Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
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. A/Prof Kulasinghe has pioneered spatial transcriptomics using digital spatial profiling approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to world-first studies for lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and COVID-19. His research aims to understand the underlying pathobiology by using an integrative multi-omics approach.

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

144 works between 2015 and 2024

61 - 80 of 144 works

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

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

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

Abstract 6768: The potential predictive role of spatial phenotyping in non-small cell lung cancer

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

Abstract 6774: The development of a spatial metabolic map of immunotherapy sensitive and resistant cutaneous skin carcinoma

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

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

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. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Polo-like kinase-1 is a novel biomarker in resected non-small cell lung cancer treated with adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy

2023

Conference Publication

Multiomic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in lung cancer

Kulasinghe, Arutha (2023). Multiomic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in lung cancer. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Multiomic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in lung cancer

2023

Journal Article

Blood transcriptome responses in patients correlate with severity of COVID-19 disease

Wang, Ya, Schughart, Klaus, Pelaia, Tiana Maria, Chew, Tracy, Kim, Karan, Karvunidis, Thomas, Knippenberg, Ben, Teoh, Sally, Phu, Amy L., Short, Kirsty R., Iredell, Jonathan, Thevarajan, Irani, Audsley, Jennifer, Macdonald, Stephen, Burcham, Jonathon, McLean, Anthony, Tang, Benjamin, Shojaei, Maryam, PREDICT-19 consortium, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Carney, Meagan E. (2023). Blood transcriptome responses in patients correlate with severity of COVID-19 disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1043219, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1043219

Blood transcriptome responses in patients correlate with severity of COVID-19 disease

2023

Journal Article

IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study

Shojaei, Maryam, Shamshirian, Amir, Monkman, James, Grice, Laura, Tran, Minh, Tan, Chin Wee, Teo, Siok Min, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, McCulloch, Timothy R., Nalos, Marek, Raei, Maedeh, Razavi, Alireza, Ghasemian, Roya, Gheibi, Mobina, Roozbeh, Fatemeh, Sly, Peter D., Spann, Kirsten M., Chew, Keng Yih, Zhu, Yanshan, Xia, Yao, Wells, Timothy J., Senegaglia, Alexandra Cristina, Kuniyoshi, Carmen Lúcia, Franck, Claudio Luciano, dos Santos, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Noronha, Lucia de, Motamen, Sepideh, Valadan, Reza, Amjadi, Omolbanin ... Tang, Benjamin (2023). IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1060438, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1060438

IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study

2022

Conference Publication

Decoding immunotherapy responses with high-dimensional and high-throughput spatial phenotyping of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Ma, Ning, Pratapa, Aditya, Monkman, James, O’Byrne, Ken, Braubach, Oliver and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Decoding immunotherapy responses with high-dimensional and high-throughput spatial phenotyping of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SITC 37th Annual Meeting (SITC 2022), Boston, MA USA, 8-12 November 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Publishing Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.0120

Decoding immunotherapy responses with high-dimensional and high-throughput spatial phenotyping of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2022

Conference Publication

High-plex spatial proteomic profiling of immunotherapy response groups in head and neck cancer identifies tissue signatures associated with therapy response

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Sadeghirad, Habib, Liu, Ning, Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Cooper, Caroline, Church, Sarah, Schneider, Fabian, Thaagard, Jeppe, Mansfield, James, O’byrne, Kenneth, Davis, Melissa and Hughes, Brett (2022). High-plex spatial proteomic profiling of immunotherapy response groups in head and neck cancer identifies tissue signatures associated with therapy response. SITC 37th Annual Meeting (SITC 2022), Boston, MA United States, 8–12 November 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.0117

High-plex spatial proteomic profiling of immunotherapy response groups in head and neck cancer identifies tissue signatures associated with therapy response

2022

Conference Publication

High-dimensional spatial phenotyping of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from immune-competent and immunocompromised patients

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Jhaveri, Niyati, Klymyshyn, Dmytro, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, Ladwa, Rahul, Liu, Howard, Cooper, Caroline, Belz, Gabrielle, Porceddu, Sandro and Braubach, Oliver (2022). High-dimensional spatial phenotyping of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from immune-competent and immunocompromised patients. SITC 37th Annual Meeting (SITC 2022), Boston, MA United States, 8–12 November 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.0079

High-dimensional spatial phenotyping of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from immune-competent and immunocompromised patients

2022

Conference Publication

Delineation of spatial tissue signatures of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Kim, Honesty, Mayer, Aaron, Mehdi, Ahmed, Cumberbatch, Marie, Bhagat, Milan, Schneider, Fabian, Thaagard, Jeppe, Mansfield, James, Ladwa, Rahul, Mueller, Scott, Adams, Mark and O’byrne, Kenneth (2022). Delineation of spatial tissue signatures of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SITC 37th Annual Meeting (SITC 2022), Boston, MA USA, 8-12 November 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Publishing Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.0118

Delineation of spatial tissue signatures of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2022

Conference Publication

Deep single-cell, proteogenomic insights from SARS-CoV-2 infected lung tissues

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Monkman, James, Killingbeck, Emily, Kim, Youngmi, Pan, Liuliu, Blick, Tony, Bhuva, Dharmesh, Feher, Kristen, Leon, Michael, Gregory, Mark, Short, Kirsty, Guimaraes, Fernando, Rhodes, Michael, Belz, Gabrielle and Davis, Melissa (2022). Deep single-cell, proteogenomic insights from SARS-CoV-2 infected lung tissues. SITC 37th Annual Meeting (SITC 2022), Boston, MA USA, 8-12 November 2022. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Publishing Group. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.0923

Deep single-cell, proteogenomic insights from SARS-CoV-2 infected lung tissues

2022

Journal Article

Transcriptomic profiling of cardiac tissues from SARS‐CoV ‐2 patients identifies DNA damage

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Liu, Ning, Tan, Chin Wee, Monkman, James, Sinclair, Jane E., Bhuva, Dharmesh D., Godbolt, David, Pan, Liuliu, Nam, Andy, Sadeghirad, Habib, Sato, Kei, Bassi, Gianluigi Li, O'Byrne, Ken, Hartmann, Camila, Miggiolaro, Anna Flavia Ribeiro dos Santos, Marques, Gustavo Lenci, Moura, Lidia Zytynski, Richard, Derek, Adams, Mark, Noronha, Lucia de, Baena, Cristina Pellegrino, Suen, Jacky Y., Arora, Rakesh, Belz, Gabrielle T., Short, Kirsty R., Davis, Melissa J., Souza‐Fonseca Guimaraes, Fernando and Fraser, John F. (2022). Transcriptomic profiling of cardiac tissues from SARS‐CoV ‐2 patients identifies DNA damage. Immunology, 168 (3), 403-419. doi: 10.1111/imm.13577

Transcriptomic profiling of cardiac tissues from SARS‐CoV ‐2 patients identifies DNA damage

2022

Conference Publication

High dimensional immuno-phenotyping of immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer

O'Byrne, K. J., Ma, N., Sadeghirad, H., Jhaveri, N., Monkman, J., Pratapa, A., Cheikh, B. Ben, Ladwa, R., Hughes, B. G. M., Braubach, O. and Kulasinghe, A. (2022). High dimensional immuno-phenotyping of immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer. Annual Meeting of the European-Society-for-Medical-Oncology (ESMO), Electr Network, Sep 09-13, 2022. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.07.778

High dimensional immuno-phenotyping of immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer

2022

Journal Article

Single-cell analysis of circulating tumour cells: enabling technologies and clinical applications

Radfar, Payar, Aboulkheyr Es, Hamidreza, Salomon, Rob, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Ramalingam, Naveen, Sarafraz-Yazdi, Ehsan, Thiery, Jean Paul and Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi (2022). Single-cell analysis of circulating tumour cells: enabling technologies and clinical applications. Trends in Biotechnology, 40 (9), 1041-1060. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.02.004

Single-cell analysis of circulating tumour cells: enabling technologies and clinical applications

2022

Journal Article

Immunotherapeutic targets in non‐small cell lung cancer

Sadeghi Rad, Habib, Bahrami, Tayyeb, Layeghi, Sepideh Mehrpour, Yousefi, Hassan, Rezaei, Meysam, Hosseini‐Fard, Seyed Reza, Radfar, Payar, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Immunotherapeutic targets in non‐small cell lung cancer. Immunology, 168 (2), 1-17. doi: 10.1111/imm.13562

Immunotherapeutic targets in non‐small cell lung cancer

2022

Journal Article

A robust experimental and computational analysis framework at multiple resolutions, modalities and coverages

Tran, M., Yoon, S., Teoh, M., Andersen, S., Lam, PY., Purdue, B. W., Raghubar, A., Hanson, S.J., Devitt, K., Jones, K., Walters, S., Monkman, J., Kulasinghe, A., Tuong, Z.K., Soyer, H.P., Frazer, I. H. and Nguyen, Q. (2022). A robust experimental and computational analysis framework at multiple resolutions, modalities and coverages. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 911873, 911873. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.911873

A robust experimental and computational analysis framework at multiple resolutions, modalities and coverages

2022

Conference Publication

Abstract 3817: A single-cell, spatial multiomics atlas and cellular interactome of all major skin cancer types

Grice, Laura, Ni, Guiyan, Jin, Xinnan, Tran, Minh, Killingbeck, Emily, Gregory, Mark, Mulay, Onkar, Teoh, Siok-Min, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Leon, Michael, Murphy, Sarah, Warren, Sarah, Kim, Youngmi and Nguyen, Quan (2022). Abstract 3817: A single-cell, spatial multiomics atlas and cellular interactome of all major skin cancer types. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 8-13 April 2022. Philadelphia, PA, United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-3817

Abstract 3817: A single-cell, spatial multiomics atlas and cellular interactome of all major skin cancer types

2022

Journal Article

Dissecting Tissue Compartment-Specific Protein Signatures in Primary and Metastatic Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Sadeghirad, Habib, Monkman, James, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Ladwa, Rahul, O’Byrne, Ken, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Dissecting Tissue Compartment-Specific Protein Signatures in Primary and Metastatic Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 895513, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.895513

Dissecting Tissue Compartment-Specific Protein Signatures in Primary and Metastatic Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Funding

Current funding

  • 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 -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

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe directly for media enquiries about:

  • COVID-19 biomarkers
  • head and neck cancer
  • immuno-oncology
  • lung cancer

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au