Dr Helena Fisk

Undergraduate teaching across BM5/BM6/EU medicine programmes

Deputy Module Lead, BM5 AK4

Project supverision of undergraduate and postgraduate students

Laboratory training and teaching of staff 

Former Deputy Assessment lead for MSc Allergy programme

Dr Helena Fisk is a Lecturer of Nutritional Science.

Dr Fisk completed an Undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Brighton which established an interest in human nutrition and health. As a research technician at the University of Southampton working on several projects in the theme of human nutrition, inflammation and disease with focus on omega-3 lipids, publishing over 20 peer-reviewed research papers in this area. Dr Fisk completed her PhD at the University of Southampton investigating obesity associated inflammation in subcutaneous white adipose tissue and responses to marine derived long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dr Fisk went on to investigate the role of probiotics and gut health in inflammation and ageing, and was awarded a NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre Bridging Fellowship in 2024.

Her research focusses on inflammation across the life course with particular interest in obesity and ageing, and the immunomodulatory actions of nutrients including omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty, probiotics and vitamin D. Her research has shown novel changes to inflammatory lipid signalling and metabolism in obesity, and disparities in the regulation of lipid signalling molecules and gene expression by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in obesity. She is now interested in gut-adipose communication and the role of bioactive lipids in regulating inflammation via this axis. 

Dr Fisk teaches on the undergraduate medicine programme (across BM5/6/EU programmes) and is deputy module lead for AK4. She supervises research projects of University of Southampton and international students.

Outside of academia, Dr Fisk is the chair or the SCI Lipids group, is an Associate Editor of Nutrition Journal and Review Editor for Frontiers in Nutrition. She also leads KEE activities, promoting public engagement in human nutrition and health, and building indsutry-academia collaborations.