Overview
Background
Professor Kris Thurecht has appointments at AIBN and UQ’s Centre for Advanced Imaging where he is the Deputy Director of Imaging Technologies. Professor Thurecht has been recognised for scientific excellence with a 2012 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award and a 2010 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award for his work in developing polymer ‘theranostics’. In 2015 he was recognised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Polymer Division through award of the David Sangster Polymer Science and Technology Award for scientific excellence for a mid-career researcher. Since obtaining his PhD in 2005, he has been the recipient of five competitive national and international fellowships, the latest being an NHMRC CDF, and prior to that award an ARC Future Fellowship. He has contributed scientific and review articles to various leading journals in his field, including invited articles in the Emerging Young Investigator issue of Chemical Communications and a Young Talent article in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics. Professor Thurecht has been chief investigator on grants from various funding bodies, including ARC Discovery grants; ARC Linkage Grants, with both national and international companies; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants; and funding from various cancer foundations. He is co-inventor on 8 patents. He is CI on the ARC Training Centre for Innovation in BioMedical Imaging Technology in which he is theme leader, and is Director of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals.
Availability
- Professor Kristofer Thurecht is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Research
Design and synthesis of architectural polymers applied to molecular imaging and drug delivery in nanomedicine. In collaboration with industry, Prof Thurecht's research has contributed to development and translation of new agents for detection and treatment of cancer.
Works
Search Professor Kristofer Thurecht’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Conference Publication
Dox- loaded mpeg nanoparticles as a promising treatment in a humanized mouse model for breast cancer bone metastasis
Frankenbach, Tina, Landgraf, Marietta, Fletcher, Nicholas, Howard, Christopher, Ravichandran, Akhilandeshwari, Akhter, Dewan, Shafiee, Abbas, Holzapfel, Boris M., Thurecht, Kristofer, McGovern, Jacqui and Hutmacher, Dietmar W. (2023). Dox- loaded mpeg nanoparticles as a promising treatment in a humanized mouse model for breast cancer bone metastasis. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), Krakow, Poland, 28 June - 1 July 2022. New Rochelle, NY United States: Mary Ann Liebert.
2023
Journal Article
RAFT polymer–antibody conjugation: squaramide ester chemistry leads to conjugates with a therapeutic anti-EGFR antibody with full retention of activity and increased tumor uptake in vivo
Ardana, Aditya, Ghosh, Saikat, Huda, Pie, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Williams, Charlotte C. (2023). RAFT polymer–antibody conjugation: squaramide ester chemistry leads to conjugates with a therapeutic anti-EGFR antibody with full retention of activity and increased tumor uptake in vivo. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 20 (6), 3073-3087. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00085
2023
Journal Article
Delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin by bispecific antibodies improves treatment in models of high-risk childhood leukemia
Moles, Ernest, Howard, Christopher B., Huda, Pie, Karsa, Mawar, McCalmont, Hannah, Kimpton, Kathleen, Duly, Alastair, Chen, Yongjuan, Huang, Yizhou, Tursky, Melinda L., Ma, David, Bustamante, Sonia, Pickford, Russell, Connerty, Patrick, Omari, Sofia, Jolly, Christopher J., Joshi, Swapna, Shen, Sylvie, Pimanda, John E., Dolnikov, Alla, Cheung, Laurence C., Kotecha, Rishi S., Norris, Murray D., Haber, Michelle, de Bock, Charles E., Somers, Klaartje, Lock, Richard B., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Kavallaris, Maria (2023). Delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin by bispecific antibodies improves treatment in models of high-risk childhood leukemia. Science Translational Medicine, 15 (696) abm1262, 1-17. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm1262
2023
Journal Article
Development and validation of a targeted treatment for brain tumors using a multi-drug loaded, relapse-resistant polymeric theranostic
Chu, Weijing, Houston, Zachary H., Fletcher, Nicholas L., Huda, Pie, Ahamed, Muneer, Lim, Ting Xiang, Day, Bryan W., Pinkham, Mark and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2023). Development and validation of a targeted treatment for brain tumors using a multi-drug loaded, relapse-resistant polymeric theranostic. Biomacromolecules, 24 (6), 2674-2690. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00138
2023
Journal Article
Efficient delivery of Temozolomide using ultrasmall large-pore silica nanoparticles for glioblastoma
Janjua, Taskeen Iqbal, Cao, Yuxue, Ahmed-Cox, Aria, Raza, Aun, Moniruzzaman, Md, Akhter, Dewan Taslima, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Kavallaris, Maria, Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Popat, Amirali (2023). Efficient delivery of Temozolomide using ultrasmall large-pore silica nanoparticles for glioblastoma. Journal of Controlled Release, 357, 161-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.03.040
2023
Journal Article
Combination of chemotherapy and mild hyperthermia using targeted nanoparticles: a potential treatment modality for breast cancer
Kaur, Ishdeep, Tieu, Terence, Deepagan, Veerasikku G., Ali, Muhammad A., Alsunaydih, Fahad, Rudd, David, Moghaddam, Maliheh A., Bourgeois, Laure, Adams, Timothy E., Thurecht, Kristofer J., Yuce, Mehmet, Cifuentes-Rius, Anna and Voelcker, Nicolas H. (2023). Combination of chemotherapy and mild hyperthermia using targeted nanoparticles: a potential treatment modality for breast cancer. Pharmaceutics, 15 (5) 1389, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051389
2023
Journal Article
Homochiral poly(2‐oxazoline)‐based membrane for efficient enantioselective separation
Wang, Fanmengjing, Pizzi, David, Lu, Yizhihao, He, Kaiqiang, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Hill, Matthew R., Marriott, Philip, Holl, Mark M. Banaszak, Kempe, Kristian and Wang, Huanting (2023). Homochiral poly(2‐oxazoline)‐based membrane for efficient enantioselective separation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 62 (8) e202212139, 1-6. doi: 10.1002/anie.202212139
2023
Journal Article
Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Zr-Miltuximab and Its Antibody Fragments as Glypican-1 Targeting Immuno-PET Agents in Glioblastoma
Ghosh, Saikat, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Huda, Pie, Houston, Zachary H., Howard, Christopher B., Lund, Maria E., Lu, Yanling, Campbell, Douglas H., Walsh, Bradley J. and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2023). Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Zr-Miltuximab and Its Antibody Fragments as Glypican-1 Targeting Immuno-PET Agents in Glioblastoma. Molecular pharmaceutics, 20 (3), 1549-1563. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00760
2023
Journal Article
Enhanced drug delivery to cancer cells through a pH-sensitive polycarbonate platform
Arno, Maria C., Simpson, Joshua D., Blackman, Lewis D., Brannigan, Ruairí P., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Dove, Andrew P. (2023). Enhanced drug delivery to cancer cells through a pH-sensitive polycarbonate platform. Biomaterials Science, 11 (3), 908-915. doi: 10.1039/d2bm01626e
2022
Journal Article
Utilizing PET and MALDI imaging for discovery of a targeted probe for brain endocannabinoid α/β-hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6)
Mardon, Karine, Patel, Jayendra Z., Savinainen, Juha R., Stimson, Damion H. R., Oyagawa, Caitlin R. M., Grimsey, Natasha L., Migotto, Mary-anne, Njiru, Grace F. M., Hamilton, Brett R., Cowin, Gary, Yli-Kauhaluoma, Jari, Vanduffel, Wim, Blakey, Idriss, Bhalla, Rajiv, Cawthorne, Christopher, Celen, Sofie, Bormans, Guy, Thurecht, Kristofer J and Ahamed, Muneer (2022). Utilizing PET and MALDI imaging for discovery of a targeted probe for brain endocannabinoid α/β-hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6). Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (1), 538-552. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01485
2022
Journal Article
Probing the biocompatibility and immune cell association of chiral, water-soluble, bottlebrush poly(2-oxazoline)s
Pizzi, David, Humphries, James, Morrow, Joshua P., Mahmoud, Ayaat M., Fletcher, Nicholas L., Sonderegger, Stefan E., Bell, Craig A., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Kempe, Kristian (2022). Probing the biocompatibility and immune cell association of chiral, water-soluble, bottlebrush poly(2-oxazoline)s. Biomacromolecules, 24 (1), 246-257. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01105
2022
Journal Article
Modulating macrophage clearance of nanoparticles: comparison of small-molecule and biologic drugs as pharmacokinetic modifiers of soft nanomaterials
Mills, Jessica A., Humphries, James, Simpson, Joshua D., Sonderegger, Stefan E., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Fletcher, Nicholas L. (2022). Modulating macrophage clearance of nanoparticles: comparison of small-molecule and biologic drugs as pharmacokinetic modifiers of soft nanomaterials. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 19 (11), 4080-4097. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00528
2022
Journal Article
Modeling brain metastasis by internal carotid artery injection of cancer cells
Lim, Malcolm, Fletcher, Nicholas, Reed, Amy Mccart, Flint, Melanie, Thurecht, Kristofer, Saunus, Jodi and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2022). Modeling brain metastasis by internal carotid artery injection of cancer cells. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2022 (186) e64216. doi: 10.3791/64216
2022
Journal Article
Protected amine-functional initiators for the synthesis of α-amine homo- and heterotelechelic poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s
Mazrad, Zihnil A. I., Lai, May, Davis, Thomas P., Nicolazzo, Joseph A., Thurecht, Kristofer J., Leiske, Meike N. and Kempe, Kristian (2022). Protected amine-functional initiators for the synthesis of α-amine homo- and heterotelechelic poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s. Polymer Chemistry, 13 (30), 4436-4445. doi: 10.1039/d2py00649a
2022
Journal Article
A novel lipidic peptide with potential to promote balanced effector-regulatory T cell responses
Agrez, Michael, Rzepecka, Justyna, Turner, Darryl, Knox, Gavin, Chandler, Christopher, Howard, Christopher B., Fletcher, Nicholas, Thurecht, Kristofer, Parker, Stephen, Gooding, Hayley and Gallagher, Laura (2022). A novel lipidic peptide with potential to promote balanced effector-regulatory T cell responses. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 11185, 11185. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15455-5
2022
Journal Article
Confined microemulsion sono-polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles for targeted delivery
Gao, Zhiliang, Li, Xiaoyu, Zhao, Kaijie, Geng, Huimin, Zhang, Peiyu, Ju, Yi, Huda, Pie, Howard, Christopher B, Thurecht, Kristofer J, Ashokkumar, Muthupandian, Hao, Jingcheng and Cui, Jiwei (2022). Confined microemulsion sono-polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles for targeted delivery. Chemical Communications, 58 (56), 7777-7780. doi: 10.1039/d2cc01874h
2022
Journal Article
Pre-targeting of polymeric nanomaterials to balance tumour accumulation and clearance
Fletcher, N. L., Prior, A., Choy, O., Humphries, J., Huda, P., Ghosh, S., Houston, Z. H., Bell, C. A. and Thurecht, K. J. (2022). Pre-targeting of polymeric nanomaterials to balance tumour accumulation and clearance. Chemical Communications, 58 (57), 7912-7915. doi: 10.1039/d2cc02443h
2022
Journal Article
Development of targeted micelles and polymersomes prepared from degradable RAFT-based diblock copolymers and their potential role as nanocarriers for chemotherapeutics
Ahmed, Salma E., Fletcher, Nicholas L., Prior, Amber R., Huda, Pie, Bell, Craig A. and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2022). Development of targeted micelles and polymersomes prepared from degradable RAFT-based diblock copolymers and their potential role as nanocarriers for chemotherapeutics. Polymer Chemistry, 13 (27), 4004-4017. doi: 10.1039/d2py00257d
2022
Journal Article
Investigation of a dual siRNA/chemotherapy delivery system for breast cancer therapy
Zhao, Yongmei, Liu, Tianqing, Ardana, Aditya, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Houston, Zachary H., Blakey, Idriss and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2022). Investigation of a dual siRNA/chemotherapy delivery system for breast cancer therapy. ACS Omega, 7 (20), 17119-17127. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00620
2022
Conference Publication
Immuno-PET agents for targeting glioblastoma
Ghosh, S., Huda, P., Fletcher, N., Howard, C., Lu, Y., Campbell, D., Walsh, B. and Thurecht, K. (2022). Immuno-PET agents for targeting glioblastoma. Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) 52nd ASM, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13–15 May 2022. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kristofer Thurecht is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Targeted polymeric radiopharmaceutical as cancer theranostics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher
-
Doctor Philosophy
Targeted multifunctional nanoparticles for radiation-enhanced cancer therapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gayathri Ediriweera
-
Master Philosophy
Development and characterization of bispecific and bivalent nanobodies for targeting ErBb receptors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jodi Saunus, Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Pie Huda
-
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising Molecular Imaging to Understand Nanomedicine Behaviours
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel complementary diagnostics for improved therapeutics/theranostics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Rhia Stone
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of site-specific radiopharmaceuticals using nanotechnology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr James Humphries
-
Doctor Philosophy
Nanomedicine for precision breast cancer radiotherapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alexander Martyn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Aqueous one-pot photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) to synthesize therapeutic protein loaded nanocarriers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Gayathri Ediriweera
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of novel nanoparticles for enhanced radiotherapeutic efficacy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr James Humphries, Dr James Wood
-
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular alpha radiotherapy using nanomaterials mediated via pre-targeting strategy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr James Wood
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Radiotherapy Resistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr James Humphries
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modulating the Mononuclear Phagocyte System for Improved Nanomaterial Delivery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Dr Nick Fletcher
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Novel Agents for PFAS Monitoring and Removal from Contaminated Sources
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cheng Zhang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Roles of image fusion and 3D technology in urology: exploration and clinical integration for personalised devices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Roberts
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the function of CDCP1 and its potential as a theranostic target for cholangiocarcinoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor John Hooper
-
Doctor Philosophy
Inhalable nanoparticle-based gene delivery system for cystic fibrosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Neville Butcher, Associate Professor Lisa Kaminskas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Targeted Alpha Therapies and Biological Responses: Improving Prognostic Power and Regimen Design
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher
-
Doctor Philosophy
Seeing the Unseen: Imaging Bacterial Infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich, Dr Rhia Stone
-
Doctor Philosophy
Seeing the Unseen: Imaging Bacterial Infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich, Dr Rhia Stone
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Development of polymeric nanoparticles for monitoring cytokine release in vivo via FRET
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Design of a complex in vitro microfluidic device for the evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Biologics as Peptide Delivery Vehicles for Immunotherapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey, Dr Pie Huda
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Immunogenicity in Nanomedicine
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Pie Huda
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Design of pH-sensitive, polymeric nanoparticles, and their application in chemotherapeutic drug delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Targeted delivery of novel immune-boosting peptides to the tumour microenvironment using polymeric nanoparticles to manage lung cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Developing nanomedicines for cancer theranostics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Novel antibody theranostics for oncology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Howard, Dr Pie Huda
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of novel therapeutic ligands against CXCR4
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Photoacoustic Molecular Imaging in Nanomedicine: Development of a Polymeric Probe to Assess Tumour Penetration and Reassessment of the Contrast Enhancement Mechanism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Self-assembled polymeric theranostics for hepatic fibrosis - An approach to non-invasive staging and targeted drug delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Biological Interactions of Polymeric Nanomedicines & Molecular Imaging Agents
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Nick Fletcher
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the delivery and mechanisms of novel dementia and glioblastoma therapeutics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Polymeric micelle nanomedicines for monitoring therapeutic efficacy
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Design and synthesis of nanomaterials as combination therapeutics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development of polymeric theranostics using bioorthogonal chemistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell
-
2019
Master Philosophy
Radiosensitization of Prostate Cancer by Nanoparticle Mediated RNA Interference
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kum Kum Khanna, Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Christopher Howard
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development of novel polymeric theranostic for the treatment of colorectal cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of polymeric drug delivery systems to improve therapeutic efficiency for breast cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Physiological Response to Polymeric Materials in Nanomedicine
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Design of functional hyperbranched polymers for gene delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Hyperbranched Polymer Theranostic for Prostate Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Hyperbranched Polymers for In Vivo Multimodal Molecular Imaging
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Controlled delivery of nanoparticles to the colon for tumour targeting
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe
-
2024
Master Philosophy
High Activity Automated Synthesis of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE for Improved Clinical Workflow
Associate Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Nanomaterials for the Detection of a Small-Molecule Disease Marker
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Re-examining catalytic chain transfer for the synthesis of specialty polymers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey, Professor Jack Clegg, Professor Andrew Whittaker
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Polymer-Ionic Liquid Composites for Advanced Material and Solid Polymer Electrolyte Applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Idriss Blakey
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Design, Assembly and Characterisation of a Multifunctional, Self-Assembled Nanoparticle incorporating Antibody Fragments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Stephen Mahler, Dr Martina Jones
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Delivery of therapeutic peptides from thermoplastic polyurethane films
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Darren Martin
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Cancer Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN): Preclinical Studies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith, Professor Andrew Whittaker
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Multifunctional Nanostructured Polymers for Improved 19F MRI
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Hui Peng
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Kristofer Thurecht directly for media enquiries about:
- Nanomedicine polymer therapeutics
- physical chemistry
- Polymer
- Polymer chemistry
- Polymeric imaging agents
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