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Dr Arutha Kulasinghe
Dr

Arutha Kulasinghe

Email: 

Overview

Background

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe is a Senior Research Fellow and leads the Clinical-oMx Lab at the University of Queensland. Dr Kulasinghe has pioneered spatial transcriptomics using digital spatial profiling approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to world-first studies for lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and COVID-19. His research aims to understand the underlying pathobiology by using an integrative multi-omics approach.

Availability

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology

Research interests

  • Immuno-oncology

    Applications in lung, skin, and head and neck cancers.

  • Spatial transcriptomics

    Applications across solid tumours and COVID-19

  • Liquid Biopsies

    Applications in lung cancer, and head and neck cancer

Works

Search Professor Arutha Kulasinghe’s works on UQ eSpace

136 works between 2015 and 2024

1 - 20 of 136 works

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Profiling of lung SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infection dissects virus-specific host responses and gene signatures

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Tan, Chin Wee, dos Santos Miggiolaro, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Monkman, James, SadeghiRad, Habib, Bhuva, Dharmesh D., da Silva Motta Junior, Jarbas, Vaz de Paula, Caroline Busatta, Nagashima, Seigo, Baena, Cristina Pellegrino, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Paulo, de Noronha, Lucia, McCulloch, Timothy, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, Cooper, Caroline, Tang, Benjamin, Short, Kirsty R., Davis, Melissa J., Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Belz, Gabrielle T. and O'Byrne, Ken (2022). Profiling of lung SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infection dissects virus-specific host responses and gene signatures. European Respiratory Journal, 59 (6) 2101881, 1-19. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01881-2021

Profiling of lung SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infection dissects virus-specific host responses and gene signatures

2024

Journal Article

1952P Multiomic spatial profiling of whole-slide NSCLC tissues from patients receiving anti PD-1 therapy identifies metabolic phenotypes associated with therapy resistance

Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J. and O'Byrne, K.J. (2024). 1952P Multiomic spatial profiling of whole-slide NSCLC tissues from patients receiving anti PD-1 therapy identifies metabolic phenotypes associated with therapy resistance. Annals of Oncology, 35, S1130-S1131. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.2037

1952P Multiomic spatial profiling of whole-slide NSCLC tissues from patients receiving anti PD-1 therapy identifies metabolic phenotypes associated with therapy resistance

2024

Journal Article

134P Unraveling functionally distinct metabolic programs to predict immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Kulasinghe, A., Yan, R., Quinn, S., Falkenstein, B., Monkman, J., O'Byrne, K.J., Chennubhotla, S.C. and Pullara, F. (2024). 134P Unraveling functionally distinct metabolic programs to predict immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Annals of Oncology, 35, S269. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.142

134P Unraveling functionally distinct metabolic programs to predict immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2024

Journal Article

Protocol for high-plex, whole-slide imaging of human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue using PhenoCycler-Fusion

Donovan, Meg L., Jhaveri, Niyati, Ma, Ning, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, DeRosa, James, Mihani, Ritu, Berrell, Naomi, Suen, Jacky Y., Monkman, James, Fraser, John F. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Protocol for high-plex, whole-slide imaging of human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue using PhenoCycler-Fusion. STAR Protocols, 5 (3) 103226, 103226. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103226

Protocol for high-plex, whole-slide imaging of human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue using PhenoCycler-Fusion

2024

Journal Article

Spatial resolution of the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment to identify tumor and stromal features associated with therapy response

Berrell, Naomi, Monkman, James, Donovan, Meg, Blick, Tony, O'Byrne, Ken, Ladwa, Rahul, Tan, Chin Wee and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial resolution of the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment to identify tumor and stromal features associated with therapy response. Immunology & Cell Biology, 102 (9), 830-846. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12811

Spatial resolution of the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment to identify tumor and stromal features associated with therapy response

2024

Journal Article

Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response

Sadeghirad, Habib, Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Yunis, Joseph, Donovan, Meg L., Moradi, Afshin, Jhaveri, Niyati, Perry, Chris, Adams, Mark N., O’Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid E., Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22 (1) 677, 677. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05409-y

Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response

2024

Journal Article

A mesoporous gold sensor unveils phospho PD-L1 in extracellular vesicles as a proxy for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer tissue

Shanmugasundaram, Karthik B., Ahmed, Emtiaz, Miao, Xinzhe, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Fletcher, James A., Monkman, James, Mainwaring, Paul, Masud, Mostafa Kamal, Park, Hyeongyu, Hossain, Md Shahriar A., Yamauchi, Yusuke, Sina, Abu A. I., O’Byrne, Kenneth, Wuethrich, Alain and Trau, Matt (2024). A mesoporous gold sensor unveils phospho PD-L1 in extracellular vesicles as a proxy for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer tissue. ACS Sensors, 9 (6), 3009-3016. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00192

A mesoporous gold sensor unveils phospho PD-L1 in extracellular vesicles as a proxy for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer tissue

2024

Journal Article

Mapping the spatial dynamics of the CD4+ T cell spectrum in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Menéndez, Victoria, Solórzano, José L., García-Cosío, Mónica, Cereceda, Laura, Díaz, Eva, Estévez, Mónica, Roncador, Giovanna, Vega, Zaira, Montalbán, Carlos, Kulasinghe, Arutha and García, Juan F. (2024). Mapping the spatial dynamics of the CD4+ T cell spectrum in classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Modern Pathology, 37 (9) 100551, 100551. doi: 10.1016/j.modpat.2024.100551

Mapping the spatial dynamics of the CD4+ T cell spectrum in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

2024

Journal Article

In situ characterization of the tumor microenvironment

Sadeghirad, Habib, Yaghoubi Naei, Vahid, O’Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid E and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). In situ characterization of the tumor microenvironment. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 86 103083, 103083. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103083

In situ characterization of the tumor microenvironment

2024

Conference Publication

A spatio-temporal approach to mapping the dynamics of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma progression and immunotherapy response: A journey through TiME

Jhaveri, Niyati, Ben Cheikh, Bassem, Klymyshyn, Dmytro, Ma, Ning, Pratapa, Aditya, Monkman, James, Nelson, Nadine and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). A spatio-temporal approach to mapping the dynamics of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma progression and immunotherapy response: A journey through TiME. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-6872

A spatio-temporal approach to mapping the dynamics of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma progression and immunotherapy response: A journey through TiME

2024

Conference Publication

Spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed immune cell type infiltration into the TME as a predictor of immunotherapy response

Sadeghirad, Habib, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Monkman, James, Cooper, Caroline, O’Byrne, Ken, Davis, Melissa, Hughes, Brett and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed immune cell type infiltration into the TME as a predictor of immunotherapy response. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-1154

Spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed immune cell type infiltration into the TME as a predictor of immunotherapy response

2024

Conference Publication

Defining PD-1/PD-L1 receptor-ligand interactions in the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment identifies unique ‘immune cell rivers’ of cellular interactions

Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Monkman, James, Basu, Subham, Wicher, Agata, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Defining PD-1/PD-L1 receptor-ligand interactions in the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment identifies unique ‘immune cell rivers’ of cellular interactions. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-5188

Defining PD-1/PD-L1 receptor-ligand interactions in the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment identifies unique ‘immune cell rivers’ of cellular interactions

2024

Conference Publication

Spatial profiling of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma to elucidate their immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Tu, Cui, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). Spatial profiling of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma to elucidate their immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-73

Spatial profiling of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma to elucidate their immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

2024

Conference Publication

Ultrahigh-plex spatial phenotyping of head and neck cancer tissue uncovers multiomic signatures of immunotherapy response

Pratapa, Aditya, Hernandez, Lydia, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, Jhaveri, Niyati and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Ultrahigh-plex spatial phenotyping of head and neck cancer tissue uncovers multiomic signatures of immunotherapy response. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-5503

Ultrahigh-plex spatial phenotyping of head and neck cancer tissue uncovers multiomic signatures of immunotherapy response

2024

Conference Publication

Spatially resolved cell profiling unveils tumor metabolic states associated with immunotherapy response in NSCLC

Monkman, James, Czertok, Rotem, Bookstein, Shai, Arbiv, Becky, Shachaf, Yuval, Elran, Ron, Bloom, Kenneth, Puig, Oscar, O'Byrne, Ken, Markovits, Ettai and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatially resolved cell profiling unveils tumor metabolic states associated with immunotherapy response in NSCLC. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-1158

Spatially resolved cell profiling unveils tumor metabolic states associated with immunotherapy response in NSCLC

2024

Conference Publication

Spatial-specific gene signatures to predict immunotherapy outcomes in lung cancer

Aung, Thazin N., Moutafi, Myrto, Trontzas, Ioannis, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Gavrielatou, Niki, Vathiotis, Ioannis, Warrell, Jonathan H. and Rimm, David L. (2024). Spatial-specific gene signatures to predict immunotherapy outcomes in lung cancer. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-1141

Spatial-specific gene signatures to predict immunotherapy outcomes in lung cancer

2024

Conference Publication

Integration of high-plex tumor-Immune phenotyping and checkpoint interactions for deeper spatial characterization of human cancer tissues

Bodbin, Sara, Ma, Ning, Pratapa, Aditya, Nikulina, Nadya, Monkman, James, Jhaveri, Niyati, Elofsson, Hampus, Basu, Subham, Zieba-Wicher, Agata and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Integration of high-plex tumor-Immune phenotyping and checkpoint interactions for deeper spatial characterization of human cancer tissues. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-1525

Integration of high-plex tumor-Immune phenotyping and checkpoint interactions for deeper spatial characterization of human cancer tissues

2024

Journal Article

Spatial insights into immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by multiplexed tissue imaging

Monkman, James, Moradi, Afshin, Yunis, Joseph, Ivison, Geoff, Mayer, Aaron, Ladwa, Rahul, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial insights into immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by multiplexed tissue imaging. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22 (1) 239, 239. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05035-8

Spatial insights into immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by multiplexed tissue imaging

2024

Journal Article

Tissue biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Davoudi, Fatemeh, Moradi, Afshin, Sadeghirad, Habib and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Tissue biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Immunology and Cell Biology, 102 (3), 179-193. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12723

Tissue biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

2024

Journal Article

Sounding an Alarm over Spatial Biology : Scientists from across the globe highlight spatial biology's triumphs and legal trials while issuing an urgent call for antitrust action

Orr, Miranda E., Kulasinghe, Arutha, Kolar, Grant R., Heyn, Holger, Plummer, Jasmine, Kristensen, Lasse Sommer, Kjems, Jorgen, Mills, Gordon, Garcia-Vallejo, Juan J., Nijman, I.J., West, Nicholas P. and Cox, Amanda (2024). Sounding an Alarm over Spatial Biology : Scientists from across the globe highlight spatial biology's triumphs and legal trials while issuing an urgent call for antitrust action. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, 44 (3), 16-17. doi: 10.1089/gen.44.03.07

Sounding an Alarm over Spatial Biology : Scientists from across the globe highlight spatial biology's triumphs and legal trials while issuing an urgent call for antitrust action

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    METASPATIAL Study: Metabolic Spatial Analysis of Lung Cancer Study
    NHMRC MRFF EMCR - Early to Mid-Career Researchers
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre - Breast Cancer Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre - Lung Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre - Multi Cancer Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre - Ovarian Cancer Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre -Cardiac Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    From Pixels to Prognosis: Harnessing single-cell spatial analysis to predict and improve immunotherapy response in lung cancer
    Cure Cancer Early Career Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Pseudomyxoma Perionei Research Program
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    The development of DMX8.1 as a novel treatment for immunotherapy-refractory cancers
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Proof of concept studies for a novel immunotherapy for triple negative Breast cancer and companion diagnostic
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Breast Cancer Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Pixels to clinical insights: Deciphering immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Multi-omics data integration to elucidate novel mechanisms of lung pathology during bacterial or viral infection
    University of Technology Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Developing a multi-omic, high-dimensional assessment of head and neck cancer
    Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Conjoint Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Personalising Innate-immunotherapy for Superior Treatment Outcomes with Large anticancer applicability (PISTOL)
    NHMRC MRFF EMCR - Early to Mid-Career Researchers
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Understanding the Role of Immature Myeloid Cells in Early Melanoma Establishment
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Melanoma Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    PREDICT: PREcision DIagnostiCs for early melanoma detection using spaTial biology and AI-guided image analysis
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Melanoma Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Defining host immune and microbial determinants of disease trajectory in mycobacterial infection
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Developing a spatial metabolic map of immunotherapy sensitivity in lung cancer
    TdC Early Career Grant
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    LUNG PREDICT Study
    Cancer Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Laser capture microdissection to empower cancer discoveries, improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in amyloidosis patients
    IPF Healthy - Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Whole exome and transcriptome profiling of patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma exposed to immunotherapy: C-Seq STUDY (Research Support Scheme Project Grant led by Metro South HHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Spatial transcriptomics of the tumour microenvironment in melanoma brain metastasis (SERTA Early Career Researcher Grant led by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Identification of predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade in head and neck cancer
    Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Conjoint Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and tumour MICroenvironment Multiplex Spatial Profiling - cMIC STUDY (PA Research Foundation Award administered by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Understanding the immunopathology of COVID-19 infected myocardial tissue
    Regional Collaborations Programme COVID-19 Digital Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Precision medicine in the immunotherapy era
    NHMRC Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Arutha Kulasinghe is:
Available for supervision

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

Supervision history

Current supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Arutha Kulasinghe directly for media enquiries about:

  • COVID-19 biomarkers
  • head and neck cancer
  • immuno-oncology
  • lung cancer

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au