Elizabeth Fisher, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the Institute of Neurology, UCL, has made a major contribution to both mouse and human molecular genetics research. Her early work provided important new insights into the genomic organisation of the X chromosome and into Turner syndrome, resulting in one of the first human positional cloning projects. Her research in her own laboratory has focused on mouse models of neurological disorders with particular interest in motor neuron degeneration and Down syndrome. This has lead to the characterisation of a monogenic form of progressive motor neuron degeneration, and a research article, on a new and unique mouse model segregating a human chromosome. During this time she has also played a significant role in identifying a new human dementia gene and in identifying a new gene and potential pathway involved in raised alcohol preference in mice. She has also contributed to the genetics community nationally and internationally by serving on various committees, and by publications cataloguing the mouse inbred lines and outbred stocks.