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 has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including The Lancet Microbe, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Nature Genetics. He is the recipient of the Cure Cancer "Researcher of the Year" 2023 and named in the "Top Innovators Award" by the Australian for 2024. A/Prof Kulasinghe is supported by the MRFF, NHMRC, US DoD, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer, pharma 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
-
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
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
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
2024
Conference Publication
Deciphering Single-Cell Resolved Tumour Microenvironment Profiles Using Spatial Metabolic Mapping
Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Markovits, E. and O'Byrne, K. (2024). Deciphering Single-Cell Resolved Tumour Microenvironment Profiles Using Spatial Metabolic Mapping. 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2024.09.032
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, 1-12. 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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Master Philosophy
Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers
Principal Advisor
-
Master Philosophy
Defining the head and neck cancer tumour microenvironment across clinical contexts
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy using deep spatial profiling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Brett Hughes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of myeloid lineages in early melanoma establishment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Wells
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improved diagnostics for respiratory viral infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Meagan Carney, Professor Kirsty Short
-
Master Philosophy
Precision medicine for Prostate Cancer Surgery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Pattison, Dr Matthew Roberts
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping immune dysregulation in complex tissues using single-cell spatial multi-omics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharmesh Bhuva, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Studying the tumour immune microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing a Translational Pipeline for Personalised Immunotherapy in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maher Gandhi, Dr Joshua Tobin
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Lessons from a Century of Influenza Pandemics and Implications for Future Preparedness
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Keng Chew, Professor Kirsty Short
Completed supervision
-
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Comprehensive characterisation of tumour microenvironment and therapeutic insights into paediatric cancers through multi-omics profiling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe directly for media enquiries about:
- head and neck cancer
- immuno-oncology
- liquid biopsy
- lung cancer
- skin cancer
- spatial biology
- spatial medicine
- translational cancer research
- tumour microenvironment
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: