Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe
Associate Professor

Arutha Kulasinghe

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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

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Health Sciences Medical biotechnology Medical biotechnology diagnostics (incl. biosensors) Medical biotechnology not elsewhere classified Oncology and carcinogenesis

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

Search Professor Arutha Kulasinghe’s works on UQ eSpace

152 works between 2015 and 2025
All (152) Journal Article (88) Book Chapter (8) Conference Publication (49) Other Outputs (7)

141 - 152 of 152 works

2017

Journal Article

Circulating tumour cell PD-L1 test for head and neck cancers

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Kenny, Liz and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2017). Circulating tumour cell PD-L1 test for head and neck cancers. Oral Oncology, 75, 6-7. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2017.10.011

Circulating tumour cell PD-L1 test for head and neck cancers

2017

Journal Article

PD-L1 expressing circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancers

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Perry, Chris, Kenny, Liz, Warkiani, Majid E., Nelson, Colleen and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2017). PD-L1 expressing circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancers. BMC Cancer, 17 (1) 333, 333. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3316-3

PD-L1 expressing circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancers

2017

Journal Article

Enrichment of circulating head and neck tumour cells using spiral microfluidic technology

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Tran, Thao Huynh Phuoc, Blick, Tony, O'Byrne, Ken, Thompson, Erik W., Warkiani, Majid E., Nelson, Colleen, Kenny, Liz and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2017). Enrichment of circulating head and neck tumour cells using spiral microfluidic technology. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 42517, 42517. doi: 10.1038/srep42517

Enrichment of circulating head and neck tumour cells using spiral microfluidic technology

2016

Journal Article

The development of a liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers

Schmidt, Henri, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Kenny, Liz and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). The development of a liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers. Oral Oncology, 61, 8-11. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2016.07.014

The development of a liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers

2016

Journal Article

Impact of label-free technologies in head and neck cancer circulating tumour cells

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Kenny, Liz, Perry, Chris, Thiery, Jean-Paul, Jovanovic, Lidija, Vela, Ian, Nelson, Colleen and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). Impact of label-free technologies in head and neck cancer circulating tumour cells. Oncotarget, 7 (44), 71223-71234. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.12086

Impact of label-free technologies in head and neck cancer circulating tumour cells

2016

Journal Article

A liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers

Schmidt, Henri, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Perry, Chris, Nelson, Colleen and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). A liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers. Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, 16 (2), 165-172. doi: 10.1586/14737159.2016.1127758

A liquid biopsy for head and neck cancers

2016

Journal Article

Short term ex-vivo expansion of circulating head and neck tumour cells

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Perry, Chris, Warkiani, Majid E., Blick, Tony, Davies, Anthony, O'Byrne, Ken, Thompson, Erik W., Nelson, Colleen C., Vela, Ian and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). Short term ex-vivo expansion of circulating head and neck tumour cells. Oncotarget, 7 (37), 60101-60109. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.11159

Short term ex-vivo expansion of circulating head and neck tumour cells

2016

Journal Article

Epithelial-mesenchymal axis in head and neck cancer cell lines

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Perry, Chris, Boyle, Glen M., O'Byrne, Ken, Davies, Anthony, Jovanovic, Lidija, Nelson, Colleen and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). Epithelial-mesenchymal axis in head and neck cancer cell lines. Journal of Solid Tumors, 6 (1). doi: 10.5430/jst.v6n1p28

Epithelial-mesenchymal axis in head and neck cancer cell lines

2016

Book Chapter

Circulating tumor cells: isolation, expansion, characterization and translation to clinic

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Schmidt, Henri and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2016). Circulating tumor cells: isolation, expansion, characterization and translation to clinic. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs): detection methods, health impact and emerging clinical challenges. (pp. 1-18) edited by Paresh Chandra Ray. New York, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers, Inc..

Circulating tumor cells: isolation, expansion, characterization and translation to clinic

2015

Journal Article

Circulating tumour cells in metastatic head and neck cancers

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Perry, Chris, Jovanovic, Lidija, Nelson, Colleen and Chamindie Punyadeera, (2015). Circulating tumour cells in metastatic head and neck cancers. International Journal of Cancer, 136 (11), 2515-2523. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29108

Circulating tumour cells in metastatic head and neck cancers

2015

Book Chapter

Current trends and management in head and neck cancers

Kulasinghe, Arutha, Lim, Yenkai, Perry, Chris F. L. and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2015). Current trends and management in head and neck cancers. Head and neck cancer: epidemiology, management, and treatment outcomes. (pp. 41-74) edited by Madison R. Hall. New York, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers.

Current trends and management in head and neck cancers

2015

Book Chapter

Saliva diagnostics for oral diseases

Zhang, Xi, Kulasinghe, Arutha, Karim, Rafid Shahriyar and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2015). Saliva diagnostics for oral diseases. Advances in salivary diagnostics. (pp. 131-156) edited by Charles F. Streckfus. Berlin, Germany: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-45399-5_7

Saliva diagnostics for oral diseases

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 - 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 - 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

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

    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

  • 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

    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

  • 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

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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