Overview
Background
Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe leads the Clinical-oMx Lab at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland and is the Founding Scientific Director of the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC) at the Wesley Research Institute. A/Prof Kulasinghe has pioneered spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and interactomics in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to world-first studies in lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and tissue atlasing studies of infectious diseases across pandemics. His research aims to understand the underlying pathobiology by using an integrative multi-omics approach. A/Prof Kulasinghe is supported by the MRFF, NHMRC, US DoD, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer and numerous hospital and philanthropic organisations.
Availability
- Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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Immuno-oncology
Applications in lung, skin, and head and neck cancers.
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Spatial transcriptomics
Applications across solid tumours and COVID-19
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Liquid Biopsies
Applications in lung cancer, and head and neck cancer
Works
Search Professor Arutha Kulasinghe’s works on UQ eSpace
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
2025
Journal Article
The development of a high-plex spatial proteomic methodology for the characterisation of the head and neck tumour microenvironment
Tan, Chin Wee, Berrell, Naomi, Donovan, Meg L., Monkman, James, Lawler, Clara, Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Chen, Jinjin, Rossenbloom, Alyssa, Bonnett, Shilah, Conner, Mark, Filanoski, Brian, Kang, Christine, Beechem, Joseph M., Fraser, John F., Barnett, Catherine, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). The development of a high-plex spatial proteomic methodology for the characterisation of the head and neck tumour microenvironment. npj Precision Oncology, 9 (1) 191, 1. doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00963-0
2025
Other Outputs
Metabolic microenvironment predictors of NSCLC immunotherapy response
Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Tubelleza, Rafael, Kilgallon, Aaron and Lawler, Clara (2025). Metabolic microenvironment predictors of NSCLC immunotherapy response. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/73b218c
2025
Conference Publication
A Bayesian framework for unraveling disease biology from spatially resolved single-cell omics datasets by combining unbiased approaches with biological priors for cell-based microdomain discovery
Falkenstein, Brian, Yan, Raymond, Quinn, Shannon, Tosun, Akif Burak, Chennubhotla, S. Chakra, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Pullara, Filippo (2025). A Bayesian framework for unraveling disease biology from spatially resolved single-cell omics datasets by combining unbiased approaches with biological priors for cell-based microdomain discovery. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-2485
2025
Conference Publication
Unravelling melanoma brain metastasis tumor microenvironment characteristics using spatial transcriptomics
Belle, Clemence J., Brosda, Sandra, Bonazzi, Vanessa F., Bulteau, Victor, Stuart, Thomas, Xiong, Zherui, Lambie, Duncan, Johansson, Peter A., Aoude, Lauren G., Patel, Kalpana, Stehbens, Samantha J., Stark, Mitchell S., Haass, Nikolas K., Xu, Wen, Pinkham, Mark B., Foote, Matthew C., Olson, Sarah, Atkinson, Victoria, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Nguyen, Quan H. and Barbour, Andrew (2025). Unravelling melanoma brain metastasis tumor microenvironment characteristics using spatial transcriptomics. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-5076
2025
Conference Publication
Exploring PD1/PDL1 interactions and macrophage-tumor barriers in head and neck cancer: A spatial approach to immunotherapy response
Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tubelleza, Rafael, Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Donovan, Meg L., Blick, Tony, Wicher, Agata, Bodbin, Sara, Basu, Subham, Stad, Robert, Barnett, Catherine, O’Byrne, Ken, Ladwa, Rahul, Cooper, Caroline, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Exploring PD1/PDL1 interactions and macrophage-tumor barriers in head and neck cancer: A spatial approach to immunotherapy response. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-750
2025
Conference Publication
Spatial deconvolution of non-small-cell lung cancer tissues prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Tubelleza, Rafael, OByrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Spatial deconvolution of non-small-cell lung cancer tissues prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-2082
2025
Conference Publication
2D and 3D spatial characterisation of tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy
Donovan, Meg L., Sadeghirad, Habib, Berrell, Naomi, Monkman, James, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tan, Chin Wee, Yunis, Joseph, West, Zoe, Warkiani, Majid E., Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G., Da Gama Duarte, Jessica and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). 2D and 3D spatial characterisation of tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-5252
2025
Conference Publication
Characterising head and neck tumour microenvironment using high plex spatial omics technologies and analyses
Tan, Chin Wee, Berrell, Naomi, Donovan, Meg L., Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Chen, Jinjin, Rossenbloom, Alyssa, Bonnett, Shilah, Conner, Mark, Filanoski, Brian, Kang, Christine, Beechem, Joseph M., Fraser, John F., Barnett, Catherine, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Characterising head and neck tumour microenvironment using high plex spatial omics technologies and analyses. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-175
2025
Conference Publication
Spatial profiling of tumor microenvironment uncovers potential novel therapeutic approach in pediatric neuroblastoma
Tu, Cui, Tan, Chin Wee, Monkman, James, Almeida, Ana Clara, Antonio-Carreon, Gabrielle, Omer, Natacha, Hull, Giaan, Chung, Kimberly, Mehdi, Ahmed, Salerno, Antonietta, Vittorio, Orazio, Mayer, Aaron, Machado de Souza, Cleber, de Almeida Brehm Pinhati, Fernanda, Elifio-Esposito, Selene, Nicholls, Wayne, de Noronha, Lucia, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2025). Spatial profiling of tumor microenvironment uncovers potential novel therapeutic approach in pediatric neuroblastoma. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-2705
2025
Conference Publication
Tumor microenvironment profiling of multiplexed images in head and neck cancer reveals spatial features associated with immunotherapy response
Markovits, Ettai, Monkman, James, Kilgallon, Aaron, Aung, Thazin Nwe, Rimm, David and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Tumor microenvironment profiling of multiplexed images in head and neck cancer reveals spatial features associated with immunotherapy response. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-156
2025
Journal Article
Spatial interaction mapping of PD-1/PD-L1 in head and neck cancer reveals the role of macrophage-tumour barriers associated with immunotherapy response
Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tubelleza, Rafael, Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Donovan, Meg L., Blick, Tony, Wicher, Agata, Bodbin, Sara, Viratham, Amelie, Stad, Robert, Basu, Subham, Cooper, Caroline, Barnett, Catherine, O’Byrne, Ken, Ladwa, Rahul, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Spatial interaction mapping of PD-1/PD-L1 in head and neck cancer reveals the role of macrophage-tumour barriers associated with immunotherapy response. Journal of Translational Medicine, 23 (1) 177, 177. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06186-y
2025
Book Chapter
Spatial-Omics Methods and Applications
Kulasinghe, Arutha, Berrell, Naomi, Donovan, Meg L. and Nilges, Benedikt S. (2025). Spatial-Omics Methods and Applications. Methods in Molecular Biology. (pp. 101-146) New York, NY: Springer US. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4276-4_5
2024
Journal Article
Copper chelation redirects neutrophil function to enhance anti-GD2 antibody therapy in neuroblastoma
Rouaen, Jourdin R. C., Salerno, Antonietta, Shai-Hee, Tyler, Murray, Jayne E., Castrogiovanni, Giulia, McHenry, Charlotte, Jue, Toni Rose, Pham, Vu, Bell, Jessica Lilian, Poursani, Ensieh, Valli, Emanuele, Cazzoli, Riccardo, Damstra, Naomi, Nelson, Delia J., Stevens, Kofi L. P., Chee, Jonathan, Slapetova, Iveta, Kasherman, Maria, Whan, Renee, Lin, Francis, Cochran, Blake J., Tedla, Nicodemus, Veli, Feyza Colakoglu, Yuksel, Aysen, Mayoh, Chelsea, Saletta, Federica, Mercatelli, Daniele, Chtanova, Tatyana, Kulasinghe, Arutha ... Vittorio, Orazio (2024). Copper chelation redirects neutrophil function to enhance anti-GD2 antibody therapy in neuroblastoma. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 10462, 1-20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54689-x
2024
Conference Publication
Multi-omic spatial data integration resolves immunometabolic heterogeneity associated with Nivolumab response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
Yan, Raymond, Quinn, Shannon, Falkenstein, Brian, Monkman, James, O’Bryne, Kenneth, Chakra Chennubhotla, S, Pullara, Filippo and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Multi-omic spatial data integration resolves immunometabolic heterogeneity associated with Nivolumab response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. SITC 39th Annual Meeting (SITC 2024), Houston, TX United States, 6-10 November 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0212
2024
Conference Publication
An integrated approach to high dimensional spatial proteomics and interaction mapping in head and neck cancer tissues prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Monkman, James, Hughes, Brett and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). An integrated approach to high dimensional spatial proteomics and interaction mapping in head and neck cancer tissues prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. SITC 39th Annual Meeting (SITC 2024), Houston, TX United States, 6-10 November 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0558
2024
Conference Publication
Development of a novel immuno-metabolic spatial signature to predict response and resistance to immunotherapy in NSCLC patients
Markovits, Ettai, Monkman, James, Aung, Thazin, Reeves, Jason, O’Byrne, Ken, Czertock, Rotem, Puig, Oscar, Rimm, David and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Development of a novel immuno-metabolic spatial signature to predict response and resistance to immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. SITC 39th Annual Meeting (SITC 2024), Houston, TX United States, 6-10 November 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0109
2024
Conference Publication
Spatial dynamics and cellular architecture mapping in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response
Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial dynamics and cellular architecture mapping in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response. SITC 39th Annual Meeting (SITC 2024), Houston, TX United States, 6-10 November 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0110
2024
Conference Publication
Characterization of Circulating Tumor-Associated and Immune Cells in Advanced-Stage NSCLC
Yaghoubi Naei, V., Mullally, W., Warkiani, M., O'Byrne, K. and Kulasinghe, A. (2024). Characterization of Circulating Tumor-Associated and Immune Cells in Advanced-Stage NSCLC. 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2024.09.473
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 and Cell Biology, 102 (9), 830-846. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12811
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy using deep spatial profiling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Brett Hughes
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Master Philosophy
Defining the head and neck cancer tumour microenvironment across clinical contexts
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Spatial multi-omics to study hard-to-cure lung infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ahmed Mehdi, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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Doctor Philosophy
Studying the tumour immune microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of immature myeloid cells in early melanoma establishment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz, Associate Professor James Wells
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Doctor Philosophy
Improved diagnostics for respiratory viral infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Meagan Carney, Professor Kirsty Short
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Doctor Philosophy
Immuno-genetic biomarkers of response in a prospective study of immune checkpoint therapy in primary CNS lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zachary Hawula, Associate Professor Colm Keane
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Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering mechanisms of fibroblast-mediated immune regulation in dysplastic cutaneous and oral mucosal epithelium
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Debottam Sinha, Dr Janin Chandra
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Doctor Philosophy
Comprehensive characterisation of tumour microenvironment and therapeutic insights into paediatric cancers through multi-omics profiling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barbour, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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Doctor Philosophy
Genesis and Pathognesis of avain influenza
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Keng Chew, Professor Kirsty Short
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
The investigation of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to identify predictive biomarkers of response to immunotherapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Associate Professor Brett Hughes
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe directly for media enquiries about:
- COVID-19 biomarkers
- head and neck cancer
- immuno-oncology
- lung cancer
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