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.[2] 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][9] She is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.[10]

Biography edit

Mackay was born in Maine et Loire in 1965.[11] She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at 17, this event may have sparked her interest in medical research.[12]

Education edit

Mackay's formal education proceeded mostly in France. She completed high school (Baccalauréat D) at Lycée de jeunes filles de Moulins (1983).[13] Between 1984 and 1986 she pursued the PCEM-1 program at Clermont-Ferrand Medical School,[14] graduating in Biological Technology at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie Clermont-Ferrand, and in Biological Engineering at the Université de Clermont II.[15] 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.[16]

Career edit

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).[2] 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.[17] Between 2009 and 2015 she worked at Monash University, (Melbourne), occupying positions as Head and Chair of the Department of Immunology,[18] and Deputy Head of its Central Clinical School.[19] 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.[20] 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.[2]

Her discovery of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases[21] 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.[4][22]

Some of her research papers rank among the most cited in the field,[23] and have been highlighted for their importance by the respective journal editors in various opportunities.[24][25] Her laboratory has deserved extensive funding by sponsoring bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.[26]

She is known to advocate for the recognition of women scientist efforts and accomplishments,[27] her professional profile is featured in Women in STEMM Australia.[8] 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.[28]

Works edit

Papers edit

Mackay has published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, which have been cited over 30 thousand times.[9] Some of her most cited papers are:

  • Mackay, F.; Woodcock, S. A.; Lawton, P.; Ambrose, C.; Baetscher, M.; Schneider, P.; Tschopp, J.; Browning, J. L. (1999). "Mice transgenic for BAFF develop lymphocytic disorders along with autoimmune manifestations". The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 190 (11): 1697–1710. doi:10.1084/jem.190.11.1697. PMID 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). "BAFF, a novel ligand of the tumor necrosis factor family, stimulates B cell growth". The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 189 (11): 1747–1756. doi:10.1084/jem.189.11.1747. PMID 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). "Association of BAFF/BLyS overexpression and altered B cell differentiation with Sjögren's syndrome". The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 109 (1): 59–68. doi:10.1172/JCI14121. PMID 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. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.21.120601.141152. PMID 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). "Regulation of inflammatory responses by gut microbiota and chemoattractant receptor GPR43". Nature. 461 (7268): 1282–1286. doi:10.1038/nature08530. PMID 19865172 [33]

Book chapters edit

  • Angehrn P, Banner D, Braun T, d'Arcy A, Gehr G, Gentz R, Mackay F, E.J. Schlaeger, H.J. Schoenfeld, H. Loetscher and W. Lesslauer. 1993. Two distinct TNF receptors in health and disease. In Tumor Necrosis Factor:molecular and cellular biology and clinical relevance, Fiers W., Buurman W.(eds) Karger, Basel, pages 33–39, ISBN 978-0123979339.[34]
  • Mackay F, Sierro F, Grey S, Gordon T. 2005. The BAFF/APRIL system: an important player in systemic rheumatic diseases. In B Cell Trophic Factors and B Cell Antagonism in Autoimmune Disease, Stohl, W., editor, Curr. Dir. Autoimm., 8:243-265, ISBN 978-3-8055-7851-6.[35]
  • Tangye SL, Mackay F.  2005. B cells and Autoimmunity, in The Autoimmune Diseases , edited by Noel Rose and Ian Reay Mackay, 4th ed, pages 139-156, , ISBN 978-0125959612.[36]
  • Mackay F, Gommerman J. 2015. The role of lymphotoxin and the BAFF/APRIL system in B-lymphocytes. In Molecular Biology of B cells. Eds. Tasuku Honjō, Michael Reth, A. Radbruch, Frederick W. Alt, Elsevier. 2nd Edition. 251-276, ISBN 978-0-12-397933-9.[37]

Opinion edit

Mackay's public opinion on diverse subjects including autoimmune diseases and women in science can be found online.[38][39]

Patents edit

Mackay is an inventor to nearly a hundred assigned patents, many of them related to discoveries on BAFF receptors and their pharmacological modulation[40][41]

Membership edit

Mackay is an Editorial Board member of many medical scientific journals including Science (journal),[42] European Journal of Immunology,[43] Current Research in Immunology,[44] Antibodies,[45] and the Journal of Inflammation.[46] She is also a corporate Board Member at Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners[47] and ENA Respiratory[48] Among learned and technical bodies, she is a Council Member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences,[10] a Member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Gairdner Foundation (Canada),[49] an Award committee member of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society,[50] a Member of the Queensland Genomics Executive Working Group,[51] and a Member of the QIMR Berghofer Council.[2]

Awards edit

Notable accolades conferred on Mackay include the Thomson Reuters Australia Citation and Innovation Award (2012),[23] 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),[10] 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]

References edit

  1. ^ "Fabienne Mackay". STEM Women. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Fabienne Mackay". QIMR Berghofer. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. ^ Monday, 29 July 2013 Anna SallehABC (29 July 2013). "Dead cell removal process gives lupus hint". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Could lupus treatment spare immune system?". Futurity. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  5. ^ "First new treatment for lupus in more than 50 years | Australian Academy of Science". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Molecule may explain hole in heart". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Fabienne Mackay-Fisson". Monash University. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b Australia, Women in STEMM (12 March 2018). "STEMM PROFILE: Professor Fabienne Mackay, PhD | Head of Biomedical Sciences - University of Melbourne - Melbourne - VIC". Women in STEMM Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Google Scholar". scholar.google.es. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Professor Fabienne Mackay". AAHMS - Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  11. ^ "TROPHEES DES FRANÇAIS DE L'ÉTRANGER – Découvrez les parcours exceptionnels de nos lauréats". lepetitjournal.com (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  12. ^ "The Top 50 - Part 2". media.heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Lycée De Jeunes Filles". Copains d'avant (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Prépa-Medschool - Clermont-Ferrand". www.prepa-medschool.fr (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  15. ^ "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". jorfsearch.steinertriples.fr. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  16. ^ MACKAY FISSON, FABIENNE (1 January 1994). Caracterisation des fonctions distinctes generees par les recepteurs tnf-r55 et tnf-r75 du facteur tnf (tumor necrosis factor) (These de doctorat thesis). Université Louis Pasteur (Strasbourg) (1971-2008).
  17. ^ "Have we uncovered a new form of Lupus?". Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Heads of Department". Department of Immunology and Pathology. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Fabienne Mackay-Fisson". Monash University. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Welcome to Professor Fabienne Mackay". School of Biomedical Sciences. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  21. ^ Vincent, Fabien B.; Morand, Eric F.; Mackay, Fabienne (1 March 2012). "BAFF and innate immunity: new therapeutic targets for systemic lupus erythematosus". Immunology and Cell Biology. 90 (3): 293–303. doi:10.1038/icb.2011.111. ISSN 1440-1711. PMID 22231653. S2CID 39602817.
  22. ^ "Lupus News : FDA Approves Belimumab for the Treatment of Lupus". Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  23. ^ a b "2012 thomson reuters australia citation & innovation awards". yumpu.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  24. ^ "SCIENCE VOLUME 311|ISSUE 5758|13 JAN 2006". science.org.
  25. ^ "Journal of Autoimmunity | Vol 61, Pages 1-80 (July 2015) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  26. ^ "Prof Fabienne Mackay". Research Data Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  27. ^ Edmund, Harriet (5 March 2020). "Professor Fabienne Mackay speaks out on why women need a boost in research". School of Biomedical Sciences. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  28. ^ Bilton, Michelle (3 March 2021). "Introducing the Fabienne Mackay Award". School of Biomedical Sciences. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  29. ^ Mackay, F.; Woodcock, S. A.; Lawton, P.; Ambrose, C.; Baetscher, M.; Schneider, P.; Tschopp, J.; Browning, J. L. (6 December 1999). "Mice transgenic for BAFF develop lymphocytic disorders along with autoimmune manifestations". The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 190 (11): 1697–1710. doi:10.1084/jem.190.11.1697. ISSN 0022-1007. PMC 2195729. PMID 10587360.
  30. ^ Schneider, P.; MacKay, F.; Steiner, V.; Hofmann, K.; Bodmer, J. L.; Holler, N.; Ambrose, C.; Lawton, P.; Bixler, S.; Acha-Orbea, H.; Valmori, D. (7 June 1999). "BAFF, a novel ligand of the tumor necrosis factor family, stimulates B cell growth". The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 189 (11): 1747–1756. doi:10.1084/jem.189.11.1747. ISSN 0022-1007. PMC 2193079. PMID 10359578.
  31. ^ 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 (1 January 2002). "Association of BAFF/BLyS overexpression and altered B cell differentiation with Sjögren's syndrome". The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 109 (1): 59–68. doi:10.1172/JCI14121. ISSN 0021-9738. PMC 150825. PMID 11781351.
  32. ^ 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. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.21.120601.141152. ISSN 0732-0582. PMID 12427767.
  33. ^ 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. (29 October 2009). "Regulation of inflammatory responses by gut microbiota and chemoattractant receptor GPR43". Nature. 461 (7268): 1282–1286. Bibcode:2009Natur.461.1282M. doi:10.1038/nature08530. ISSN 1476-4687. PMC 3256734. PMID 19865172.
  34. ^ Tumor necrosis factor : molecular and cellular biology and clinical relevance. Walter Fiers, Wim A. Buurman. Basel: Karger. 1993. ISBN 3-8055-5676-4. OCLC 27311149.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  35. ^ B cell trophic factors and B cell antagonism in autoimmune disease. William Stohl, S. Karger. Basel: Karger. 2005. ISBN 978-3-318-01165-4. OCLC 436111015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  36. ^ The autoimmune diseases. Noel R. Rose, Ian R. Mackay (4 ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Academic Press. 2006. ISBN 978-0-12-595961-2. OCLC 162576560.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  37. ^ Molecular biology of B cells. Tasuku Honjō, Michael Reth, A. Radbruch, Frederick W. Alt (2 ed.). London. 2015. ISBN 978-0-12-398490-6. OCLC 893332893.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  38. ^ "Fabienne Mackay". The Conversation. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  39. ^ Mackay, Fabienne (1 March 2020). "Not from Venus, not from Mars - all equally superstars". Nature Immunology. 21 (3): 238. doi:10.1038/s41590-020-0605-9. ISSN 1529-2916. PMID 32094645. S2CID 211265911.
  40. ^ "Fabienne MacKay Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  41. ^ "Google Patents". patents.google.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  42. ^ "Editors and Advisory Boards". www.science.org. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  43. ^ "European Journal of Immunology". Wiley Online Library. doi:10.1002/(ISSN)1521-4141. hdl:2027.42/37955. S2CID 250212720. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Editorial Board - Current Research in Immunology - Journal - Elsevier". journals.elsevier.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Antibodies". www.mdpi.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Journal of Inflammation". Journal of Inflammation. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  47. ^ "Leadership". Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Ena Respiratory". enarespiratory.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Fabienne Mackay". Gairdner Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  50. ^ "Committees". International Cytokine & Interferon Society. November 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  51. ^ "Beyond Queensland Genomics – Queensland Genomics". Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  52. ^ Woodgyer, Alan (18 May 2017). "Professor Fabienne Mackay recipient of 2017 Lackmann Medal for Translational Research". School of Biomedical Sciences. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  53. ^ "Alumni Search". alumni.cranlana.org.au. Retrieved 14 September 2021.