Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Associate Professor Andrew Brooks
Associate Professor

Andrew Brooks

Email: 

Overview

Background

Dr Andrew Brooks is the Group Leader of the Cytokine Receptor Signalling Group at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute (UQ DI) within the Translational Research Institute. Andrew completed his Honours research on Flaviviruses in 1996 at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at James Cook University and then moved to the Department of Biochemistry to study Dengue Virus where he completed his PhD in 2002. He then moved to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA where he researched the role of Epstein-Barr Virus in B-cell lymphomagenesis. He then joined the research group headed by Prof Michael Waters at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ in 2006 and subsequently began his independent research group at UQ DI in 2014. Andrew’s research interests are in cytokine receptors, cell signalling, oncogenesis, and immunology. His current research focus is on the molecular mechanisms of class I cytokine receptor activation including the growth hormone receptor (GHR), thrombopoietin receptor (TpoR/MPL), IL-7 receptor, and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). In addition, he is investigating the regulation of inflammation by HLA-G. His research has led to publications in journals including Science, Blood, Hepatology, Oncogene, Nature Cell Biology, and PNAS. He has been the secured of over $12 million in research and commercialisation funding from sources including NHMRC, ARC, Innovation Connections, and Merck. He has a number of national and international collaborations, a scientific founder of a start-up company, and is an Editorial Board member for the Journal Cancers and Human Cell. He was previously a committee member of Australian Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum (AEMCRF) launched by the Australian Academy of Science.

Availability

Associate Professor Andrew Brooks is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, James Cook University

Research interests

  • Cytokine receptor signalling

    Mechanisms of cytokine receptor signal transduction

  • Growth hormone receptor signalling

    Mechanisms of growth hormone receptor signal transduction

  • Regulating Inflammation in the Liver

    Regulation of inflammation by HLA-G in the liver and its role in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders

Research impacts

Quality of Research Outputs

In the last 10 years I have published in journals including Science, Nature Cell Biology, Blood, Oncogene, J Immunol, and Nature Reviews. I have over 1000 citations (Web of Knowledge or over 1500 Google Scholar) with an h-index of 16 (Web of Knowledge) or 19 (Google Scholar; i10-index 20). I have presented my research at a number of national (including as an invited speaker) and international (including as an invited speaker: Keystone JAK-STAT 2016, Biochemical Society 2016, US ENDO 2013, ICIS 2014) conferences.

Grant Success

In the last 5 year I have been awarded two NHMRC project grants as CIA awarded $919,834 for "Defining a general mechanism for class 1 cytokine receptor activation" and $494,050 for "HLA-G/H2-Bl is Critical for Regulating Inflammation in the Liver". I was also recently awarded an NHMRC project grant as CIB with Melissa and Matthew Call (WEHI) $667,521 for "The Structural Basis of Cytokine Receptor Triggering". In addition I was awarded a GGI award (Merck) (~$200,000) in 2016 for "Targeting the Growth Hormone Receptor Achilles’ Heel for Novel Therapeutics". I have also been a CI for three NHMRC project grants. These grants are: “Roles of the nuclear growth hormone receptor in cell proliferation and survival” awarded $414,925 in 2011, “Mechanism of activation of JAK2 by a class 1 cytokine receptor” awarded $543,675 in 2011, and “Constitutive activation of the growth hormone receptor” awarded $546,732 in 2010. In 2009 I was awarded a University of Queensland Early Career Researcher Grant for $20,000 (competitive written ARC style grant application) for “Establishment of an RCAS-TVA gene delivery system and in vivo analysis of growth hormone receptor signalling and its role in oncogenesis.”

Research Supervision and Mentoring

I have always had a strong role in supervising research higher degree (RHD) students. I have previously supervised 19 research students including two PhD students. I am currently supervising 3 PhD students. All of the students I have supervised are currently either continuing their research studies or are employed in their desired scientific field. I have given a number of lectures to undergraduate students to students at UQ since 2006. I am a member of the Translational Research Insititute Mentoring committee.

Community Engagement

I am actively involved in promoting my field to the general community and due to my standing have received multiple invitations for public engagement, including a radio interview (ABC: The World Today) and medical research information talks to community groups including the Northlakes Probus Club, Brisbane, 2015 and the Palm Lakes Lifestyle Village, Toowoomba, 2015 as part of a Cancer fundraiser. I have also received an invitation to present at an Educational Conference (Ausmed Education Australia) which will be attended by, health professionals and clinicians. I was previously a part of the IMB Science Ambassador program where I supervised High School work experience students in my research environment, gave tours of the IMB research facilities to students and members of the community, gave educational science demonstrations to a local primary school, as well as being part of “Scientists on the Loose” run by Australian Broadcasting Corporation which promotes science and science careers to regional high school students. I have attended the Talking Scientists Workshop in Brisbane which is a Queensland government initiative to engage Queensland scientists to talk about their work at branch meetings of community groups, and business associations, with the goal of showcasing your research, and getting the Queensland public thinking and talking about Queensland science. I have been a member of the Australian Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum.

Works

Search Professor Andrew Brooks’s works on UQ eSpace

69 works between 1999 and 2024

1 - 20 of 69 works

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Novel drivers and modifiers of MPL-dependent oncogenic transformation identified by deep mutational scanning

Bridgford, Jessica L., Lee, Su Min, Lee, Christine M. M., Guglielmelli, Paola, Rumi, Elisa, Pietra, Daniela, Wilcox, Stephen, Chhabra, Yash, Rubin, Alan F., Cazzola, Mario, Vannucchi, Alessandro M., Brooks, Andrew J., Call, Matthew Edwin and Call, Melissa Joy (2020). Novel drivers and modifiers of MPL-dependent oncogenic transformation identified by deep mutational scanning. Blood, 135 (4), 287-292. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002561

Novel drivers and modifiers of MPL-dependent oncogenic transformation identified by deep mutational scanning

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Oncogenic basic amino acid insertions at the extracellular juxtamembrane region of IL7Rα cause receptor hypersensitivity

Campos, Livia Weijenborg, Zenatti, Priscila Pini, Pissinato, Leonardo Granato, Rodrigues, Gisele Olinto Libanio, Artico, Leonardo Luís, Guimarães, Thais Rafael, Archangelo, Leticia Fröhlich, Martínez, Leandro, Brooks, Andrew J. and Yunes, Jose Andres (2019). Oncogenic basic amino acid insertions at the extracellular juxtamembrane region of IL7Rα cause receptor hypersensitivity. Blood, 133 (11), 1259-1263. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-09-872945

Oncogenic basic amino acid insertions at the extracellular juxtamembrane region of IL7Rα cause receptor hypersensitivity

Featured

2018

Journal Article

A growth hormone receptor SNP promotes lung cancer by impairment of SOCS2-mediated degradation

Chhabra, Y., Wong, H. Y., Nikolajsen, L. F., Steinocher, H., Papadopulos, A., Tunny, K. A., Meunier, F. A., Smith, A. G., Kragelund, B. B., Brooks, A. J. and Waters, M. J. (2018). A growth hormone receptor SNP promotes lung cancer by impairment of SOCS2-mediated degradation. Oncogene, 37 (4), 489-501. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.352

A growth hormone receptor SNP promotes lung cancer by impairment of SOCS2-mediated degradation

Featured

2018

Book Chapter

Cytokine receptors

Brooks, Andrew J., Dehkhoda, Farhad and Kragelund, Birthe (2018). Cytokine receptors. Endocrinology: principles of endocrinology and hormone action. (pp. 157-185) edited by Antonino Belfiore and Derek LeRoith. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-44675-2_8

Cytokine receptors

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

Brooks, Andrew J., Dai, Wei, O’Mara, Megan L., Abankwa, Daniel, Chhabra, Yash, Pelekanos, Rebecca A., Gardon, Olivier, Tunny, Kathryn A., Blucher, Kristopher M., Morton, Craig J., Parker, Michael W., Sierecki, Emma, Gambin, Yann, Gomez, Guillermo A., Alexandrov, Kirill, Wilson, Ian A., Doxastakis, Manolis, Mark, Alan E. and Waters, Michael J. (2014). Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor. Science, 344 (6185) 1249783, 1249783.1-1249783.12. doi: 10.1126/science.1249783

Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

Featured

2010

Journal Article

The growth hormone receptor: mechanism of activation and clinical implications

Brooks, Andrew J. and Waters, Michael J. (2010). The growth hormone receptor: mechanism of activation and clinical implications. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 6 (9), 515-525. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2010.123

The growth hormone receptor: mechanism of activation and clinical implications

Featured

2008

Journal Article

An agonist-induced conformational change in the growth hormone receptor determines the choice of signalling pathway

Rowlinson, Scott W., Yoshizato, Hideo, Barclay, Johanna L., Brooks, Andrew J., Behncken, Stuart N., Kerr, Linda M., Millard, Kirstin, Palethorpe, Kathryn, Nielsen, Katherine, Clyde-Smith, Jodie, Hancock, John F. and Waters, Michael J. (2008). An agonist-induced conformational change in the growth hormone receptor determines the choice of signalling pathway. Nature Cell Biology, 10 (6), 740-747. doi: 10.1038/ncb1737

An agonist-induced conformational change in the growth hormone receptor determines the choice of signalling pathway

2024

Journal Article

The roles of Growth Hormone dependent JAK-STAT5 and Lyn kinase signalling in determining lifespan and cancer incidence

Chhabra, Yash, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Brooks, Tania Louise, Brooks, Andrew James and Waters, Michael J (2024). The roles of Growth Hormone dependent JAK-STAT5 and Lyn kinase signalling in determining lifespan and cancer incidence. Endocrinology. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqae136

The roles of Growth Hormone dependent JAK-STAT5 and Lyn kinase signalling in determining lifespan and cancer incidence

2024

Journal Article

A scalable, spin‐free approach to generate enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell–derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy

Rossi, Gustavo R., Sun, Jane, Lin, Cheng‐Yu, Wong, Joshua K.M., Alim, Louisa, Lam, Pui Yeng, Khosrotehrani, Kiarash, Wolvetang, Ernst, Cheetham, Seth W., Derrick, Emily B., Amoako, Akwasi, Lehner, Christoph, Brooks, Andrew J., Beavis, Paul A. and Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). A scalable, spin‐free approach to generate enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell–derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. Immunology & Cell Biology, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12820

A scalable, spin‐free approach to generate enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell–derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy

2024

Journal Article

Long-term environmental flows restore benthic invertebrate communities in a highly regulated river

Brooks, Andrew J., Coleman, Daniel W., Bevitt, Robyn C., Haeusler, Timothy, Russell, Matthew D., Rose, Teresa and Williams, Simon (2024). Long-term environmental flows restore benthic invertebrate communities in a highly regulated river. Restoration Ecology, 32 (5), 1-13. doi: 10.1111/rec.14174

Long-term environmental flows restore benthic invertebrate communities in a highly regulated river

2024

Journal Article

The heavy subunit of ferritin stimulates NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic stellate cells through ICAM-1 to drive hepatic inflammation

Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel A., Pearen, Michael A., Burgess, Anita G., Ikonomopoulou, Maria P., Hoang-Le, Diem, Genz, Berit, Saggiomo, Silvia L., Nawaratna, Sujeevi S. K., Poli, Maura, Reissmann, Regina, Gobert, Geoffrey N., Deutsch, Urban, Engelhardt, Britta, Brooks, Andrew J., Jones, Alun, Arosio, Paolo and Ramm, Grant A. (2024). The heavy subunit of ferritin stimulates NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic stellate cells through ICAM-1 to drive hepatic inflammation. Science Signaling, 17 (830) eade4335, 1-16. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.ade4335

The heavy subunit of ferritin stimulates NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic stellate cells through ICAM-1 to drive hepatic inflammation

2024

Journal Article

Location, location, location: Protein kinase nanoclustering for optimised signalling output

Gormal, Rachel S., Martinez-Marmol, Ramon, Brooks, Andrew J. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2024). Location, location, location: Protein kinase nanoclustering for optimised signalling output. eLife, 13 ARTN e93902, 1-21. doi: 10.7554/elife.93902

Location, location, location: Protein kinase nanoclustering for optimised signalling output

2024

Journal Article

Freshwater invertebrate responses to fine sediment stress: A multi-continent perspective

McKenzie, Morwenna, Brooks, Andrew, Callisto, Marcos, Collins, Adrian L., Durkota, Jessica M., Death, Russell G., Jones, J. Iwan, Linares, Marden S., Matthaei, Christoph D., Monk, Wendy A., Murphy, John F., Wagenhoff, Annika, Wilkes, Martin, Wood, Paul J. and Mathers, Kate L. (2024). Freshwater invertebrate responses to fine sediment stress: A multi-continent perspective. Global Change Biology, 30 (1) ARTN e17084. doi: 10.1111/gcb.17084

Freshwater invertebrate responses to fine sediment stress: A multi-continent perspective

2023

Journal Article

Author Correction: Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands

Linossi, Edmond M., Li, Kunlun, Veggiani, Gianluca, Tan, Cyrus, Dehkhoda, Farhad, Hockings, Colin, Calleja, Dale J., Keating, Narelle, Feltham, Rebecca, Brooks, Andrew J., Li, Shawn S., Sidhu, Sachdev S., Babon, Jeffrey J., Kershaw, Nadia J. and Nicholson, Sandra E. (2023). Author Correction: Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 7951, 7951. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42706-4

Author Correction: Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands

2023

Journal Article

Tyrosine kinases compete for growth hormone receptor binding and regulate receptor mobility and degradation

Chhabra, Yash, Seiffert, Pernille, Gormal, Rachel S., Vullings, Manon, Lee, Christine Mei Mei, Wallis, Tristan P., Dehkhoda, Farhad, Indrakumar, Sowmya, Jacobsen, Nina L., Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten, Durisic, Nela, Waters, Michael J., Meunier, Frederic A., Kragelund, Birthe B. and Brooks, Andrew J. (2023). Tyrosine kinases compete for growth hormone receptor binding and regulate receptor mobility and degradation. Cell Reports, 42 (5) 112490, 112490. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112490

Tyrosine kinases compete for growth hormone receptor binding and regulate receptor mobility and degradation

2022

Conference Publication

Gene-therapy based modulation of antigen-presenting cells within hyperproliferative epithelium to restore immunity

Dang, T. V. T., Gillinder, K. G., Brooks, A. J., Asplett, K., Tolley, L. K., Hume, D. A., Leggatt, G. R., Frazer, I. H. and Chandra, J. (2022). Gene-therapy based modulation of antigen-presenting cells within hyperproliferative epithelium to restore immunity. 29th Annual Congress of the European-Society-of-Gene-and-Cell-Therapy (ESCGT), Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 11-14 October 2022. New Rochelle, NY United States: Mary Ann Liebert.

Gene-therapy based modulation of antigen-presenting cells within hyperproliferative epithelium to restore immunity

2022

Journal Article

Germline missense variants in SH2B3 underpin platelet count variation and inherited MPN

Butler, Liesl, Lee, Christine, Magor, Graham William, Morris, Rhiannon, Tallack, Michael, Lam, Charlene, Ivey, Adam, Lin, Jane, Deng, Zihao, Grigg, Andrew, Mason, Jane, Perchard, Malaika, Weston, Helen, Cummings, Nik, Brooks, Andrew, Babon, Jeffrey J, Murphy, Andrew J, Salmon, Jessica M and Perkins, Andrew Charles (2022). Germline missense variants in SH2B3 underpin platelet count variation and inherited MPN. Blood, 140 (S1), 1093-1094. doi: 10.1182/blood-2022-159416

Germline missense variants in SH2B3 underpin platelet count variation and inherited MPN

2021

Journal Article

Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands

Linossi, Edmond M., Li, Kunlun, Veggiani, Gianluca, Tan, Cyrus, Dehkhoda, Farhad, Hockings, Colin, Calleja, Dale J., Keating, Narelle, Feltham, Rebecca, Brooks, Andrew J., Li, Shawn S., Sidhu, Sachdev S., Babon, Jeffrey J., Kershaw, Nadia J. and Nicholson, Sandra E. (2021). Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 7032, 7032. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26983-5

Discovery of an exosite on the SOCS2-SH2 domain that enhances SH2 binding to phosphorylated ligands

2021

Journal Article

GHR signalling: Receptor activation and degradation mechanisms

Chhabra, Yash, Lee, Christine M. M., Mueller, Alexandra Franziska and Brooks, Andrew J. (2021). GHR signalling: Receptor activation and degradation mechanisms. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 520 111075, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111075

GHR signalling: Receptor activation and degradation mechanisms

2020

Journal Article

Just add water: rapid assembly of new communities in previously dry riverbeds, and limited long-distance effects on existing communities

Brooks, Andrew J., Lancaster, Jill, Downes, Barbara J. and Wolfenden, Benjamin (2020). Just add water: rapid assembly of new communities in previously dry riverbeds, and limited long-distance effects on existing communities. Oecologia, 194 (4), 709-722. doi: 10.1007/s00442-020-04799-2

Just add water: rapid assembly of new communities in previously dry riverbeds, and limited long-distance effects on existing communities

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024
    Defining the differences in growth hormone receptor signalling due to genetic differences in Neanderthal GHR sequence compared to human GHR.
    Karolinska Institute
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Dr Andrew Brooks Research at UQ Diamantina Institute
    Kyon Biotech AG
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2021
    CD14 inhibition in a Liver Inflammation mouse model
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Saving your skin: physiology of immune regulation in mammalian lymph nodes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    The Structural Basis of Cytokine Receptor Triggering (NHMRC Project Grant led by The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
    Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    HLA-G/H2-Bl is Critical for Regulating Inflammation in the Liver
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Targeting the growth hormone receptor Achilles' heel for novel therapeutics
    Grant for Growth Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Hardy Brothers Scholarship for Research in Blood Cancer at the UQ Diamantina Institute
    Hardy Brothers
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    A New Paradigm for Class I Cytokine Receptor Activation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Mechanism of activation of JAK2 by a class 1 cytokine receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Roles of the nuclear growth hormone receptor in cell proliferation and survival
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Constitutive activation of the growth hormone receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    COMPARATIVE ANTI-BACTERIAL IMMUNITY IN THE URINARY TRACT: DOES ONE SIZE FIT ALL?
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Establishment of an RCAS-TVA gene delivery system and in vivo analysis of growth hormone receptor signalling and its role in oncogenesis
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Andrew Brooks is:
Available for supervision

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

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Andrew Brooks directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au