinically-relevant rapamycin treatment regimens enhance CD8+ effector memory T cell function in the skin and allow their infiltration into cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. OncoImmunology, 7 (9) e1479627, 1-16. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2018.1479627

Clinically-relevant rapamycin treatment regimens enhance CD8+ effector memory T cell function in the skin and allow their infiltration into cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2018

Journal Article

Characterization of 7A7, an anti-mouse EGFR monoclonal antibody proposed to be the mouse equivalent of cetuximab

He, Xuzhi, Cruz, Jazmina L., Joseph, Shannon, Pett, Nicola, Chew, Hui Yi, Tuong, Zewen K., Okano, Satomi, Kelly, Gabrielle, Veitch, Margaret, Simpson, Fiona and Wells, James W. (2018). Characterization of 7A7, an anti-mouse EGFR monoclonal antibody proposed to be the mouse equivalent of cetuximab. Oncotarget, 9 (15), 12250-12260. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.24242

Characterization of 7A7, an anti-mouse EGFR monoclonal antibody proposed to be the mouse equivalent of cetuximab

2017

Journal Article

Elevated frequencies of CD8 T cells expressing PD-1, CTLA-4 and Tim-3 within tumour from perineural squamous cell carcinoma patients

Linedale, Richard, Schmidt, Campbell, King, Brigid T., Ganko, Annabelle G., Simpson, Fiona, Panizza, Benedict J. and Graham R. Leggatt (2017). Elevated frequencies of CD8 T cells expressing PD-1, CTLA-4 and Tim-3 within tumour from perineural squamous cell carcinoma patients. PLoS One, 12 (4) e0175755, e0175755.1-e0175755.13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175755

Elevated frequencies of CD8 T cells expressing PD-1, CTLA-4 and Tim-3 within tumour from perineural squamous cell carcinoma patients

2016

Conference Publication

Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma

He, Xuzhi, Gonzalez Cruz, Jazmina , Simpson, Finoa and Wells, James (2016). Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma. Joint meeting of the Australasian Wound and Tissue Repair Society (AWTRS) and the Molecular & Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (MEPSA), Melbourne, Australia, 7-9 November 2016. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma

2016

Journal Article

The voltage gated Ca2+-channel Cav3.2 and therapeutic responses in breast cancer

Pera, Elena, Kaemmerer, Elke, Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Yapa, Kunsala T. D. S., O'Donnell, Jake S., Brown, Melissa A., Simpson, Fiona, Peters, Amelia A., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2016). The voltage gated Ca2+-channel Cav3.2 and therapeutic responses in breast cancer. Cancer Cell International, 16 (24) 24, 24. doi: 10.1186/s12935-016-0299-0

The voltage gated Ca2+-channel Cav3.2 and therapeutic responses in breast cancer

2016

Conference Publication

The impact of rapamycin and tacrolimus treatment on resident CD8+T-cell populations in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Jung, Ji-Won, Taylor, Paul J., Simpson, Fiona, Frazer, Ian H. and Wells, James W. (2016). The impact of rapamycin and tacrolimus treatment on resident CD8+T-cell populations in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival, New York, United States, September 16-19, 2015. Philadelphia, United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/2326-6074.CRICIMTEATIAACR15-B055

The impact of rapamycin and tacrolimus treatment on resident CD8+T-cell populations in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2016

Conference Publication

Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma

He, X., Cruz, Gonzalez J., Simpson, F. and Wells, J. (2016). Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200

Preclinical modeling of EGFR-specific mAb and immune pathways that impact immunotherapics for squamous cell carcinoma

2016

Conference Publication

Rapamycin, but not tacrolimus, promotes Cd8 memory T-cell differentiation and function in the skin

Jung, Ji-Won, Simpson, Fiona, Frazer, Ian H. and Wells, James W. (2016). Rapamycin, but not tacrolimus, promotes Cd8 memory T-cell differentiation and function in the skin. Joint meeting of the Australasian Wound and Tissue Repair Society (AWTRS) and the Molecular & Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (MEPSA), Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 7-9 November 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

Rapamycin, but not tacrolimus, promotes Cd8 memory T-cell differentiation and function in the skin

2015

Journal Article

RacGAP1 is a novel downstream effector of E2F7-dependent resistance to doxorubicin and is prognostic for overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma

Hazar-Rethinam, Mehlika, de Long, Lilia Merida, Gannon, Orla M., Boros, Samuel, Vargas, Ana Cristina, Dzienis, Marcin, Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Saenz-Ponce, Natalia, Dantzic, Daniel D. E., Simpson, Fiona and Saunders, Nicholas A. (2015). RacGAP1 is a novel downstream effector of E2F7-dependent resistance to doxorubicin and is prognostic for overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 14 (8), 1939-1950. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-15-0076

RacGAP1 is a novel downstream effector of E2F7-dependent resistance to doxorubicin and is prognostic for overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma

2015

Journal Article

Does the nature of residual immune function explain the differential risk of non-melanoma skin cancer development in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients?

Jung, Ji-Won, Overgaard, Nana H., Burke, Michael T., Isbel, Nicole, Frazer, Ian H., Simpson, Fiona and Wells, James W. (2015). Does the nature of residual immune function explain the differential risk of non-melanoma skin cancer development in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients?. International Journal of Cancer, 138 (2), 281-292. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29450

Does the nature of residual immune function explain the differential risk of non-melanoma skin cancer development in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients?

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Efficacy and safety of cetuximab and prochlorperazine combined for solid organ transplant patients with advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: CetPro study
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 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 - 2025
    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
  • 2019 - 2025
    Improving immune memory responses to monoclonal antibody therapies.
    Merchant Charitable Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2029
    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
  • 2021 - 2024
    The Ins and Outs of Endocytosis inhibition: Providing diverse opportunities for treatment of incurable cancers
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    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

Professor Fiona Simpson is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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