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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) 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

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

184 works between 2015 and 2025

101 - 120 of 184 works

2022

Conference Publication

High dimensional spatial profiling of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment

Kulasinghe, A., Ma, N., Monkman, J., Pratapa, A., Braubach, O. and O'Byrne, K. (2022). High dimensional spatial profiling of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment. 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Vienna, Austria, 6-9 August 2022. New York, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.07.1111

High dimensional spatial profiling of the NSCLC tumour microenvironment

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

Conference Publication

Multi-omic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Kim, Honesty, Mayer, Aaron, Mehdi, Ahmed, Matigian, Nicholas, Cumberbatch, Marie, Bhagat, Milan, Ladwa, Rahul, Mueller, Scott, Adams, Mark and O'Byrne, Ken (2022). Multi-omic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). AACR Annual Meeting 2022, New Orleans, LA United States, 8-13 April 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-2036

Multi-omic dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2022

Conference Publication

Profiling spatial signatures in the microenvironment of non-small cell lung carcinomas in immunotherapy responsive and resistant disease cohorts

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Ma, Ning, Monkman, James, Mammadova, Najiba, Braubach, Oliver and O'Byrne, Ken (2022). Profiling spatial signatures in the microenvironment of non-small cell lung carcinomas in immunotherapy responsive and resistant disease cohorts. AACR Annual Meeting 2022, New Orleans, LA United States, 8-13 April 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-1714

Profiling spatial signatures in the microenvironment of non-small cell lung carcinomas in immunotherapy responsive and resistant disease cohorts

2022

Conference Publication

Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

O'Byrne, Kenneth John, Monkman, James, Kim, Honesty, Cumberbatch, Marie, Bhagat, Milan, Ladwa, Rahul, Adams, Mark N. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States, 3-7 June 2022. Alexandria, VA, United States: American Society of Clinical Oncology. doi: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.8544

Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2022

Conference Publication

Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

O'Byrne, Kenneth John, Monkman, James, Kim, Honesty, Cumberbatch, Marie, Bhagat, Milan, Ladwa, Rahul, Adams, Mark N. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Clinical-Oncology (ASCO), Electr Network, Jun 03-07, 2022. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.

Multi-omic and spatial dissection of immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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

2022

Conference Publication

Mapping the spatial biology of COVID-19 immunopathology in placenta tissues

Ma, Ning, Braubach, Oliver, Rebutini, Patricia Zadorosnei, Machado-Souza, Cleber, Stonoga, Emanuele Therezinha Schueda, de Noronha, Lucia, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Mapping the spatial biology of COVID-19 immunopathology in placenta tissues. Immunology 2022 Meeting, Portland, OR United States, 6-10 May 2022. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.208.supp.125.20

Mapping the spatial biology of COVID-19 immunopathology in placenta tissues

2022

Journal Article

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy

Shiravand, Yavar, Khodadadi, Faezeh, Kashani, Seyyed Mohammad Amin, Hosseini-Fard, Seyed Reza, Hosseini, Shadi, Sadeghirad, Habib, Ladwa, Rahul, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy. Current Oncology, 29 (5), 3044-3060. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29050247

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy

2022

Journal Article

Clinical applications of circulating tumour cells and circulating tumour dna in non-small cell lung cancer—an update

Kapeleris, Joanna, Ebrahimi Warkiani, Majid, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Vela, Ian, Kenny, Liz, Ladwa, Rahul, O’Byrne, Kenneth and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2022). Clinical applications of circulating tumour cells and circulating tumour dna in non-small cell lung cancer—an update. Frontiers in Oncology, 12 859152, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.859152

Clinical applications of circulating tumour cells and circulating tumour dna in non-small cell lung cancer—an update

2022

Journal Article

The role of circulating biomarkers in lung cancer

Herath, Sayuri, Sadeghi Rad, Habib, Radfar, Payar, Ladwa, Rahul, Warkiani, Majid, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). The role of circulating biomarkers in lung cancer. Frontiers in Oncology, 11 801269, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.801269

The role of circulating biomarkers in lung cancer

2022

Journal Article

Spatial profiling identifies prognostic features of response to adjuvant therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Shah, Esha T., Matigian, Nicholas, Adams, Mark N. and O’Byrne, Ken (2022). Spatial profiling identifies prognostic features of response to adjuvant therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Frontiers in Oncology, 11 798296, 798296. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.798296

Spatial profiling identifies prognostic features of response to adjuvant therapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

2022

Journal Article

Understanding the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Rad, Habib Sadeghi, Shiravand, Yavar, Radfar, Payar, Ladwa, Rahul, Perry, Chris, Han, Xiaoyuan, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Adams, Mark N., Hughes, Brett G.M., O'Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Understanding the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 11 (6) e1397, e1397. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1397

Understanding the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

2022

Journal Article

Modelling the tumor immune microenvironment for precision immunotherapy

Mackenzie, Nathan J, Nicholls, Clarissa, Templeton, Abby R, Perera, Mahasha PJ, Jeffery, Penny L, Zimmermann, Kate, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Kenna, Tony J, Vela, Ian, Williams, Elizabeth D and Thomas, Patrick B (2022). Modelling the tumor immune microenvironment for precision immunotherapy. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 11 (6) e1400, 1-22. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1400

Modelling the tumor immune microenvironment for precision immunotherapy

2022

Journal Article

Corrigendum: The effects of COVID-19 on the placenta during pregnancy

Rad, Habib Sadeghi, Röhl, Joan, Stylianou, Nataly, Allenby, Mark C., Bazaz, Sajad Razavi, Warkiani, Majid E., Guimaraes, Fernando S F, Clifton, Vicki L. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2022). Corrigendum: The effects of COVID-19 on the placenta during pregnancy. Frontiers in immunology, 13 998406, 998406. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.998406

Corrigendum: The effects of COVID-19 on the placenta during pregnancy

2021

Conference Publication

Stromal compartment specific gene signatures dissect immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer

Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J. and O'Byrne, K. J. (2021). Stromal compartment specific gene signatures dissect immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer. ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congres, Electr Network, Dec 08-11, 2021. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.10.032

Stromal compartment specific gene signatures dissect immunotherapy response groups in non-small cell lung cancer

2021

Journal Article

Endothelial cells are not productively infected by SARS‐CoV‐2

Schimmel, Lilian, Chew, Keng Yih, Stocks, Claudia J., Yordanov, Teodor E., Essebier, Patricia, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Monkman, James, Santos Miggiolaro, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Cooper, Caroline, Noronha, Lucia, Schroder, Kate, Lagendijk, Anne Karine, Labzin, Larisa I., Short, Kirsty R. and Gordon, Emma J. (2021). Endothelial cells are not productively infected by SARS‐CoV‐2. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 10 (10) e1350, e1350. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1350

Endothelial cells are not productively infected by SARS‐CoV‐2

2021

Journal Article

Novel systemic inflammation markers to predict COVID-19 prognosis

Karimi, Amirali, Shobeiri, Parnian, Kulasinghe, Arutha and Rezaei, Nima (2021). Novel systemic inflammation markers to predict COVID-19 prognosis. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 741061. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.741061

Novel systemic inflammation markers to predict COVID-19 prognosis

Funding

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2028
    Cellular Mapping of Influenza: The development of a Tissue Atlas
    UQ - Sanofi Translational Science Hub Partnership Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2026 - 2028
    Mechanisms contributing to placental insufficiency and adverse neonatal outcomes across the birthweight centile continuum
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Advancing insights into the immune landscape of pediatric ARDS lungs: A spatial multi-omics approach
    UQ - Sanofi Translational Science Hub Partnership Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2026
    CTC Blood project
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 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
  • 2025 - 2026
    IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR IN PERINEURAL SPREAD FROM CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    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 - 2026
    Early Detection of ovarian cancer using liquid biopsy analysis on circular RNAs
    Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation
    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 - 2027
    Personalising Innate-immunotherapy for Superior Treatment Outcomes with Large anticancer applicability (PISTOL)
    NHMRC MRFF EMCR - Early to Mid-Career Researchers
    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 - 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 - 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

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

  • Master Philosophy

    Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improved diagnostics for respiratory viral infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Meagan Carney, Professor Kirsty Short

  • 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

    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

    Understanding the role of immature myeloid cells in early melanoma establishment

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz, Associate Professor James Wells

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Lessons from a Century of Influenza Pandemics and Implications for Future Preparedness

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Keng Chew, Professor Kirsty Short

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Studying the tumour immune microenvironment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz

  • 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

Completed supervision

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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