Overview
Background
I lead the extracellular vesicle (EV) Diagnostics and Therapeutics research theme within the Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland. My research aims to transform EVs into precision tools for detecting, monitoring, and treating complex diseases of the brain and body by integrating EV biology, immunology, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.
My group is developing advanced analytical platforms for single-vesicle profiling in blood and other biofluids, enabling tissue-specific EV diagnostics that trace their cellular origin and act as a “molecular GPS” for disease activity throughout the body. In parallel, my program focuses on bioengineering organotropic EVs with targeted delivery capabilities to cross biological barriers and treat neurological disorders and cancer.
Through this work, I aim to advance next-generation EV technologies that provide real-time molecular insights into disease progression and enable new therapeutic strategies for brain cancer, metastatic CNS disease, traumatic brain injury, dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and motor neuron disease.
Availability
- Dr Richard Lobb is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Extracellular Vesicles
Clinical interest in extracellular vesicles (EVs) has grown rapidly as accumulating evidence highlights their central role in intercellular communication and systemic regulation. Small EVs, or exosomes, are nanoscale lipid bilayer vesicles (30–150 nm) constitutively secreted by virtually all cell types. They carry a diverse molecular cargo of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, including mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, and both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, reflecting the physiological state of their cell of origin. Consequently, EVs have emerged as versatile biomarkers and mediators of disease processes, offering new opportunities for diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutic intervention across oncology, neurodegenerative and traumatic brain disorders, cardiovascular disease, and immune dysregulation. Importantly, tissue-derived EVs are readily detectable in a range of biofluids such as blood, urine, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid, supporting their utility in minimally invasive “liquid biopsy” approaches for precision health.
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Therapeutics
The ability of small EVs to transfer biomolecules between cells highlights their potential in modulating intercellular communication for therapeutic purposes. Small EVs possess natural traits that facilitate effective drug delivery, including their ability to traverse biological barriers and be administered via various routes, offering flexibility in treatment strategies. These inherent advantages can be exploited with precise bioengineering of EV membrane proteins for targeted distribution to specific organs and cell types, improving therapeutic outcomes while minimizing unintended effects. As a result, EVs as an advanced bionanoparticle therapeutic may represent next-generation drug delivery resulting in safer and more effective therapies
Works
Search Professor Richard Lobb’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Breast cancer-derived exosomes alter macrophage polarization via gp130/STAT3 signaling
Ham, Sunyoung, Lima, Luize G., Chai, Edna Pei Zhi, Muller, Alexandra, Lobb, Richard J., Krumeich, Sophie, Wen, Shu Wen, Wiegmans, Adrian P. and Moeller, Andreas (2018). Breast cancer-derived exosomes alter macrophage polarization via gp130/STAT3 signaling. Frontiers in Immunology, 9 (MAY) 871, 871. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00871
2018
Other Outputs
Exosomes in the disease progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Exosomes as biomarkers in NSCLC
Lobb, Richard John (2018). Exosomes in the disease progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Exosomes as biomarkers in NSCLC. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.236
2017
Journal Article
Oncogenic transformation of lung cells results in distinct exosome protein profile similar to the cell of origin
Lobb, Richard J., Hastie, Marcus L., Norris, Emma L., van Amerongen, Rosa, Gorman, Jeffrey J. and Möller, Andreas (2017). Oncogenic transformation of lung cells results in distinct exosome protein profile similar to the cell of origin. Proteomics, 17 (23-24) 1600432, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201600432
2017
Journal Article
Exosomes derived from mesenchymal non-small cell lung cancer cells promote chemoresistance
Lobb, Richard J., van Amerongen, Rosa, Wiegmans, Adrian, Ham, Sunyoung, Larsen, Jill E. and Moller, Andreas (2017). Exosomes derived from mesenchymal non-small cell lung cancer cells promote chemoresistance. International Journal of Cancer, 141 (3), 614-620. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30752
2017
Journal Article
An electrochemical method for the detection of disease-apecific exosomes
Yadav, Sharda, Boriachek, Kseniia, Islam, Md Nazmul, Lobb, Richard, Moller, Andreas, Hill, Michelle M., Hossain, Md Shahriar Al, Nguyen, Nam-Trung and Shiddiky, Muhammad J. A. (2017). An electrochemical method for the detection of disease-apecific exosomes. ChemElectroChem, 4 (4), 967-971. doi: 10.1002/celc.201600391
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
2017
Journal Article
Exosomes: key mediators of metastasis and pre-metastatic niche formation
Lobb, Richard J., Lima, Luize G. and Moller, Andreas (2017). Exosomes: key mediators of metastasis and pre-metastatic niche formation. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 67, 3-10. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.01.004
2017
Book Chapter
Size exclusion chromatography: a simple and reliable method for exosome purification
Lobb, Richard and Moller, Andreas (2017). Size exclusion chromatography: a simple and reliable method for exosome purification. Extracellular vesicles: methods and protocols. (pp. 105-110) edited by Winston Patrick Kuo and Shidong Jia. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7253-1_9
2016
Journal Article
The biodistribution and immune suppressive effects of breast cancer-derived exosomes
Wen, Shu Wen, Sceneay, Jaclyn, Lima, Luize Goncalves, Wong, Christina S. F., Becker, Melanie, Krumeich, Sophie, Lobb, Richard J., Castillo, Vanessa, Wong, Ke Ni, Ellis, Sarah, Parker, Belinda S. and Moller, Andreas (2016). The biodistribution and immune suppressive effects of breast cancer-derived exosomes. Cancer Research, 76 (23), 6816-6827. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0868
2016
Journal Article
Radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer induces DNA damage response in both irradiated and out-of-field normal tissues
Siva, Shankar, Lobachevsky, Pavel, MacManus, Michael P., Kron, Tomas, Möller, Andreas, Lobb, Richard J., Ventura, Jessica, Best, Nickala, Smith, Jai, Ball, David and Martin, Olga A. (2016). Radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer induces DNA damage response in both irradiated and out-of-field normal tissues. Clinical Cancer Research, 22 (19), 4817-4826. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-0138
2015
Conference Publication
Purification and Analysis of Exosomes Derived From Primary Human Proximal Epithelial Cells (Ptec)
Wang, X., Kassianos, A. J., Potriquet, J., Lobb, R., Wilkinson, R. and Healy, H. (2015). Purification and Analysis of Exosomes Derived From Primary Human Proximal Epithelial Cells (Ptec). 51st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology, Canberra, Australia, 7-9 September 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2015
Journal Article
Optimized exosome isolation protocol for cell culture supernatant and human plasma
Lobb, Richard J., Becker, Melanie, Wen, Shu Wen, Wong, Christina S. F., Wiegmans, Adrian P., Leimgruber, Antione and Moller, Andreas (2015). Optimized exosome isolation protocol for cell culture supernatant and human plasma. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 4 (1) 27031, 27031. doi: 10.3402/jev.v4.27031
2014
Journal Article
Exosomes in cancer metastasis: Novel targets for diagnosis and therapy?
Wen, Shu Wen, Lobb, Richard and Moller, Andreas (2014). Exosomes in cancer metastasis: Novel targets for diagnosis and therapy?. Cancer Forum, 38 (2), 116-120.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Richard Lobb is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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A New Window into the Brain: Profiling Extracellular Vesicles for Neuro-Oncology
Establish a liquid biopsy approach for brain cancer by mapping the molecular phenotype of blood-derived EVs from brain-resident cells. This project leverages tissue-specific EV markers and multiplexed nanotechnologies to enable minimally invasive monitoring of glioblastoma, brain metastases, and neuroinflammation.
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Advanced Bionanoparticle Engineering for Therapeutics
Develop next-generation extracellular vesicle (EV) engineering strategies for targeted therapeutic delivery. This project focuses on the design and functionalisation of EVs and synthetic mimetics, integrating bio-orthogonal chemistry, surface display technologies, and therapeutic cargo loading to optimise delivery to tumours and inflamed tissues.
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Unravelling EV-Mediated Intercellular Communication in Health and Disease
Investigate the functional roles of EVs in modulating recipient cell behaviour. This project combines controlled EV isolation with advanced in vitro/ in vivo models to dissect how EV cargo influences signalling pathways, immune responses, and cellular plasticity in the context of cancer and injury.
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Multiplexed Nanotechnology for EV Analysis and Diagnostics
Design and apply cutting-edge nanostructures—including nanopillar arrays and barcoded nanoparticles—for high-sensitivity EV capture and molecular profiling. This platform supports multi-marker EV analysis in clinical biospecimens, with applications in early detection, disease monitoring, and precision medicine.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating therapeutic potentials of brain-derived exosomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Dr Christopher Howard
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Doctor Philosophy
The investigation of microglial activation in brain cancer and brain metastasis by an integrated nano-sensor
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Associate Professor Alain Wuethrich
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Doctor Philosophy
Digital Nanotechnologies to track molecular aberrations in cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alain Wuethrich, Professor Matt Trau
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Doctor Philosophy
Single Molecule Readout of Immune Disfunction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Dr Fiach Antaw
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-Factor Authentication of Extracellular Vesicles in Clinical Settings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alain Wuethrich, Professor Matt Trau
Media
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