Professor Robin Fraser, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Emeritus Professor

ONZM, BSc, MB BS(Syd), PhD(ANU), MD(Otago), FRCPA

Background and research interests

After graduating in Medicine at the University of Sydney and three years at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Professor Robin Fraser began his medical career as a country doctor in Australia.

Professor Fraser's interest in medical research led him to gain his PhD in the field of lipoprotein metabolism from the Australian National University. He took a post-doc at the University of Chicago before becoming a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

He took an appointment as an Associate Professor at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1974.

He is now Emeritus Professor but keeps his interest in the liver sieve as visiting professor to the University of Sydney. This work is directed by Professor David Le Couteur (Centre for Education and Research on Ageing at Concord Hospital and the ANZAC Institute of Medical Research). Professor Fraser is a collaborator and an advisor to this exciting work.

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Publications

Gaddam, R. R., Chambers, S., Fraser, R., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2019). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase-derived hydrogen sulfide-regulated substance P modulates liver sieve fenestrations in caecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(13), 3191. doi: 10.3390/ijms20133191

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Chambers, S., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., & Bhatia, M. (2017). Differential effects of Kupffer cell inactivation on inflammation and the liver sieve following caecal-ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in mice. Shock, 47(4), 480-490. doi: 10.1097/shk.0000000000000755

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Chambers, S., Cogger, V. C., Le Couteur, D. G., … Bhatia, M. (2016). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase gene deletion protects mice against inflammation and liver sieve injury following polymicrobial sepsis. PLoS ONE, 11(8), e0160521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160521

Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., Badiei, A., Cogger, V., Le Couteur, D., Ishii, I., & Bhatia, M. (2016). The effect of hydrogen sulfide synthesized by cystathionine-gamma-lyase on inflammation and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in polymicrobial sepsis in mice. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1439), (pp. 88). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Mohamad, M., Mitchell, S. J., Wu, L. E., White, M. Y., Cordwell, S. J., Mach, J., … Fraser, R., … Cogger, V. C. (2016). Ultrastructure of the liver microcirculation influences hepatic and systemic insulin activity and provides a mechanism for age-related insulin resistance. Aging Cell, 15(4), 706-715. doi: 10.1111/acel.124819

Wisse, E., Knook, D. L., de Zander, R., & Fraser, R. (Eds.). (1998). Cells of the hepatic sinusoids. Volume 7. Leiden: The Kupffer Cell Foundation, 310p.

Edited Book - Research

Svistunenko, D., Zykova, S. N., Cogger, V. C., Warren, A., Fraser, R., Smedsrød, B., … Le Couteur, D. G. (2011). Pseudocapillarization and the aging liver. In L. D. DeLeve & G. Garcia-Tsao (Eds.), Vascular liver disease: Mechanisms and management. (pp. 41-50). New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-8327-5_3

Chapter in Book - Research

Le Couteur, D. G., Cogger, V. C., Hilmer, S. N., Muller, M., Harris, M., Sullivan, D., … Fraser, R. (2006). Aging, atherosclerosis and the liver sieve. In L. V. Clark (Ed.), New research on atherosclerosis. (pp. 19-44). New York: Nova Science.

Chapter in Book - Research

Jamieson, H. A., Dobbs, B. R., Day, W. A., Rogers, G. W. T., & Fraser, R. (2001). The liver sieve in diabetes: Are the ultrastructural changes similar to those seen in alcoholism? In E. Wisse, D. L. Knook, R. De Zanger & M. P. J. Arthur (Eds.), Cells of the hepatic sinusoid (vol. 8). (pp. 123-124). Netherlands: The Kupffer Cell Foundation.

Chapter in Book - Research

Jamieson, H. A., Day, W. A., Dobbs, B. R., Rogers, G. W. T., & Fraser, R. (1999). Is the fatty liver of diabetes like that of alcohol related to an increased porosity of the liver sieve? In E. Wisse, D. L. Knook, R. deZanger & R. Fraser (Eds.), Cells of Hepatic Sinusoid Volume 7. (pp. 96-98). Leiden: The Kupffer Cell Foundation.

Chapter in Book - Research

Dobbs, B. R., Fraser, R., & Rogers, G. W. T. (1997). Reduction of the hepatotoxicity of dimethyl-nitrosamine with gadolinium chloride. In E. Wisse, D. L. Knook & C. Balabaud (Eds.), Cells of the hepatic sinusoids. Volume 6. (pp. 308-309). Leiden: The Kupffer Cell FOundation.

Chapter in Book - Research

Dobbs, B. R., Rogers, G. R., & Fraser, R. (1995). Reduction of the hepatotoxicity of dimethylnitrosamine with gadolinium chloride. In E. Wisse, D. L. Knook & K. Wake (Eds.), Cells of the Hepatic Sinusoid, vol.5. (pp. 308-309). Leiden: Kupffer Cell Foundation.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Badiei, A., Chambers, S. T., Gaddam, R. R., Fraser, R., & Bhatia, M. (2016). Cystathionine-gamma-lyase gene silencing with siRNA in monocytes/macrophages protects mice against acute pancreatitis. Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, 100(1), 337-346. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6989-z

Journal - Research Article

Cogger, V. C., Mohamad, M., Solon-Biet, S., Senior, A. M., Warren, A., O'Reilly, J. N., … Fraser, R., … Le Couteur, D. G. (2016). Dietary macronutrients and the aging liver sinusoidal endothelial cell. American Journal of Physiology: Heart & Circulatory Physiology, 310, H1064-H1070. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00949.2015

Journal - Research Article

Cogger, V. C., Roessner, U., Warren, A., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2013). A sieve-raft hypothesis for the regulation of endothelial fenestrations. Computational & Structural Biotechnology Journal, 8(11), e201308003. doi: 10.5936/csbj.201308003

Journal - Research Article

Fraser, R., Cogger, V. C., Dobbs, B., Jamieson, H., Warren, A., …, & Le Couteur, D. G. (2012). The liver sieve and atherosclerosis. Pathology, 44(3), 181-186. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0b013e328351bcc8

Journal - Research Article

Warren, A., Cogger, V. C., Fraser, R., DeLeve, L. D., McCuskey, R. S., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2011). The effects of old age on hepatic stellate cells. Current Gerontology & Geriatrics Research, 2011, 439835. doi: 10.1155/2011/439835

Journal - Research Article

O'Reilly, J. N., Cogger, V. C., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2010). The effect of feeding and fasting on fenestrations in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell. Pathology, 42(3), 255-258. doi: 10.3109/00313021003636469

Journal - Research Article

Le Couteur, D. G., Warren, A., Cogger, V. C., Smedsrød, B., Sørensen, K. K., de Cabo, R., Fraser, R., & McCuskey, R. S. (2008). Old age and the hepatic sinusoid. Anatomical Record, 291, 672-683. doi: 10.1002/ar.20661

Journal - Research Article

Warren, A., Chaberek, S., Ostrowski, K., Cogger, V. C., Hilmer, S. N., McCuskey, R. S., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2008). Effects of old age on vascular complexity and dispersion of the hepatic sinusoidal network. Microcirculation, 15(3), 191-202. doi: 10.1080/10739680701600856

Journal - Research Article

Jamieson, H. A., Cogger, V. C., Twigg, S. M., McLennan, S. V., Warren, A., Cheluvappa, R., … Fraser, R., … Le Couteur, D. G. (2007). Alterations in liver sinusoidal endothelium in a baboon model of type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 50, 1969-1976.

Journal - Research Article

Jamieson, H. A., Hilmer, S. N., Cogger, V. C., Warren, A., Cheluvappa, R., Abernethy, D. R., … Fraser, R., … Le Couteur, D. G. (2007). Caloric restriction reduces age-related pseudocapillarization of the hepatic sinusoid. Experimental Gerontology, 42(4), 374-378.

Journal - Research Article

Le Couteur, D. G., Cogger, V. C., McCuskey, R. S., de Cabo, R., Smedsrød, B., Sorensen, K. K., … Fraser, R. (2007). Age-related changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelium: A mechanism for dyslipidemia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1114, 79-87.

Journal - Research Article

Slow, S., Vasudevamurthy, M., Fraser, R., McEntyre, C., Lever, M., Chambers, S., & George, P. (2007). Dimethylthetin treatment causes diffuse alveolar lung damage: A pilot study in a sheep model of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). Experimental & Toxicologic Pathology, 58, 285-290.

Journal - Research Article

Warren, A., Bertolino, P., Benseler, V., Fraser, R., McCaughan, G. W., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2007). Marked changes of the hepatic sinusoid in a transgenic mouse model of acute immune-mediated hepatitis. Journal of Hepatology, 46, 239-246.

Journal - Research Article

Cogger, V. C., Hilmer, S. N., Sullivan, D., Muller, M., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. (2006). Hyperlipidemia and surfactants: The liver sieve is a link. Atherosclerosis, 189, 273-281.

Journal - Research Article

Warren, A., Le Couteur, D. G., Fraser, R., Bowen, D. G., McCaughan, G. W., & Bertolino, P. (2006). T lymphocytes interact with hepatocytes through fenestrations in murine liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Hepatology, 44(5), 1182-1190.

Journal - Research Article

Hilmer, S. N., Cogger, V. C., Fraser, R., McLean, A. J., Sullivan, D., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2005). Age-related changes in the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium impede lipoprotein transfer in the rat. Hepatology, 42, 1349-1354.

Journal - Research Article

Le Couteur, D. G., Fraser, R., Hilmer, S., Rivory, L. P., & McLean, A. J. (2005). The hepatic sinusoid in aging and cirrhosis [Major review]. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 44(2), 187-200.

Journal - Research Article

Warren, A., Bertolino, P., Cogger, V. C., McLean, A. J., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2005). Hepatic pseudocapillarization in aged mice. Experimental Gerontology, 40, 807-812.

Journal - Research Article

Cogger, V. C., Muller, M., Fraser, R., McLean, A. J., Khan, J., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2004). The effects of oxidative stress on the liver sieve. Journal of Hepatology, 41, 370-376.

Journal - Research Article

Hilmer, S. N., Warren, A., Cogger, V. C., Fraser, R., McLean, A. J., Sullivan, D., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2004). The effect of aging on the immunohistochemistry of apolipoprotein E in the liver. Experimental Gerontology, 39(1), 53-57. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2003.09.016

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J. I., Peterson, R. A., Fraser, R., Frampton, C. M., Walmsley, T. A., Allardyce, R. A., & Roake, J. A. (2004). The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and dietary iron deficiency on host iron homeostasis: A study in mice. Helicobacter, 9(6), 643-650.

Journal - Research Article

Braet, F., Fraser, R., & McCuskey, R. S. (2003). Thirty-five years of liver sinusoidal cells: Eddie Wisse in retirement [A tribute]. Hepatology, 38, 156-158.

Journal - Research Article

Cogger, V. C., Warren, A., Fraser, R., Ngu, M., McLean, A., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2003). Hepatic sinusoidal pseudocapillarization with aging in the non-human primate. Experimental Gerontology, 38, 1101-1107.

Journal - Research Article

Munro, A. R., Beasley, S. W., Pattemore, P. K., & Fraser, R. (2003). Fatal late onset necrotising enterocolitis in a term infant: Atypical Kawasaki disease or polyarteritis nodosa of infancy? Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 39, 555-557.

Journal - Research Article

Fraser, R. (2002). The liver, in health and disease. New Zealand Pharmacy, 22, 36-40.

Journal - Research Article

Le Couteur, D., Fraser, R., Cogger, V., & McLean, A. J. (2002). Hepatic pseudocapillarisation and atherosclerosis in ageing. Lancet, 359, 1612-1615.

Journal - Research Article

Fraser, R. (2001). Undergraduate medical education. New Zealand Medical Journal, 114, 554-555.

Journal - Research Article

Johnson, S. J., Toole, K., Fraser, R., Rogers, G., Dobbs, B. R., & Burt, A. D. (1996). Methylprednisolone does not inhibit the nonparenchymal cell responses to dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury. International Hepatology Communications, 4, 201-206.

Journal - Research Article

Crump, J. A., Beard, M. E. J., Angus, H. B., Fraser, R., Hart, D., & Nicholls, M. G. (1995). Acute adrenal insufficiency: A new presentation of Castleman's disease [Case report]. Journal of Internal Medicine, 238, 81-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1995.tb00903.x

Journal - Research Article

Fraser, R., Rogers, G. R., Sutton, L. E., & Dobbs, B. R. (1995). Single dose models of defenestration: tools to explore mechanisms, modulation and measurement of hepatic sinusoidal porosity. Cells of the Hepatic Sinusoid, 5, 263-266.

Journal - Research Article

Fraser, R. (2010). Why teach human anatomy at Otago School of Medical Sciences? [Editorial]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1312). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1312/4049/content.pdf

Journal - Research Other

Cogger, V. C., Fraser, R., & Le Couteur, D. G. (2003). Liver dysfunction and heart failure. American Journal of Cardiology, 91(11), 1399.

Journal - Research Other

Fraser, R., Le Couteur, D., Warren, A., Cogger, V., Bertolino, P., & Smith, M. (2003). The liver sieve and gene therapy [Letter to the editor]. Blood, 101(8), 3338.

Journal - Research Other

Fraser, R., Rogers, G. W. T., Sutton, L. E., & Dobbs, B. R. (1995). Are liver functions tests affected by the hepatic microcirculation? Progress in Microcirculation Research. Proceedings of the Eighth Australian and New Zealand Symposium. (pp. 21-22). Auckland: Uniprint, University of Auckland. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper