Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Dr Andrew Kassianos
Dr

Andrew Kassianos

Email: 

Overview

Background

Dr Kassianos is a Senior Scientist at the Conjoint Internal Medical Laboratory, Queensland Health. Dr Kassianos has made significant contributions to understanding the cell-cell communication between discrete kidney cell and immune cell populations and the therapeutic potential of targeting this cross-talk in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dr Kassianos has been integral in the development of innovative tools for CKD analytics: (i) in situ/ex vivo profiling for integrating CKD molecular profiles with histopathology; and (ii) preclinical models for screening novel CKD therapeutics. His research is internationally recognised in the field of CKD pathobiology.

Dr Kassianos has contributed to the fields of nephrology and immunology with 41 publications, >2000 career citations (~48 citations/paper) and invited international keynote lectures. Dr Kassianos has a continued record of success in attracting competitive research funding (>$2M as CI), including an NHMRC Dora Lush Scholarship (2007-2010), an RBWH Foundation Fellowship (2012-2014) and two NHMRC Project Grants as CIA (2016-2019; 2019-2022). Dr Kassianos has publications in high-ranking specialist (nephrology, immunology) and generalist journals, including five editorial commentaries in publication issues. These include 21 publications (~50% of his papers) as first or senior author/co-author – of which, 19 (90%) are in top field-weighted journals (Q1, top 10%), including Kidney Int, J Am Soc Nephrol, Cell Death Dis and J Extracell Vesicles. During this time, Dr Kassianos has supervised 5 Early Career Researchers, 5 PhD students (3 to completion) and 2 Masters students (both to completion). Dr Kassianos is also an Editor at Frontiers in Physiology and has contributed to 3 NHMRC grant review panels (2019-2021).

Availability

Dr Andrew Kassianos is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Works

Search Professor Andrew Kassianos’s works on UQ eSpace

54 works between 2005 and 2025

21 - 40 of 54 works

2021

Journal Article

Molecular and functional profiling of apical versus basolateral small extracellular vesicles derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions

Wang, Xiangju, Wilkinson, Ray, Kildey, Katrina, Ungerer, Jacobus P. J., Hill, Michelle M., Shah, Alok K., Mohamed, Ahmed, Dutt, Mriga, Molendijk, Jeffrey, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2021). Molecular and functional profiling of apical versus basolateral small extracellular vesicles derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 10 (4) e12064, e12064. doi: 10.1002/jev2.12064

Molecular and functional profiling of apical versus basolateral small extracellular vesicles derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions

2020

Journal Article

Oxidative stress and inflammasome activation in human rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury

Grivei, Anca, Giuliani, Kurt T.K., Wang, Xiangju, Ungerer, Jacobus, Francis, Leo, Hepburn, Kirsten, John, George T., Gois, Pedro F.H., Kassianos, Andrew J. and Healy, Helen (2020). Oxidative stress and inflammasome activation in human rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 160, 690-695. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.09.011

Oxidative stress and inflammasome activation in human rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury

2020

Conference Publication

Spatial Transcriptomics (ST): Integrating Molecular Profiles with Histomorphology in Kidney Tissue Sections

Raghubar, Arti M., Pham, Duy T., Tan, Xiao, Grice, Laura F., Lam, Pui Yeng, Crawford, Joanna, Andersen, Stacey, Yoon, Sohye, Holland, Samuel E., Francis, Leo, Combes, Alexander N., Kassianos, Andrew J., Healy, Helen G., Nguyen, Quan and Mallett, Andrew J. (2020). Spatial Transcriptomics (ST): Integrating Molecular Profiles with Histomorphology in Kidney Tissue Sections. Kidney Week, Online, 19-25 October 2020. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Nephrology. doi: 10.1681/asn.20203110s112b

Spatial Transcriptomics (ST): Integrating Molecular Profiles with Histomorphology in Kidney Tissue Sections

2020

Journal Article

The emerging role of renal tubular epithelial cells in the immunological pathophysiology of lupus nephritis

Hong, Seokchan, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2020). The emerging role of renal tubular epithelial cells in the immunological pathophysiology of lupus nephritis. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 578952, 578952. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.578952

The emerging role of renal tubular epithelial cells in the immunological pathophysiology of lupus nephritis

2020

Journal Article

The role of inflammation and inflammasome activation in human bile cast nephropathy

Giuliani, Kurt T. K., Kassianos, Andrew J., Kildey, Katrina, Grivei, Anca, Wang, Xiangju, Ungerer, Jacobus, Francis, Leo, Healy, Helen and Gois, Pedro F. H. (2020). The role of inflammation and inflammasome activation in human bile cast nephropathy. Nephrology, 25 (6) nep.13696, 502-506. doi: 10.1111/nep.13696

The role of inflammation and inflammasome activation in human bile cast nephropathy

2020

Journal Article

Underlying histopathology determines response to oxidative stress in cultured human primary proximal tubular epithelial cells

Khan, Muhammad Ali, Wang, Xiangju, Giuliani, Kurt T. K., Nag, Purba, Grivei, Anca, Ungerer, Jacobus, Hoy, Wendy, Healy, Helen, Gobe, Glenda and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2020). Underlying histopathology determines response to oxidative stress in cultured human primary proximal tubular epithelial cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (2) 560, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ijms21020560

Underlying histopathology determines response to oxidative stress in cultured human primary proximal tubular epithelial cells

2019

Journal Article

Specialized roles of human natural killer cell subsets in kidney transplant rejection

Kildey, Katrina, Francis, Ross S., Hultin, Sebastian, Harfield, Michelle, Giuliani, Kurt, Law, Becker M. P., Wang, Xiangju, See, Emily J., John, George, Ungerer, Jacobus, Wilkinson, Ray, Kassianos, Andrew J. and Healy, Helen (2019). Specialized roles of human natural killer cell subsets in kidney transplant rejection. Frontiers in Immunology, 10 (AUG) Article 1877, 1877. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01877

Specialized roles of human natural killer cell subsets in kidney transplant rejection

2019

Journal Article

Human tissue-resident mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in renal fibrosis and CKD

Law, Becker M. P., Wilkinson, Ray, Wang, Xiangju, Kildey, Katrina, Giuliani, Kurt, Beagley, Kenneth W., Ungerer, Jacobus, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2019). Human tissue-resident mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in renal fibrosis and CKD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 30 (7), 1322-1335. doi: 10.1681/asn.2018101064

Human tissue-resident mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in renal fibrosis and CKD

2019

Journal Article

Biomarkers and the role of mast cells as facilitators of inflammation and fibrosis in chronic kidney disease

Owens, Evan P., Vesey, David A., Kassianos, Andrew J., Healy, Helen, Hoy, Wendy E. and Gobe, Glenda C. (2019). Biomarkers and the role of mast cells as facilitators of inflammation and fibrosis in chronic kidney disease. Translational Andrology and Urology, 8 (S2), S175-S183. doi: 10.21037/tau.2018.11.03

Biomarkers and the role of mast cells as facilitators of inflammation and fibrosis in chronic kidney disease

2019

Journal Article

Pigment nephropathy: novel insights into inflammasome-mediated pathogenesis

Giuliani, Kurt T. K., Kassianos, Andrew J., Healy, Helen and Gois, Pedro H. F. (2019). Pigment nephropathy: novel insights into inflammasome-mediated pathogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20 (8) 1997, 1997. doi: 10.3390/ijms20081997

Pigment nephropathy: novel insights into inflammasome-mediated pathogenesis

2019

Journal Article

Natural killer cells in kidney health and disease

Turner, Jan-Eric, Rickassel, Constantin, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2019). Natural killer cells in kidney health and disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 10 (March) 587. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00587

Natural killer cells in kidney health and disease

2018

Journal Article

The role of oxidative stress and inflammation in acute oxalate nephropathy associated with ethylene glycol intoxication

Wilson, Gregory J., Gois, Pedro H.F., Zhang, Alice, Wang, Xiangju, Law, Becker M.P., Kassianos, Andrew J. and Healy, Helen G. (2018). The role of oxidative stress and inflammation in acute oxalate nephropathy associated with ethylene glycol intoxication. Kidney International Reports, 3 (5), 1217-1221. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2018.05.005

The role of oxidative stress and inflammation in acute oxalate nephropathy associated with ethylene glycol intoxication

2018

Journal Article

Identification and quantitation of leukocyte populations in human kidney tissue by multi-parameter flow cytometry

Kildey, Katrina, Law, Becker M. P., Muczynski, Kimberly A., Wilkinson, Ray, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2018). Identification and quantitation of leukocyte populations in human kidney tissue by multi-parameter flow cytometry. Bio-Protocol, 8 (16) e2980, e2980. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2980

Identification and quantitation of leukocyte populations in human kidney tissue by multi-parameter flow cytometry

2018

Journal Article

Effector γδ T cells in human renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease

Law, Becker Meng-Po, Wilkinson, Ray, Wang, Xiangju, Kildey, Katrina, Lindner, Mae, Beagley, Kenneth, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2018). Effector γδ T cells in human renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, 34 (1), 40-48. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfy098

Effector γδ T cells in human renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease

2017

Journal Article

Interferon-γ production by tubulointerstitial human CD56bright natural killer cells contributes to renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease progression

Law, Becker M. P., Wilkinson, Ray, Wang, Xiangju, Kildey, Katrina, Lindner, Mae, Rist, Melissa J., Beagley, Kenneth, Healy, Helen and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2017). Interferon-γ production by tubulointerstitial human CD56bright natural killer cells contributes to renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease progression. Kidney International, 92 (1), 79-88. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2017.02.006

Interferon-γ production by tubulointerstitial human CD56bright natural killer cells contributes to renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease progression

2017

Journal Article

Unique molecular profile of exosomes derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under diseased conditions

Wang, Xiangju, Wilkinson, Ray, Kildey, Katrina, Potriquet, Jeremy, Mulvenna, Jason, Lobb, Richard J., Moller, Andreas, Cloonan, Nicole, Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Kassianos, Andrew J. and Healy, Helen (2017). Unique molecular profile of exosomes derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under diseased conditions. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 6 (1) 1314073, 1314073-1314073. doi: 10.1080/20013078.2017.1314073

Unique molecular profile of exosomes derived from primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells under diseased conditions

2015

Journal Article

Human proximal tubule epithelial cells modulate autologous B-cell function

Sampangi, Sandeep, Wang, Xiangju, Beagley, Kenneth W., Klein, Travis, Afrin, Sadia, Healy, Helen, Wilkinson, Ray and Kassianos, Andrew J. (2015). Human proximal tubule epithelial cells modulate autologous B-cell function. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 30 (10), 1674-1683. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfv242

Human proximal tubule epithelial cells modulate autologous B-cell function

2015

Journal Article

The mechanisms of human renal epithelial cell modulation of autologous dendritic cell phenotype and function

Sampangi, Sandeep, Kassianos, Andrew J., Wang, Xiangju, Beagley, Kenneth W., Klein, Travis, Afrin, Sadia, Healy, Helen and Wilkinson, Ray (2015). The mechanisms of human renal epithelial cell modulation of autologous dendritic cell phenotype and function. PLoS One, 10 (7) e0134688, e0134688. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134688

The mechanisms of human renal epithelial cell modulation of autologous dendritic cell phenotype and function

2015

Journal Article

Fractalkine-CX3CR1-dependent recruitment and retention of human CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells by in vitro-activated proximal tubular epithelial cells

Kassianos, Andrew J., Wang, Xiangju, Sampang, Sandeep, Afrin, Sadia, Wilkinson, Ray and Healy, Helen (2015). Fractalkine-CX3CR1-dependent recruitment and retention of human CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells by in vitro-activated proximal tubular epithelial cells. Kidney International, 87 (6), 1153-1163. doi: 10.1038/ki.2014.407

Fractalkine-CX3CR1-dependent recruitment and retention of human CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells by in vitro-activated proximal tubular epithelial cells

2015

Journal Article

Differential uptake and cross-presentation of soluble and necrotic cell antigen by human DC subsets

Chiang, Meng-Chieh, Tullett, Kirsteen M., Lee, Yoke Seng, Idris, Adi, Ding, Yitian, McDonald, Kylie J., Kassianos, Andrew, Leal Rojas, Ingrid M., Jeet, Varinder, Lahoud, Mireille H. and Radford, Kristen J. (2015). Differential uptake and cross-presentation of soluble and necrotic cell antigen by human DC subsets. European Journal of Immunology, 46 (2), 329-339. doi: 10.1002/eji.201546023

Differential uptake and cross-presentation of soluble and necrotic cell antigen by human DC subsets

Funding

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2021
    Applying Spatial Transcriptomics to Discover Kidney Disease Pathways and Optimize Clinical Kidney Biopsy Assessment
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Andrew Kassianos is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Targeting the ‘wave of death’ check-points of chronic kidney disease (CKD)

    Principal Advisor: Dr Andrew Kassianos

    Email: Andrew.Kassianos@health.qld.gov.au

    Organisational unit: QIMR Berghofer and Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit

    Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health burden, defined as decreased kidney function for >3months. In Australia alone, 1 in 3 adults (6 million people) are at risk of developing CKD, with the annual financial cost of CKD >$5 billion. Furthermore, there is no cure for CKD. Understanding the pathological mechanisms of CKD progression will fast-track the development of urgently needed clinical therapeutics.

    Our team have established specialised epithelial cells of the kidney proximal tubule (PTEC) as central players in CKD. Under the pathological conditions of CKD, we show that human PTEC:

    1. Undergo primary cell death;
    2. Release small extracellular vesicles (exosomes) from their (polarised) apical membrane that directly induce secondary cell death in adjacent healthy PTEC; and
    3. Produce danger signals (including exosomes) from their (polarised) basolateral membrane that activate local immune cells and indirectly induce secondary cell death in adjacent PTEC.

    This project will explore the therapeutic potential of targeting these ‘wave of death’ check-points in established pre-clinical human models of CKD. Outcomes of this proposal will have a major health impact in providing the rationale for innovative, evidence-based therapies for CKD. A PhD scholarship is available for this project.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Familial hypercholesterolaemia: towards diagnosis in newborns

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Therapeutic targeting of wave of death signalling in human kidney disease

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Leveraging complex cellular models and extracellular vesicles to reveal novel druggable targets in polycystic kidney disease

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Andrew Kassianos's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au