Nicholas Maxwell Fisk (born 1956) is an Australian maternal-fetal medicine specialist, academic and higher education lead. As a researcher, his group has pioneered advances in understanding fetoplacental disease and its treatment, including characterising early human fetal stem cell populations and their lifelong persistence in maternal tissues, documenting “fetal pain” and its blockade by opioid analgesia, and unravelling the vascular basis of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. As an obstetrician, Fisk is known for inventing the natural caesarean operation, also referred to as the family centred caesarean section. Between 2016-24 he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) at the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

(UNSW Sydney), during which time UNSW rose to a top 20 position in the QS rankings, and cemented its role as Australia's lead university for new start up/spin out companies.

Early life and career

Nicholas Fisk was educated at St Ignatius College Riverview, the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

(MBBS 1980),

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

(PhD 1992) and

Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...

(MBA 2008). Fisk was Professor of Obstetrics & Fetal Medicine (1992-2007) at

Queen Charlotte's Hospital Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital is one of the oldest maternity hospitals in Europe, founded in 1739 in London. Until October 2000, it occupied sites in Marylebone Road and at 339–351 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, but is now located betwe ...

and Imperial College London, where his laboratory and clinical research program achieved an international reputation in

fetal diagnosis Prenatal testing is a tool that can be used to detect some birth defects at various stages prior to birth. Prenatal testing consists of prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis, which are aspects of prenatal care that focus on detecting problem ...

and treatment. He returned to Australia in 2008 as the inaugural Director of the Centre for Clinical Research at the

University of Queensland The University of Queensland is a Public university, public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone ...

, where between 2010-2016 he served as Executive Dean of the Faculties of Health, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. From 2000-2001 he was President of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society and from 2016-2020 Chair of the Association for Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI Steering Committee). He was elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2014. In 2020 he was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

for significant service to tertiary education, and to maternal-fetal medicine. Nationally he has chaired the Go8 Deputy Vice-Chancellor's (Research) committee and the Go8 Deans of Medicine Committee and continues to serve on the Board of Research Australia (from 2016).

Expertise and advocacy

Fisk’s research area is human fetoplacental disease and its treatment, including fetal stem cells, fetal “pain", and monochorionic (identical) twins. In 2019, Fisk and Michael Gabbett, along with their group, documented the likely genetic basis of semi-identical twins, with identical maternal DNA, but paternal DNA from different sperms. Fisk has published over 300 research papers, and served on the editorial boards of PLoS Medicine and

Human Reproduction Human sexual reproduction, to produce offspring, begins with fertilization. Successful reproduction typically involves sexual intercourse between a healthy, sexually mature and fertile male and female. During sexual intercourse, sperm cells are ...

. As an influential clinician, he is known for promoting the natural caesarean operation, and as an advocate for women’s right to choose their mode of delivery. His research on fetal pain has been used by both sides in the abortion debate. As a research leader, he has promoted proportionate research integrity reforms, defence trade controls, and indirect cost block funding, introduced a Living Wage for PhD students, and with Ian Jacobs developed the annual Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities.

References

External links

Who's Who Australia
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Biography at UNSWLinkedIn
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisk, Nicholas 1956 births Living people Australian obstetricians University of Sydney alumni Alumni of University College London Alumni of Imperial College London Academics of University College London Academic staff of the University of Queensland Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Fellows of the Royal Society of New South Wales Academic staff of the University of New South Wales People educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview