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Professor Nikolas Haass
Professor

Nikolas Haass

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 37087

Overview

Background

I am a clinician scientist and academic leader with research in melanoma cell biology and experimental melanoma therapy. I received my degree in medicine from the University of Heidelberg, Germany (1990-1998). I graduated summa cum laude with a PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Heidelberg (1993-1999) and trained in clinical dermatology at the University of Hamburg, Germany (1999-2003). In 2003 I moved to Philadelphia, PA, to work as a post-doctoral fellow in Meenhard Herlyn’s lab at The Wistar Institute (2003-2007). From there I was recruited as an associate faculty member to the Centenary Institute/University of Sydney (2007-2013). In 2013 I commenced a position as Associate Professor for Cutaneous Oncology at University of Queensland Diamantina Institute (now Frazer Institute) and was promoted to full Professor in April 2016.

Availability

Professor Nikolas Haass is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Diploma, Ruprecht Karls Universität Heidelberg

Research impacts

Using cutting-edge technology, including real-time cell cycle imaging in 3D culture and in vivo, my team studies the role of dynamic melanoma heterogeneity in melanomagenesis with the goal to develop novel therapeutic approaches by simultaneously targeting different tumor cell subpopulations. My laboratory and our team are in the unique position to combine sophisticated imaging and biosensor approaches with biochemical methods to provide unprecedented insight to the mechanisms of tumor heterogeneity, tumor-stroma interactions and cancer immunology.

My contribution to the field is best evidenced by 97 original papers and invited reviews in leading biomedical journals. Many of our papers have a large impact in the field (>7500 citations in total, and 19 papers cited >100 times each). The papers in Mol Cancer Ther (2006, cited >500x), Cancer Res (2007, cited 265x) and PNAS (2008, cited 1500x) were evaluated by Faculty 1000 Biology as recommended or exceptional, respectively.

Works

Search Professor Nikolas Haass’s works on UQ eSpace

217 works between 1996 and 2024

1 - 20 of 217 works

2024

Journal Article

Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments

Ju, Robert J., Falconer, Alistair D., Schmidt, Christanny J., Martinez, Marco A. Enriquez, Dean, Kevin M., Fiolka, Reto P., Sester, David P., Nobis, Max, Timpson, Paul, Lomakin, Alexis J., Danuser, Gaudenz, White, Melanie D., Haass, Nikolas K., Oelz, Dietmar B. and Stehbens, Samantha J. (2024). Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments. Nature Cell Biology, 26 (9), 1520-1534. doi: 10.1038/s41556-024-01476-x

Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments

2024

Conference Publication

Environmentally stressed drug-naive melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells

Kangachar, S. Asgharzadeh, Ahmed, F., Al Emran, A., Boyle, G., Spoerri, L., Schaider, H. and Haass, N. K. (2024). Environmentally stressed drug-naive melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells. Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) 2024 Meeting, Dallas, TX, United States, 15-18 May 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Environmentally stressed drug-naive melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells

2024

Conference Publication

Environmentally stressed drug-naïve melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells

Kangachar, S. Asgharzadeh, Ahmed, F., Al Emran, A., Boyle, G., Spoerri, L., Schaider, H. and Haass, N.K. (2024). Environmentally stressed drug-naïve melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells. Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) 2024 Meeting, Dallas, TX United States, 15-18 May 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.06.641

Environmentally stressed drug-naïve melanoma cell subpopulations share a molecular signature with drug-induced early persister cells

2024

Conference Publication

A calcium influx pathway regulates adaptive melanoma drug tolerance

Guan, Yimeng, Robitaille, Melanie, Torrano, Joachim, Haass, Nikolas, Roberts-Thomson, Sarah, Monteith, Gregory and Schaider, Helmut (2024). A calcium influx pathway regulates adaptive melanoma drug tolerance. ASDR 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, NSW Australia, 18-20 July 2024.

A calcium influx pathway regulates adaptive melanoma drug tolerance

2024

Journal Article

VEGF/VEGFR axis and its signaling in melanoma: current knowledge toward therapeutic targeting agents and future perspectives

Malekan, Mohammad, Haass, Nikolas K., Rokni, Ghasem Rahmatpour, Gholizadeh, Nasim, Ebrahimzadeh, Mohammad Ali and Kazeminejad, Armaghan (2024). VEGF/VEGFR axis and its signaling in melanoma: current knowledge toward therapeutic targeting agents and future perspectives. Life Sciences, 345 122563, 122563. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122563

VEGF/VEGFR axis and its signaling in melanoma: current knowledge toward therapeutic targeting agents and future perspectives

2024

Journal Article

Targeting 14-3-3θ-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice

Ke, Yazi D., van Hummel, Annika, Au, Carol, Chan, Gabriella, Lee, Wei Siang, van der Hoven, Julia, Przybyla, Magdalena, Deng, Yuanyuan, Sabale, Miheer, Morey, Nicolle, Bertz, Josefine, Feiten, Astrid, Ippati, Stefania, Stevens, Claire H., Yang, Shu, Gladbach, Amadeus, Haass, Nikolas K., Kril, Jillian J., Blair, Ian P., Delerue, Fabien and Ittner, Lars M. (2024). Targeting 14-3-3θ-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice. Neuron, 112 (8), 1249-1264.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.022

Targeting 14-3-3θ-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice

2024

Conference Publication

Uncovering Microtubule-driven Mechanisms of Melanoma Invasion

Ju, R. J., Falconer, A. D., Dean, K. M., Fiolka, R. P., Sester, D. P., Nobis, M., Timpson, P., Lomakin, A. J., Danuser, G., White, M. D., Oelz, D. B., Haass, N. K. and Stehbens, S. J. (2024). Uncovering Microtubule-driven Mechanisms of Melanoma Invasion. 50th Annual Meeting of the Dermatological Research Working Group (ADF), Dusseldorf, Germany, 6-9 March 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Uncovering Microtubule-driven Mechanisms of Melanoma Invasion

2024

Book Chapter

Real-time cell cycle imaging in a 3D cell culture model of melanoma, quantitative analysis, optical clearing, and mathematical modeling

Spoerri, Loredana, Beaumont, Kimberley A., Anfosso, Andrea, Murphy, Ryan J., Browning, Alexander P., Gunasingh, Gency and Haass, Nikolas K. (2024). Real-time cell cycle imaging in a 3D cell culture model of melanoma, quantitative analysis, optical clearing, and mathematical modeling. 3D cell culture: methods and protocols. (pp. 291-310) edited by Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova. New York, NY, United States: Humana. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3674-9_19

Real-time cell cycle imaging in a 3D cell culture model of melanoma, quantitative analysis, optical clearing, and mathematical modeling

2023

Journal Article

Formation and growth of co-culture tumour spheroids: new compartment-based mathematical models and experiments

Murphy, Ryan J., Gunasingh, Gency, Haass, Nikolas K. and Simpson, Matthew J. (2023). Formation and growth of co-culture tumour spheroids: new compartment-based mathematical models and experiments. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 86 (1) 8, 1-434. doi: 10.1007/s11538-023-01229-1

Formation and growth of co-culture tumour spheroids: new compartment-based mathematical models and experiments

2023

Journal Article

H3K4me3 remodeling induced acquired resistance through O-GlcNAc transferase

Menon, Dinoop Ravindran, Hammerlindl, Heinz, Gimenez, Gregory, Hammerlindl, Sabrina, Zuegner, Elmar, Torrano, Joachim, Bordag, Natalie, Emran, Abdullah Al, Giam, Maybelline, Denil, Simon, Pavelka, Norman, Tan, Aik-Choon, Sturm, Richard A., Haass, Nikolas K., Rancati, Giulia, Herlyn, Meenhard, Magnes, Christoph, Eccles, Michael R., Fujita, Mayumi and Schaider, Helmut (2023). H3K4me3 remodeling induced acquired resistance through O-GlcNAc transferase. Drug Resistance Updates, 71 100993, 100993. doi: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.100993

H3K4me3 remodeling induced acquired resistance through O-GlcNAc transferase

2023

Journal Article

The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers

Wallingford, Courtney K., Demeshko, Anastassia, Krishnakripa, Asha Krishnankutty, Smit, Darren J., Duffy, David L., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Pflugfelder, Annette, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Holland, Elizabeth, Mann, Graham J., Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Malvehy, Josep, Badenas, Cèlia, Carrera, Cristina, Aguilera, Paula, Olsen, Catherine M., Ward, Sarah V., Haass, Nikolas K., Sturm, Richard A., Puig, Susanna, Whiteman, David C., Law, Matthew H., Cust, Anne E., Potrony, Miriam, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2023). The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers. British Journal of Dermatology, 188 (6), 770-776. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad041

The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers

2023

Conference Publication

1244 Epigenetic and metabolic vulnerabilities of adaptive drug resistance to targeted therapies in melanoma

Torrano, J., Ravindran-Menon, D., Hammerlindl, H., Hammerlindl, S., Emran, A.A., Bordag, N., Zuegner, E., Haass, N.K., Sadowski, M., Stow, J., Magnes, C., Fujita, M. and Schaider, H. (2023). 1244 Epigenetic and metabolic vulnerabilities of adaptive drug resistance to targeted therapies in melanoma. 1st International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023), Tokyo, Japan, 10-13 May 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.1258

1244 Epigenetic and metabolic vulnerabilities of adaptive drug resistance to targeted therapies in melanoma

2023

Conference Publication

1255 Modulating phenotypic melanoma heterogeneity and immune cell infiltration

Guan, Y., Griffiths, L., Gunasingh, G., Kumar, J., Spoerri, L. and Haass, N.K. (2023). 1255 Modulating phenotypic melanoma heterogeneity and immune cell infiltration. 1st International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023), Tokyo, Japan, 10-13 May 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.1269

1255 Modulating phenotypic melanoma heterogeneity and immune cell infiltration

2023

Conference Publication

Bortezomib induces immunogenic cell death in melanoma and enhances immune response in vivo

Daignault, S., Ju, R. J., Spoerri, L., Stehbens, S. J., Hill, D. S., Dolcetti, R. and Haass, N. (2023). Bortezomib induces immunogenic cell death in melanoma and enhances immune response in vivo. Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF), Berlin, Germany, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Bortezomib induces immunogenic cell death in melanoma and enhances immune response in vivo

2023

Conference Publication

MITF-mediated changes of tumour architecture, tensile stress and in extracellular matrix (ECM) control intratumour heterogeneity in melanoma

Spoerri, L., Tonnessen-Murray, C. A., Beaumont, K. A., Hill, D. S., Jurek, R. J., Gunasingh, G., Vanwalleghem, G., Daignault, S., Fane, M. E., Schaider, H., Smith, A., Stehbens, S. J., Weninger, W., Scott, E. E., Gabrielli, B. and Haass, N. (2023). MITF-mediated changes of tumour architecture, tensile stress and in extracellular matrix (ECM) control intratumour heterogeneity in melanoma. Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF), Berlin, Germany, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

MITF-mediated changes of tumour architecture, tensile stress and in extracellular matrix (ECM) control intratumour heterogeneity in melanoma

2023

Conference Publication

Uncovering biomechanically regulated cellular processes of melanoma cell invasion and survival in confined environments

Ju, R. J., Chhabra, Y., Stehbens, S. J. and Haass, N. (2023). Uncovering biomechanically regulated cellular processes of melanoma cell invasion and survival in confined environments. Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF), Berlin, Germany, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Uncovering biomechanically regulated cellular processes of melanoma cell invasion and survival in confined environments

2023

Journal Article

Head and neck cancer patient-derived tumouroid cultures: opportunities and challenges

Basnayake, B. W. M. Thilini J., Leo, Paul, Rao, Sudha, Vasani, Sarju, Kenny, Lizbeth, Haass, Nikolas K. and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2023). Head and neck cancer patient-derived tumouroid cultures: opportunities and challenges. British Journal of Cancer, 128 (10), 1807-1818. doi: 10.1038/s41416-023-02167-4

Head and neck cancer patient-derived tumouroid cultures: opportunities and challenges

2023

Journal Article

Growth and adaptation mechanisms of tumour spheroids with time-dependent oxygen availability

Murphy, Ryan J., Gunasingh, Gency, Haass, Nikolas K. and Simpson, Matthew J. (2023). Growth and adaptation mechanisms of tumour spheroids with time-dependent oxygen availability. PLoS Computational Biology, 19 (1) e1010833, 1-29. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010833

Growth and adaptation mechanisms of tumour spheroids with time-dependent oxygen availability

2023

Other Outputs

Specific T cells infiltration assay

Guan, Yimeng, Gunasingh, Gency and Haass, Nikolas (2023). Specific T cells infiltration assay. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ede5871

Specific T cells infiltration assay

2023

Book Chapter

Melanocytes and melanogenesis

Fernandez-Peñas, Pablo, Jones-Caballero, María and Haass, Nikolas (2023). Melanocytes and melanogenesis. Schachner and Hansen's pediatric dermatology. (pp. 1093-1097) edited by Antonio Torrelo, Angela Hernández-Martín, Elaine C. Siegfried, Anne W. Lucky, Robert A. Silverman, Elena Pope and Karen Wiss. New Delhi, India & London, United Kingdom: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. doi: 10.5005/jp/books/18588_59

Melanocytes and melanogenesis

Funding

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Changing the melanoma tumour microenvironment to improve both targeted and immune therapy
    Australasian College of Dermatologists Scientific Research Fund
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Laser capture microdissection to empower cancer discoveries, improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in amyloidosis patients
    IPF Healthy - Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Mathematical models of 4D multicellular spheroids (ARC Discovery Project administered by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Improving Immune Checkpoint Therapy of Melanoma
    Australasian College of Dermatologists Scientific Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress to potentiate immunogenic cell death to improve melanoma therapy
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Improving outcomes for patients with melanoma brain metastases using novel personalised and response-adapted treatment strategies (PARF Translation Research Innovation Award administered by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Melanoma environment and heterogeneity in therapy sensitivity and resistance - Haass
    Meehan Bequest
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Personalized medicine for renal cell carcinoma patients: use of patient-derived tumors for 3-D cell culture and animal models
    UQ-Ochsner Seed Fund for Collaborative Research - MABS funds
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Epigenetic remodelling driving acquired permanent drug resistance in melanoma cells
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Defining the role of Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF) in melanoma heterogeneity by real-time cell cycle imaging
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Next-generation cell analysis: Automated high-throughput 3D microscope and multimode microplate reader
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Purchase of low O2 incubator and Dissociator
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Real-time Imaging of cell cycle progression in melanoma
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Nikolas Haass is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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