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
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
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, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103226
2024
Journal Article
Glycan profiling in small extracellular vesicles with a SERS microfluidic biosensor identifies early malignant development in lung cancer
Zhou, Quan, Niu, Xueming, Zhang, Zhen, O'Byrne, Kenneth, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Fielding, David, Möller, Andreas, Wuethrich, Alain, Lobb, Richard J. and Trau, Matt (2024). Glycan profiling in small extracellular vesicles with a SERS microfluidic biosensor identifies early malignant development in lung cancer. Advanced Science, 11 (33) 2401818, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/advs.202401818
2024
Conference Publication
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). Multiomic spatial profiling of whole-slide NSCLC tissues from patients receiving anti PD-1 therapy identifies metabolic phenotypes associated with therapy resistance. ESMO Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 13-17 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.2037
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
2024
Conference Publication
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). Unraveling functionally distinct metabolic programs to predict immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ESMO Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 13-17 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.142
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
2024
Journal Article
Spatial proteomic profiling of tumor and stromal compartments in non‐small‐cell lung cancer identifies signatures associated with overall survival
Yaghoubi Naei, Vahid, Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Mehdi, Ahmed, Blick, Tony, Mullally, William, O'Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial proteomic profiling of tumor and stromal compartments in non‐small‐cell lung cancer identifies signatures associated with overall survival. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 13 (7) e1522, e1522. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1522
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
2024
Journal Article
Characterisation of circulating tumor‐associated and immune cells in patients with advanced‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer
Yaghoubi Naei, Vahid, Ivanova, Ekaterina, Mullally, William, O'Leary, Connor G, Ladwa, Rahul, O'Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid E and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Characterisation of circulating tumor‐associated and immune cells in patients with advanced‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 13 (6) e1516, e1516. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1516
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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