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Associate Professor

Liesel FitzGerald

Principal Research Fellow

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Orcid identifier0000-0002-6882-2698
  • Principal Research Fellow
    Menzies Institute for Medical Research
  • 6226 4263 (Work)
  • Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, 439b Menzies MS2, Hobart CBD Campuses, TAS

BIO

The incidence of prostate cancer has risen considerably in Australia over the last decade, with over 16,000 new cases and 3,400 deaths predicted in 2017. As the population continues to age, this number will only increase, presenting an enormous challenge to Australian health resources.

For over a decade, Assoc Prof FitzGerald has been investigating the genetics of prostate cancer. During this time, she has gained experience in molecular genetics, genetic epidemiology and statistics, providing her with a unique research perspective that is both laboratory- and analysis-based. Assoc ProfFitzGerald has applied various methodologies, including the latest research technologies, such as next-generation sequencing and whole-genome methylation arrays, to identify prostate cancer risk genes in both case-control populations and hereditary prostate cancer families.

One of Assoc Prof FitzGerald’s research interests is the identification of genetic variants associated with prostate cancer treatment and survival outcomes. Currently there are no biomarkers to determine how well a man will respond to a particular treatment or whether his cancer will progress to a life-threatening form of the disease. Therefore, Assoc Prof FitzGerald is currently building a Tasmanian research project to specifically address these shortcomings and improve treatment and survival outcomes in Tasmanian prostate cancer patients.

With her colleagues at the Menzies, the Cancer Council Victoria, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Assoc Prof FitzGerald has published over 85 peer-reviewed studies in journals such as Nature Genetics, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Clinical Cancer Research, American Journal of Human Genetics, Oncotarget and Cancer Research. She has established a strong network of collaborators from across the world and is a member of several international prostate cancer groups, including the ICPCG and PRACTICAL. In 2015, Assoc Prof FitzGerald was awarded a UTAS Open to Talent Research Fellowship and then in 2018, a Cancer Council Tasmania/College of Health and Medicine Senior Research Fellowship.

Biography

Assoc Prof FitzGerald was awarded her PhD in 2007 from the University of Tasmania. Following this, she then spent four years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, USA. Here she worked on several familial and sporadic prostate cancer studies and was mentored by Professor Janet Stanford, one of the world’s leading prostate cancer epidemiologists. In 2012, Assoc Prof FitzGerald returned to Australia to work as the David Hill Research Fellow at the Cancer Council Victoria, continuing her research in familial and sporadic prostate cancer genetics. In 2015, Assoc Prof FitzGerald was awarded a UTAS Open to Talent Fellowship and returned to join the Cancer, Genetics and Immunology Theme at the Menzies Institute in Tasmania. Here she applies the skills she gained oversea and interstate to the large Tasmanian prostate cancer families and is in the process of establishing a new prostate cancer cohort building upon the Movember funded Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry – Tasmanian (PCOR-TAS).

2015 – Present Menzies Institute for Medical Research Hobart, TAS
Open to Talent Research Fellow 2015 – 2018
Cancer Council Tasmania/College of Health and Medicine Senior Research Fellow 2018 – 2020

2012 – 2015 Cancer Council Victoria Melbourne, VIC
David Hill Fellow 2012 – 2015

2007–2011 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA
SPORE CDP, Staff Scientist 2009 – 2011
SPORE Post-Doctoral Fellow 2007 – 2009

2003–2007 Menzies Research Institute Hobart, TAS
PhD Candidate and Scientific Research Assistant

2000–2003 Menzies Research Institute Hobart, TAS
Scientific Research Assistant

1999–2000 The Baker Institute Pahran, VIC
Scientific Research Assistant

Career summary
Qualifications

2003–2007 University of Tasmania Hobart, TAS
Doctorate of Philosophy (Molecular Genetics)
Thesis Title: Genetics of Familial Prostate Cancer in Tasmania
Supervisors: Joanne Dickinson, Jim Stankovich and James McKay

1995 University of Queensland – QIMR, Brisbane, QLD
Bachelor of Science with Honours (Biochemistry).
Thesis Title: Changes in gene expression in response to Bistratene A
Supervisor: Dianne Watters

1992–1994 University of Tasmania Hobart, TAS
Bachelor of Science - Majors in Biochemistry and Microbiology

Memberships
Professional practice

American Association for Cancer Research: 2014 - 2015
International Consortium for Prostate Cancer Genetics (ICPCG): 2008 - present
Prostate Cancer Association Group to Investigate Cancer Associated Alterations in the Genome (PRACTICAL): 2008 - present
American Society for Human Genetics: 2008 - present
PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Group: 2008 - present
Prostate Cancer Collaborative Research Alliance: 2008 - present
NCI Prostate Cancer Genetics Working Group: 2009 - 2011

Committee associations

PCOR-ANZ - Data Advisory Committee: 2022 – present
Cancer Council Tasmania Scientific Research Advisory Committee: 2022 - present
Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry Tasmania (PCOR-TAS) Steering Committee: 2015 - present
GeneMappers Organising Committee Member 2023
Health and Medical Human Research Ethics Committee: 2016 - 2018
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Cancer Council Australia clinical practice guidelines for ‘PSA testing and early management of test-detected prostate cancer’ Working Group: 2013 - 2015

SCHOOL AND PORTFOLIO

  • Menzies Institute for Medical Research

FIELD OF RESEARCH