Associate Professor Anne Fletcher heads the Stromal Immunology Laboratory. This is a motivated and supportive research group focused on research excellence and impact in the study of fibroblasts in immunological health and disease.

Anne completed her PhD in Immunology at Monash University, working on the link between thymic stromal cells and autoimmune disease with Prof. Richard Boyd. She then undertook postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston USA, with Associate Prof. Shannon Turley, exploring the tolerance-inducing and immunological specializations of Lymph Node Stromal Cells. She was recruited to the University of Birmingham, UK in 2014 to start a human stromal immunology research group, and in 2018 the Stromal Immunology group began work in Australia after relocating to the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.

The word “stroma” is Greek for mattress, and "stromal cells" were originally understood as cells in organs that provided structural support and not much else. In recent years our understanding of stromal cells, and the immunologically-specialised roles these cells play has simply exploded, and they are now one of Immunology’s most far-reaching and fascinating areas of study.

Our research program is focused on fibroblast-like stromal cells found in secondary lymphoid organs and tumours. These cells create the structure on which leukocytes crawl and interact. We and others have shown that fibroblasts in lymph nodes are fundamental to healthy immune function, through interactions with T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages, directly supporting cell survival, function and migration.  

The laboratory studies key mechanisms of action, aiming to target these cells directly with therapeutic effect. We are also now focusing on exploring how these cells manipulate the immune response against cancer, a topic at the forefront of cancer immunology.

The research program utilises primary human tissues as well as mouse models, cutting-edge flow cytometry, cell culture, immunofluorescence, RNA-Seq and live cell imaging. 

2024 to Current: Member of the Executive Committee, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University

2024 to Current: Graduate Research Coordinator, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University. In this role, I coordinate scholarship applications, enrolments, candidature milestones, variations and extensions, thesis submissions, and thesis examinations for 150 PhD and MRes students. 

2021 to 2023: Member of OHS Committee, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University

2019 to 2024: Member of the Athena Swan Committee; and Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University

2019 to 2024: Chair of Steering Committee, Monash Functional Genomics Platform, Monash University

2018 to 2021: Member of Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

2016 to 2017: Member of Executive Committee, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham

2016 to 2017: Member of Central Equity Committee, University of Birmingham

2005 to 2007: Member of Executive Committee (student representative) Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University

2004 to 2005: Member of Executive Committee (student representative), Department of Immunology, Monash University

2003 to 2005: Student representative, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Monash University