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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
2023
Conference Publication
Immune profiling of immunotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy pretreatment NSCLC tissues by CODEX
Monkman, James, Moradi, Afshin, O'Leary, Connor, Wu, Zhenqin, Hamel, Steven, Mason, David, Schneider, Fabian, Mansfield, James Robert, Meyer, Aaron, O'Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Immune profiling of immunotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy pretreatment NSCLC tissues by CODEX. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-4627
2023
Conference Publication
Abstract 5647: Single cell, multiomic spatial phenotyping of immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer
Ji, HaYeun, Jhaveri, Niyati, Ma, Ning, Cheikh, Bassem B., Pratapa, Aditya, Monkman, James, O’Byrne, Ken, Hughes, Brett, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Braubach, Oliver (2023). Abstract 5647: Single cell, multiomic spatial phenotyping of immunotherapy responses in head and neck cancer. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-5647
2023
Conference Publication
Abstract 4626: Spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancer identifies immune checkpoints and proteins involved in cell death signaling biomarkers of immunotherapy response
Sadeghirad, Habib, Liu, Ning, Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Cooper, Caroline, Caldera, Jeni, Church, Sarah, Schneider, Fabian, Mansfield, James Robert, O'Byrne, Ken, Davis, Melissa, Hughes, Brett and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Abstract 4626: Spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancer identifies immune checkpoints and proteins involved in cell death signaling biomarkers of immunotherapy response. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-4626
2023
Conference Publication
Abstract 6768: The potential predictive role of spatial phenotyping in non-small cell lung cancer
Ma, Ning, Pratapa, Aditya, Monkman, James, O’Byrne, Ken, Braubach, Oliver and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Abstract 6768: The potential predictive role of spatial phenotyping in non-small cell lung cancer. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-6768
2023
Conference Publication
Abstract 6774: The development of a spatial metabolic map of immunotherapy sensitive and resistant cutaneous skin carcinoma
Jhaveri, Niyati, Klymyshyn, Dmytro, Cheikh, Bassem B., Monkman, James, Winkowski, Dan, Mansfield, James, Basu, Subham, Prater, Michael, Nelson, Nadine, Belz, Gabrielle, Braubach, Oliver and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Abstract 6774: The development of a spatial metabolic map of immunotherapy sensitive and resistant cutaneous skin carcinoma. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-6774
2023
Journal Article
Compartmentalized spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies immune checkpoint molecules and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily members as biomarkers of response to immunotherapy
Sadeghirad, Habib, Liu, Ning, Monkman, James, Ma, Ning, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, Jhaveri, Niyati, Tan, Chin Wee, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Adams, Mark N., Nguyen, Quan, Ladwa, Rahul, Braubach, Oliver, O’Byrne, Ken, Davis, Melissa, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Compartmentalized spatial profiling of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies immune checkpoint molecules and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily members as biomarkers of response to immunotherapy. Frontiers in Immunology, 14 1135489, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135489
2023
Conference Publication
Polo-like kinase-1 is a novel biomarker in resected non-small cell lung cancer treated with adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy
O'Leary, Connor, Monkman, James, Richard, Derek, O'Byrne, Kenneth, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Adams, Mark (2023). Polo-like kinase-1 is a novel biomarker in resected non-small cell lung cancer treated with adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. Australian Lung Cancer Conference 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 15-17 February 2023. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Defining the head and neck cancer tumour microenvironment across clinical contexts
Principal Advisor
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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
Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers
Principal Advisor
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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
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
Studying the tumour immune microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz
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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
Improved diagnostics for respiratory viral infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Meagan Carney, Professor Kirsty Short
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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
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
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2025
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
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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