Wayne Fisher

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Computational Biology Lab (NC8.502B)
(214) 648-1674 Fax (214)648-1445
wayne.fisher@utsouthwestern.edu

Research Interests:
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Current Projects:
• I am developing software and methods to analyze large mass spec data sets to identify potential biomarkers for disease and other patient conditions. The system has been used to analyze samples from patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis, and several types of cancers. Further refinements to the process are underway.

Education

• State University of New York at Fredonia, New York.
B.S. 1972. Chemistry, Mathematics minor.
• Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1978. Chemistry.
• Collin County Community College, Plano, Texas.
A.S. 1999. Mathematics, Physics.
• University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas.
B.S. 2001. Statistics.

Duties and Goals:

In the lab I work on analyzing large data sets, and on understanding the biology they come from. I am learning how to analyze data from DNA microarrays. Currently I am analyzing gene expression in heart tissue from mice with heart attacks that have been subsequently treated with various drugs. I am also learning how to analyze proteome mass spectral data looking for ways to distinguish patient disease states.

During my spare time:

Away from the lab I like to spend time with my family, especially my wife Jeannie.

I am a scientist and a skeptic, and look for root causes.

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

I ask a lot of questions and like to learn new stuff. Carl “Tinker” West once told me, “You have a dry sponge mind.”

I like data and numbers and mechanical things. I become intensely involved with whatever my current interest is and must work to prevent it from consuming me. Right now I am into bicycling, especially high-end road bikes. For you bikers out there, I ride a Fondriest Carb Level Plus with Campy Chorus 10 speed, and I do my own wrenching.