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 has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including The Lancet Microbe, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Nature Genetics. He is the recipient of the Cure Cancer "Researcher of the Year" 2023 and named in the "Top Innovators Award" by the Australian for 2024. A/Prof Kulasinghe is supported by the MRFF, NHMRC, US DoD, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer, pharma 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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..
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
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.
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
Funding
Current funding
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
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Master Philosophy
Spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancers
Principal Advisor
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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
Precision medicine for Prostate Cancer Surgery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Pattison, Dr Matthew Roberts
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Doctor Philosophy
Mapping immune dysregulation in complex tissues using single-cell spatial multi-omics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharmesh Bhuva, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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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
Developing a Translational Pipeline for Personalised Immunotherapy in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maher Gandhi, Dr Joshua Tobin
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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
Lessons from a Century of Influenza Pandemics and Implications for Future Preparedness
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Keng Chew, Professor Kirsty Short
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of myeloid lineages in early melanoma establishment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Wells
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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
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: 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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