Fabienne Mackay Explained

Fabienne Mackay is a French Australian research immunologist and institutional leader within the Australian medical research, education and innovation sectors.[1] She is the Director and CEO of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (Brisbane, Queensland) since 2020,[2] after being the inaugural Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne (Victoria, Parkville campus) during the preceding five years. She is also an Honorary Professor at the Faculties of Medicine of the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne. Her work has attracted public attention for its contribution to the pathophysiological understanding and treatment of lupus and other autoimmune diseases.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Mackay has been notably awarded, achieving international reputation for her widely cited research describing B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and other cytokines of the TNF receptor superfamily, and their roles in B cell physiology, autoimmunity and cancer.[8] She is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.[9]

Biography

Mackay was born in Maine et Loire in 1965.[10] She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease at 17, this event may have sparked her interest in medical research.[11]

Education

Mackay's formal education proceeded mostly in France. She completed high school (Baccalauréat D) at Lycée de jeunes filles de Moulins (1983).[12] Between 1984 and 1986 she pursued the PCEM-1 program at Clermont-Ferrand Medical School,[13] graduating in Biological Technology at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie Clermont-Ferrand, and in Biological Engineering at the Université de Clermont II.[14] She obtained a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Immunology and Cell Biology at Louis Pasteur University (Strasbourg) in 1994 under the direction of Diane J. Mathis.[15]

Career

Mackay started her professional career as a scientist at the Basel Institute for Immunology, (Switzerland, 1989-1991). She spent the following three years as a PhD Student at Hoffman La Roche (Basel) and the Faculty of Medicine, Louis Pasteur University (Strasbourg). From 1994 to 2000 she worked as a scientist and project leader at Biogen Idec Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA). From 2001 to 2006 she was a Research Fellow ascribed to the Arthritis and Inflammation Research Program, at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia). From 2006 to 2008 she was the Director of the Autoimmunity Research Unit at the Garvan Institute.[16] Between 2009 and 2015 she worked at Monash University, (Melbourne), occupying positions as Head and Chair of the Department of Immunology,[17] and Deputy Head of its Central Clinical School.[18] From 2015 to 2020 she worked at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, firstly as Head of the Department of Pathology (until 2017), then as Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Parkville Campus.[19] She is currently the Director and CEO of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and an Honorary Professor at the Faculties of Medicine at the University of Queensland, and the University of Melbourne.

Her discovery of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases[20] provided foundations for the development of belimumab (TM Benlysta, an anti-BAFF monoclonal antibody), a milestone therapy approved in 2011 for the treatment Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.[21]

Some of her research papers rank among the most cited in the field, and have been highlighted for their importance by the respective journal editors in various opportunities.[22] [23] Her laboratory has deserved extensive funding by sponsoring bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.[24]

She is known to advocate for the recognition of women scientist efforts and accomplishments,[25] her professional profile is featured in Women in STEMM Australia. A Fabienne Mackay Grant Award to promote gender equality was established in 2021 to benefit women independent researchers in the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne.[26]

Works

Papers

Mackay has published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, which have been cited over 30 thousand times.[27] Some of her most cited papers are:

Book chapters

Opinion

Mackay's public opinion on diverse subjects including autoimmune diseases and women in science can be found online.[37] [38]

Patents

Mackay is an inventor to nearly a hundred assigned patents, many of them related to discoveries on BAFF receptors and their pharmacological modulation[39] [40]

Membership

Mackay is an Editorial Board member of many medical scientific journals including Science (journal),[41] European Journal of Immunology,[42] Current Research in Immunology,[43] Antibodies,[44] and the Journal of Inflammation.[45] She is also a corporate Board Member at Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners[46] and ENA Respiratory[47] Among learned and technical bodies, she is a Council Member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, a Member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Gairdner Foundation (Canada),[48] an Award committee member of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society,[49] a Member of the Queensland Genomics Executive Working Group,[50] and a Member of the QIMR Berghofer Council.

Awards

Notable accolades conferred on Mackay include the Thomson Reuters Australia Citation and Innovation Award (2012),[51] the Trophy for exceptional contribution in education and research as a French expatriate, by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014), her election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2016), the Martin Lackmann Award for Translational Research given by the Cell Signaling and its Therapeutic Implications CSTI program, Monash University (2017),[52] and the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship (2018-2019).[53]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-18. STEM Women. en.
  2. Web site: Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-13. QIMR Berghofer. en-AU.
  3. Web site: Monday. 29 July 2013 Anna SallehABC. 2013-07-29. Dead cell removal process gives lupus hint. 2021-09-11. www.abc.net.au. en-AU.
  4. Web site: 2015-05-15. Could lupus treatment spare immune system?. 2021-09-11. Futurity. en-US.
  5. Web site: First new treatment for lupus in more than 50 years Australian Academy of Science. 2021-09-11. www.science.org.au. en.
  6. Web site: 2007-08-28. Molecule may explain hole in heart. 2021-09-11. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  7. Web site: Fabienne Mackay-Fisson. 2021-09-11. Monash University. en.
  8. Web site: Australia. Women in STEMM. 2018-03-12. STEMM PROFILE: Professor Fabienne Mackay, PhD Head of Biomedical Sciences - University of Melbourne - Melbourne - VIC. 2021-09-12. Women in STEMM Australia. en-AU.
  9. Web site: Professor Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-12. AAHMS - Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. en-AU.
  10. Web site: TROPHEES DES FRANÇAIS DE L'ÉTRANGER – Découvrez les parcours exceptionnels de nos lauréats. 2021-09-12. lepetitjournal.com. fr.
  11. Web site: The Top 50 - Part 2. 2021-09-11. media.heraldsun.com.au.
  12. Web site: Lycée De Jeunes Filles. 2021-09-13. Copains d'avant. fr.
  13. Web site: Prépa-Medschool - Clermont-Ferrand. 2021-09-13. www.prepa-medschool.fr. fr.
  14. Web site: Centre universitaire des sciences et techniques de l'université Blaise-Pascal de Clermont-Ferrand-II ayant obtenu le diplôme d'ingénieur de cet établissement en 1989 (organisation) - Nominations au Journal officiel de la République française. 2021-09-13. jorfsearch.steinertriples.fr.
  15. Caracterisation des fonctions distinctes generees par les recepteurs tnf-r55 et tnf-r75 du facteur tnf (tumor necrosis factor). Université Louis Pasteur (Strasbourg) (1971-2008). 1994-01-01. These de doctorat. FABIENNE. MACKAY FISSON.
  16. News: Have we uncovered a new form of Lupus?. en. Garvan Institute of Medical Research. 2021-09-11.
  17. Web site: Heads of Department. 2021-09-11. Department of Immunology and Pathology. en.
  18. Web site: Fabienne Mackay-Fisson. 2021-09-11. Monash University. en.
  19. Web site: 2016-07-02. Welcome to Professor Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-11. School of Biomedical Sciences. en.
  20. Vincent. Fabien B.. Morand. Eric F.. Mackay. Fabienne. 2012-03-01. BAFF and innate immunity: new therapeutic targets for systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunology and Cell Biology. 90. 3. 293–303. 10.1038/icb.2011.111. 1440-1711. 22231653. 39602817. free.
  21. Web site: 2011-07-15. Lupus News : FDA Approves Belimumab for the Treatment of Lupus. 2021-09-13. Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. en-US.
  22. Web site: SCIENCE VOLUME 311ISSUE 575813 JAN 2006. science.org.
  23. Web site: Journal of Autoimmunity Vol 61, Pages 1-80 (July 2015) ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier. 2021-09-13. www.sciencedirect.com. en-us.
  24. Web site: Prof Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-14. Research Data Australia. en.
  25. Web site: Edmund. Harriet. 2020-03-05. Professor Fabienne Mackay speaks out on why women need a boost in research. 2021-09-14. School of Biomedical Sciences. en.
  26. Web site: Bilton. Michelle. 2021-03-03. Introducing the Fabienne Mackay Award. 2021-09-13. School of Biomedical Sciences. en.
  27. Web site: Google Scholar. 2021-09-12. scholar.google.es.
  28. Mackay. F.. Woodcock. S. A.. Lawton. P.. Ambrose. C.. Baetscher. M.. Schneider. P.. Tschopp. J.. Browning. J. L.. 1999-12-06. Mice transgenic for BAFF develop lymphocytic disorders along with autoimmune manifestations. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 190. 11. 1697–1710. 10.1084/jem.190.11.1697. 0022-1007. 2195729. 10587360.
  29. Schneider. P.. MacKay. F.. Steiner. V.. Hofmann. K.. Bodmer. J. L.. Holler. N.. Ambrose. C.. Lawton. P.. Bixler. S.. Acha-Orbea. H.. Valmori. D.. 1999-06-07. BAFF, a novel ligand of the tumor necrosis factor family, stimulates B cell growth. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 189. 11. 1747–1756. 10.1084/jem.189.11.1747. 0022-1007. 2193079. 10359578.
  30. Groom. Joanna. Kalled. Susan L.. Cutler. Anne H.. Olson. Carl. Woodcock. Stephen A.. Schneider. Pascal. Tschopp. Jurg. Cachero. Teresa G.. Batten. Marcel. Wheway. Julie. Mauri. Davide. 2002-01-01. Association of BAFF/BLyS overexpression and altered B cell differentiation with Sjögren's syndrome. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 109. 1. 59–68. 10.1172/JCI14121. 0021-9738. 150825. 11781351.
  31. Mackay. Fabienne. Schneider. Pascal. Rennert. Paul. Browning. Jeffrey. 2003. BAFF AND APRIL: a tutorial on B cell survival. Annual Review of Immunology. 21. 231–264. 10.1146/annurev.immunol.21.120601.141152. 0732-0582. 12427767.
  32. Maslowski. Kendle M.. Vieira. Angelica T.. Ng. Aylwin. Kranich. Jan. Sierro. Frederic. Yu. Di. Schilter. Heidi C.. Rolph. Michael S.. Mackay. Fabienne. Artis. David. Xavier. Ramnik J.. 2009-10-29. Regulation of inflammatory responses by gut microbiota and chemoattractant receptor GPR43. Nature. 461. 7268. 1282–1286. 10.1038/nature08530. 1476-4687. 3256734. 19865172. 2009Natur.461.1282M.
  33. Book: Tumor necrosis factor : molecular and cellular biology and clinical relevance. 1993. Karger. Walter Fiers, Wim A. Buurman. 3-8055-5676-4. Basel. 27311149.
  34. Book: B cell trophic factors and B cell antagonism in autoimmune disease. 2005. Karger. William Stohl, S. Karger. 978-3-318-01165-4. Basel. 436111015.
  35. Book: The autoimmune diseases. 2006. Elsevier Academic Press. Noel R. Rose, Ian R. Mackay. 978-0-12-595961-2. 4. St. Louis, MO. 162576560.
  36. Book: Molecular biology of B cells. 2015. Tasuku Honjō, Michael Reth, A. Radbruch, Frederick W. Alt. 978-0-12-398490-6. 2. London. 893332893.
  37. Web site: Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-18. The Conversation. 9 May 2011 . en.
  38. Mackay. Fabienne. 2020-03-01. Not from Venus, not from Mars - all equally superstars. Nature Immunology. 21. 3. 238. 10.1038/s41590-020-0605-9. 1529-2916. 32094645. 211265911. free.
  39. Web site: Fabienne MacKay Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search. 2021-09-11. patents.justia.com.
  40. Web site: Google Patents. 2021-09-11. patents.google.com.
  41. Web site: Editors and Advisory Boards. 2021-09-13. www.science.org. en.
  42. Web site: European Journal of Immunology. 2021-09-13. Wiley Online Library. 10.1002/(ISSN)1521-4141. 2027.42/37955. 250212720 . en.
  43. Web site: Editorial Board - Current Research in Immunology - Journal - Elsevier. 2021-09-13. journals.elsevier.com. en.
  44. Web site: Antibodies. 2021-09-13. www.mdpi.com. en.
  45. Web site: Journal of Inflammation. 2021-09-11. Journal of Inflammation. en.
  46. Web site: Leadership. 2021-09-13. Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners.
  47. Web site: Ena Respiratory. 2021-09-13. enarespiratory.com.
  48. Web site: Fabienne Mackay. 2021-09-11. Gairdner Foundation. en-US.
  49. Web site: Committees. 2021-09-13. International Cytokine & Interferon Society. November 2016 . en-US.
  50. Web site: Beyond Queensland Genomics – Queensland Genomics. 2021-09-13. en-US.
  51. Web site: 2012 thomson reuters australia citation & innovation awards. 2021-09-11. yumpu.com. en.
  52. Web site: Woodgyer. Alan. 2017-05-18. Professor Fabienne Mackay recipient of 2017 Lackmann Medal for Translational Research. 2021-09-13. School of Biomedical Sciences. en.
  53. Web site: Alumni Search. 2021-09-14. alumni.cranlana.org.au.