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Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe
Associate Professor

Arutha Kulasinghe

Email: 

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). A/Prof Kulasinghe has pioneered spatial transcriptomics, proteomics and interactomics in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to world-first studies for lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and organ atlas studies in COVID-19. 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

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

152 works between 2015 and 2025

41 - 60 of 152 works

2023

Journal Article

Metabolomics at the tumor microenvironment interface: decoding cellular conversations

Berrell, Naomi, Sadeghirad, Habib, Blick, Tony, Bidgood, Charles, Leggatt, Graham R., O'Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Metabolomics at the tumor microenvironment interface: decoding cellular conversations. Medicinal Research Reviews, 44 (3), 1121-1146. doi: 10.1002/med.22010

Metabolomics at the tumor microenvironment interface: decoding cellular conversations

2023

Conference Publication

Extracellular Small Vesicle Phosphorylated PD-L1 Liquid Biopsy Levels Correlate with Tumour Proportion Score (TPS) in NSCLC

O'Byrne, K., Shanmugasundaram, K.B., Ahmed, E., Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Fletcher, J.A., Mainwaring, P.N., Masud, M.K., Park, H., Hossain, M.S.A., Yamauchi, Y., Sina, A.A.I., Wuethrich, A. and Trau, M. (2023). Extracellular Small Vesicle Phosphorylated PD-L1 Liquid Biopsy Levels Correlate with Tumour Proportion Score (TPS) in NSCLC. 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Singapore, 9-12 September 2023. New York, NY United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2023.09.432

Extracellular Small Vesicle Phosphorylated PD-L1 Liquid Biopsy Levels Correlate with Tumour Proportion Score (TPS) in NSCLC

2023

Journal Article

MA09.03 High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer

Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Moradi, A., Yunis, J., Ivison, G., Mayer, A. and O'Byrne, K. (2023). MA09.03 High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 18 (11), S129-s129. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2023.09.173

MA09.03 High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer

2023

Conference Publication

From pixels to clinical Insights: deciphering spatial tumour-immune microenvironment features of immunotherapy response and resistance in lung cancer

Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). From pixels to clinical Insights: deciphering spatial tumour-immune microenvironment features of immunotherapy response and resistance in lung cancer. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 November 2023. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2023-sitc2023.0099

From pixels to clinical Insights: deciphering spatial tumour-immune microenvironment features of immunotherapy response and resistance in lung cancer

2023

Conference Publication

Identifying a role for macrophages in predicting immunotherapy responses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Ma, Ning, Pratapa, Aditya, Monkman, James, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Identifying a role for macrophages in predicting immunotherapy responses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 November 2023. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2023-sitc2023.0105

Identifying a role for macrophages in predicting immunotherapy responses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2023

Conference Publication

Spatio-temporal monitoring of the tumor microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Jhaveri, Niyati, Klymyshyn, Dmytro, Pratapa, Aditya, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, Monkman, James, Prater, Michael, Nelson, Nadine, Mammadova, Najiba and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Spatio-temporal monitoring of the tumor microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 November 2023. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2023-sitc2023.0090

Spatio-temporal monitoring of the tumor microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2023

Conference Publication

High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer

Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Moradi, A., Yunis, J., Ivison, G., Mayer, A. and O'Byrne, K. (2023). High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer. 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Singapore, Singapore, 9 - 12 September 2023. New York, NY, United States: Elsevier.

High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer

2023

Journal Article

Genomic communication via circulating extracellular vesicles and long-term health consequences of COVID-19

Nair, Soumyalekshmi, Nova-Lamperti, Estefania, Labarca, Gonzalo, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Short, Kirsty R., Carrión, Flavio and Salomon, Carlos (2023). Genomic communication via circulating extracellular vesicles and long-term health consequences of COVID-19. Journal of Translational Medicine, 21 (1) 709, 1-19. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04552-2

Genomic communication via circulating extracellular vesicles and long-term health consequences of COVID-19

2023

Journal Article

Mapping the spatial proteome of head and neck tumors: key immune mediators and metabolic determinants in the tumor microenvironment

Jhaveri, Niyati, Ben Cheikh, Bassem, Nikulina, Nadezhda, Ma, Ning, Klymyshyn, Dmytro, DeRosa, James, Mihani, Ritu, Pratapa, Aditya, Kassim, Yasmin, Bommakanti, Sidharth, Shang, Olive, Berry, Shannon, Ihley, Nicholas, McLane, Michael, He, Yan, Zheng, Yi, Monkman, James, Cooper, Caroline, O'Byrne, Ken, Anand, Bhaskar, Prater, Michael, Basu, Subham, Hughes, Brett G. M., Kulasinghe, Arutha and Braubach, Oliver (2023). Mapping the spatial proteome of head and neck tumors: key immune mediators and metabolic determinants in the tumor microenvironment. GEN Biotechnology, 2 (5), 418-434. doi: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0029

Mapping the spatial proteome of head and neck tumors: key immune mediators and metabolic determinants in the tumor microenvironment

2023

Journal Article

The seductive allure of spatial biology: accelerating new discoveries in the life sciences

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Wood, Fiona and Belz, Gabrielle (2023). The seductive allure of spatial biology: accelerating new discoveries in the life sciences. Immunology and Cell Biology, 101 (9), 798-804. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12669

The seductive allure of spatial biology: accelerating new discoveries in the life sciences

2023

Conference Publication

High-plex spatial profiling of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to identify biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes: The cMIC study

Ladwa, R., Monkman, J., Sadeghirad, H., Cooper, C., Belz, G., Bowman, J., Schaider, H., Liu, H., Kulasinghe, A. and Porceddu, S. (2023). High-plex spatial profiling of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to identify biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes: The cMIC study. ESMO Congress 2023, Madrid, Spain, 20-24 October 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.09.2278

High-plex spatial profiling of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to identify biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes: The cMIC study

2023

Conference Publication

Multi-omic spatial phenotyping of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment for the development of a spatial score associated with immunotherapy resistance

Kulasinghe, A., Ma, N., Pratapa, A., Monkman, J., Braubach, O. and O'Byrne, K. J. (2023). Multi-omic spatial phenotyping of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment for the development of a spatial score associated with immunotherapy resistance. ESMO Congress 2023, Madrid, Spain, 20-24 October 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.09.1352

Multi-omic spatial phenotyping of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment for the development of a spatial score associated with immunotherapy resistance

2023

Journal Article

Advances in novel strategies for isolation, characterization, and analysis of CTCs and ctDNA

Yaghoubi Naei, Vahid, Bordhan, Pritam, Mirakhorli, Fatemeh, Khorrami, Motahare, Shrestha, Jesus, Nazari, Hojjatollah, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Ebrahimi Warkiani, Majid (2023). Advances in novel strategies for isolation, characterization, and analysis of CTCs and ctDNA. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 15 17588359231192401, 1-40. doi: 10.1177/17588359231192401

Advances in novel strategies for isolation, characterization, and analysis of CTCs and ctDNA

2023

Journal Article

A robust platform for integrative spatial multi‐omics analysis to map immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in lung tissues

Tan, Xiao, Grice, Laura F., Tran, Minh, Mulay, Onkar, Monkman, James, Blick, Tony, Vo, Tuan, Almeida, Ana Clara, da Silva Motta, Jarbas, Fernandes de Moura, Karen, Machado‐Souza, Cleber, Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Paulo, Baena, Cristina Pellegrino, de Noronha, Lucia, Guimaraes, Fernanda Simoes Fortes, Luu, Hung N., Drennon, Tingsheng, Williams, Stephen, Stern, Jacob, Uytingco, Cedric, Pan, Liuliu, Nam, Andy, Cooper, Caroline, Short, Kirsty, Belz, Gabrielle T., Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Nguyen, Quan (2023). A robust platform for integrative spatial multi‐omics analysis to map immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in lung tissues. Immunology, 170 (3), 401-418. doi: 10.1111/imm.13679

A robust platform for integrative spatial multi‐omics analysis to map immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in lung tissues

2023

Journal Article

Multi‐omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non‐small cell lung cancer

Monkman, James, Kim, Honesty, Mayer, Aaron, Mehdi, Ahmed, Matigian, Nicholas, Cumberbatch, Marie, Bhagat, Milan, Ladwa, Rahul, Mueller, Scott N., Adams, Mark N., O'Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Multi‐omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non‐small cell lung cancer. Immunology, 169 (4), 487-502. doi: 10.1111/imm.13646

Multi‐omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non‐small cell lung cancer

2023

Book Chapter

Circulating tumour cell isolation and molecular profiling; potential therapeutic intervention

Radfar, Payar, Es, Hamidreza Aboulkheyr, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Thiery, Jean Paul and Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi (2023). Circulating tumour cell isolation and molecular profiling; potential therapeutic intervention. Circulating tumor cells. (pp. 359-385) edited by Richard J. Cote and Evi Lianidou. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-22903-9_14

Circulating tumour cell isolation and molecular profiling; potential therapeutic intervention

2023

Journal Article

Mapping immunotherapy sensitivity with multiomic approaches

Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Mapping immunotherapy sensitivity with multiomic approaches. Immuno Oncology Insights, 4 (6), 235-237. doi: 10.18609/ioi.2023.031

Mapping immunotherapy sensitivity with multiomic approaches

2023

Journal Article

Liquid biopsy snapshots of key phosphoproteomic pathways in lung cancer patients for diagnosis and therapy monitoring

Ahmed, Mostak, Wuethrich, Alain, Constantin, Nicolas, Shanmugasundaram, Karthik Balaji, Mainwaring, Paul, Kulasinghe, Arutha, O’Leary, Connor, O’Byrne, Ken, Sina, Abu Ali Ibn, Carrascosa, Laura G. and Trau, Matt (2023). Liquid biopsy snapshots of key phosphoproteomic pathways in lung cancer patients for diagnosis and therapy monitoring. Analytical Chemistry, 95 (22), 8522-8532. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00519

Liquid biopsy snapshots of key phosphoproteomic pathways in lung cancer patients for diagnosis and therapy monitoring

2023

Conference Publication

Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer

Ji, HaYeun, Jhaveri, Niyati, Pratapa, Aditya, Ma, Ning, Ben Cheikh, Bassem, Monkman, James, O’Byrne, Ken, Hughes, Brett, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Braubach, Oliver (2023). Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer. Immunology 2023™ Meeting, Washington, DC United States, 11-15 May 2023. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.171.09

Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer

2023

Conference Publication

Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer

Ji, HaYeun, Jhaveri, Niyati, Pratapa, Aditya, Ma, Ning, Ben Cheikh, Bassem, Monkman, James, O'Byrne, Ken, Hughes, Brett, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Braubach, Oliver (2023). Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer. Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists (AAI), Washington Dc, May 11-15, 2023. BETHESDA: AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS.

Spatial phenotyping of cytokine signatures reflecting the immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Developing a multi-omic tissue atlas in solid cancers
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2026
    AtlasHNC: Precision Medicine Initiative for Head and Neck Cancer
    Ramaciotti Health Investment Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Understanding the impact of Spanish Flu on Adult and Children lungs, cell-by-cell
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 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 - Sepsis Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Queensland Spatial Biology Centre -Cardiac Study
    Wesley Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2030
    Prostate Cancer - FDG - Spatial Imaging (Spatial biology meets PET imaging: A non-invasive, Google Map for Prostate cancer)
    PA Research Foundation
    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
  • 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

  • 2024
    Pixels to clinical insights: Deciphering immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 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

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

  • Master Philosophy

    Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterising cytotoxic T cell fates in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the tumour microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy using deep spatial profiling

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Studying the tumour immune microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz

  • 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

  • Master Philosophy

    Spatial multi-omics to study hard-to-cure lung infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ahmed Mehdi, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improved diagnostics for respiratory viral infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Meagan Carney, Professor Kirsty Short

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Immune regulation through bi-directional interactions between subsets of Natural Killer cells and Dendritic cells.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barbour, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes

  • 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

    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

    Genesis and Pathognesis of avain influenza

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Keng Chew, Professor Kirsty Short

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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