Max Fisher RSci MRSB

Hi! My name is Max, and I am a Senior Research Associate at ViaNautis Bio, and a Disability in STEM Advocate. I am committed to advancing inclusivity in the scientific community by using my lived experience to drive systemic change. During my BSc and MRes in Pharmacology from Nottingham Trent University, I learned about a variety of systems within the body, and honed my interests to focus on GPCRs, Autoimmunity, and Genetics. My Masters’ thesis focused on the role of inflammation on Toll-Like Receptor 8 expression in asthma. Alongside my studies, I was a key player for NTU’s wheelchair basketball team, and I coached their play-for-fun team. I was also elected as the Equality and Diversity Officer for Gender from 2016-2018, where I focused on the inclusion and representation of trans students. I didn't set out to become a public speaker, but I found myself paving the way while speaking publicly on DeafBlindness, queer identity, and the realities of navigating STEM as a disabled professional. Every day, I am proving that disability is no barrier to rigorous science. In my first professional role as a cell line engineer, I launched and led a global disability ERG to support and empower disabled colleagues. Since then, I’ve continued growing as a researcher while also dedicating myself to disability advocacy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and mental-health awareness. My work has been recognized by Sense, as I was awarded “Person of the Year 2022” for raising visibility and challenging stigma around DeafBlindness in STEM. In 2024, I received an Outstanding Alumni award from Nottingham Trent University for my work supporting underrepresented groups. I was also recognised as the UK’s most influential disabled scientist by the Shaw Trust in 2024. In 2025, I was the individual recipient of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion in STEM award, from Applied Microbiology International. In the lab, I’ve built a career at the intersection of cell biology, automation, and lab operations. My scientific work spans primary and immortalised cell culture, assay development, flow cytometry, and liquid-handling automation. These skills are further supported by my strong capabilities in SOP writing, protocol design, lab optimisation, and cross-functional scientific collaboration. I’m always open to connecting — whether it’s to collaborate on accessibility or inclusion initiatives in STEM, to speak about disability and queer identity, or simply to share learnings about navigating science with chronic illness. Let’s build a more inclusive research community together.