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
Fields of research
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
2018
Conference Publication
Rab27a promotes melanoma cell invasion and metastasis via the regulation of exosome secretion
Guo, Dajiang, Lui, Goldie Y., Sharp, Danae M., Lai, Siew Li, Tikoo, Shweta, Kwan, Rain, van Geldermalsen, Michelle, Holst, Jeff, Haass, Nikolas K., Weninger, Wolfgang and Beaumont, Kimberley A. (2018). Rab27a promotes melanoma cell invasion and metastasis via the regulation of exosome secretion. Annual Meeting of the American-Association-for-Cancer-Research (AACR), Chicago Il, Apr 14-18, 2018. PHILADELPHIA: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2018-5167
2018
Journal Article
Endogenous replication stress marks melanomas sensitive to CHEK1 inhibitors in vivo
Oo, Zay Yar, Stevenson, Alexander J., Proctor, Martina A., Daignault, Sheena M., Walpole, Sebastian, Lanagan, Catherine, Chen, James, Skalamera, Dubravka, Spoerri, Loredana, Ainger, Stephen, Sturm, Richard A, Haass, Nikolas K and Gabrielli, Brian (2018). Endogenous replication stress marks melanomas sensitive to CHEK1 inhibitors in vivo. Clinical Cancer Research, 24 (12), 2901-2912. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-2701
2018
Journal Article
Microenvironment-driven dynamic heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity as a mechanism of melanoma therapy resistance
Ahmed, Farzana and Haass, Nikolas K. (2018). Microenvironment-driven dynamic heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity as a mechanism of melanoma therapy resistance. Frontiers in Oncology, 8 (May) 173, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00173
2018
Journal Article
HDAC inhibitors restore BRAF-inhibitor sensitivity by altering PI3K and survival signalling in a subset of melanoma
Gallagher, Stuart J., Gunatilake, Dilini, Beaumont, Kimberley A., Sharp, Danae M., Tiffen, Jessamy C., Heinemann, Anja, Weninger, Wolfgang, Haass, Nikolas K., Wilmott, James S., Madore, Jason, Ferguson, Peter M., Rizos, Helen and Hersey, Peter (2018). HDAC inhibitors restore BRAF-inhibitor sensitivity by altering PI3K and survival signalling in a subset of melanoma. International Journal of Cancer, 142 (9), 1926-1937. doi: 10.1002/ijc.31199
2018
Conference Publication
High Rab27a expression is associated with poor melanoma prognosis and promotes melanoma cell invasion and metastasis via regulation of pro-invasive exosomes
Guo, D., Lui, G. Y., Tikoo, S., Weninger, W., Beaumont, K. A. and Haass, N. K. (2018). High Rab27a expression is associated with poor melanoma prognosis and promotes melanoma cell invasion and metastasis via regulation of pro-invasive exosomes. International Investigative Dermatology (IID) Meeting, Orlando Fl, May 16-19, 2018. NEW YORK: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC.
2018
Journal Article
Mathematical models for cell migration with real-time cell cycle dynamics
Vittadello, Sean T., McCue, Scott W., Gunasingh, Gency, Haass, Nikolas K and Simpson, Matthew J (2018). Mathematical models for cell migration with real-time cell cycle dynamics. Biophysical Journal, 114 (5), 1241-1253. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.12.041
2018
Journal Article
Acetylsalicylic acid governs the effect of sorafenib in RAS- mutant cancers
Hammerlindl, Heinz, Ravindran Menon, Dinoop, Hammerlindl, Sabrina, Emran, Abdullah Al, Torrano, Joachim, Sproesser, Katrin, Thakkar, Divya, Xiao, Min, Atkinson, Victoria G., Gabrielli, Brian, Haass, Nikolas K., Herlyn, Meenhard, Krepler, Clemens and Schaider, Helmut (2018). Acetylsalicylic acid governs the effect of sorafenib in RAS- mutant cancers. Clinical Cancer Research, 24 (5), 1090-1102. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-2118
2018
Conference Publication
Targeting cell cycle phase-specific drug sensitivity for melanoma therapy
Daignault, S. M., Hill, D. S., Spoerri, L., Stehbens, S., Weninger, W., Gabrielli, B., Dolcetti, R. and Haass, N. K. (2018). Targeting cell cycle phase-specific drug sensitivity for melanoma therapy. 45th Annual Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinscha-Dermatologische-Forschung (ADF), Zurich, Switzerland, 7-10 March 2018. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2018
Conference Publication
Rab27a, a novel marker for melanoma metastasis and poor prognosis
Guo, D., Lui, G. Y., Weninger, W., Beaumont, K. A. and Haass, N. K. (2018). Rab27a, a novel marker for melanoma metastasis and poor prognosis. Australasian College of Dermatologists, 51st Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 19-22 May 2018. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley.
2018
Conference Publication
Escape form adaptive drug tolerance through OGT and TET1 mediated H3K4me3 remodeling in MAPKi-resistant melanoma
Menon, D. Ravindran, Hammerlindl, H., Emran, A., Torrano, J., Hammerlindl, S., Zhang, G., Krause, L., Somasundaram, R., Sturm, R., Haass, N. K., Flaherty, K., Herlyn, M. and Schaider, H. (2018). Escape form adaptive drug tolerance through OGT and TET1 mediated H3K4me3 remodeling in MAPKi-resistant melanoma. International Investigative Dermatology (IID) Meeting, Orlando, Fl, United States, 16-19 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Nature Publishing Group. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.03.1252
2018
Conference Publication
Magnolol induces cell death through PI3K/Akt mediated epigenetic modifications boosting targeted inhibition in BRAF and NRAS mutant melanoma
Emran, A., Chowdhury, B. R., Hammerlindl, H., Ahmed, F., Haass, N. K., Schuehly, W. and Schaider, H. (2018). Magnolol induces cell death through PI3K/Akt mediated epigenetic modifications boosting targeted inhibition in BRAF and NRAS mutant melanoma. Australasian College of Dermatologists, 51st Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 19-22 May 2018. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley.
2018
Conference Publication
Escape form adaptive drug tolerance through OGT and TET1 mediated H3K4me3 remodeling in MAPKi resistant melanoma
Menon, Dinoop Ravindran, Hammerlindl, Heinz, Al Emran, Abdullah, Torrano, Joachim, Hammerlindl, Sabrina, Zhang, Gao, Somasundaram, Rajasekharan, Sturm, Richard A., Haass, Nikolas K., Flaherty, Keith, Herlyn, Meenhard and Schaider, Helmut (2018). Escape form adaptive drug tolerance through OGT and TET1 mediated H3K4me3 remodeling in MAPKi resistant melanoma. Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Chicago, IL United States, 14-18 April 2018. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association of Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2018-5833
2018
Conference Publication
Overexpression of the cell cycle regulator Emi1 promotes chromosome instability and tumorigenesis
Duijf, Pascal H. G., Vaidyanathan, Srividya, Cato, Kathleen, Thangavelu, Pulari U., Lin, Cheng-Yu, Tang, Lu, Pavey, Sandra, Haass, Nikolas K. and Gabrielli, Brian G. (2018). Overexpression of the cell cycle regulator Emi1 promotes chromosome instability and tumorigenesis. 76th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association, Yokohama, Japan, 28-30 September 2017. Tokyo, Japan: Wiley Japan. doi: 10.1111/cas.13499
2017
Conference Publication
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor regulates dynamic melanoma heterogeneity
Haass, N. K., Spoerri, L., Tonnessen, C. A., Beaumont, K. A., Hill, D. S., Jurek, R. J., Daignault, S. M., Ahmed, F., Smith, A. G. and Weninger, W. (2017). Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor regulates dynamic melanoma heterogeneity. 47th Annual Meeting of the European-Society-for-Dermatological-Research (ESDR), Salzburg, Austria, 27-30 September 2017. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.07.726
2017
Journal Article
Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-stimuli-responsive drug delivery of TNF-alpha
Kienzle, Arne, Kurch, Sven, Schloder, Janine, Berges, Carsten, Ose, Robert, Schupp, Jonathan, Tuettenberg, Andrea, Weiss, Henning, Schultze, Jennifer, Winzen, Svenja, Schinnerer, Meike, Koynov, Kaloian, Mezger, Markus, Haass, Nikolas K., Tremel, Wolfgang and Jonuleit, Helmut (2017). Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-stimuli-responsive drug delivery of TNF-alpha. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 6 (13) 1700012, 1700012+. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201700012
2017
Journal Article
Targeting endothelin receptor signalling overcomes heterogeneity driven therapy failure
Smith, Michael P., Rowling, Emily J., Miskolczi, Zsofia, Ferguson, Jennifer, Spoerri, Loredana, Haass, Nikolas K., Sloss, Olivia, Mcentegart, Sophie, Arozarena, Imanol, von Kriegsheim, Alex, Rodriguez, Javier, Brunton, Holly, Kmarashev, Jivko, Levesque, Mitchell P., Dummer, Reinhard, Frederick, Dennie T., Andrews, Miles C., Cooper, Zachary A., Flaherty, Keith T., Wargo, Jennifer A. and Wellbrock, Claudia (2017). Targeting endothelin receptor signalling overcomes heterogeneity driven therapy failure. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 9 (8), 1011-1029. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201607156
2017
Journal Article
Cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma: challenges and opportunities
Haass, Nikolas K. and Gabrielli, Brian (2017). Cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma: challenges and opportunities. Experimental Dermatology, 26 (7), 649-655. doi: 10.1111/exd.13303
2017
Journal Article
NFIB mediates BRN2 driven melanoma cell migration and invasion through regulation of EZH2 and MITF
Fane, Mitchell E., Chhabra, Yash, Hollingsworth, David E. J., Simmons, Jacinta L., Spoerri, Loredana, Oh, Tae Gyu, Chauhan, Jagat, Chin, Toby, Harris, Lachlan, Harvey, Tracey J., Muscat, George E. O., Goding, Colin R., Sturm, Richard A., Haass, Nikolas K., Boyle, Glen M., Piper, Michael and Smith, Aaron G. (2017). NFIB mediates BRN2 driven melanoma cell migration and invasion through regulation of EZH2 and MITF. EBioMedicine, 16, 63-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.01.013
2017
Book Chapter
Cell–cell contacts in melanoma and the tumor microenvironment
Kuphal, Silke and Haass, Nikolas K. (2017). Cell–cell contacts in melanoma and the tumor microenvironment. Melanoma development: molecular biology, genetics and clinical application. (pp. 227-269) edited by Anja K. Bosserhoff. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-41319-8_9
2017
Conference Publication
Cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma: challenges and opportunities
Haass, N., Spoerri, L., Tonnessen, C. A., Beaumont, K. A., Hill, D. S., Daignault, S. M., Gabrielli, B. and Weninger, W. (2017). Cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma: challenges and opportunities. Australasian College of Dermatologists 50th Annual Scientific Meeting, International Convention Centre, Sydney, NSW Australia, 6-9 May 2017. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/ajd.20_12652
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Nikolas Haass is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis of phenotypic heterogeneity in 3D melanoma spheroids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Associate Professor Helmut Schaider
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of cell cycle phase-dependent immunogenicity of melanoma treated with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Gabrielli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis of phenotypic heterogeneity in 3D melanoma spheroids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Associate Professor Helmut Schaider
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modulating phenotypic melanoma heterogeneity and lymphocyte infiltration to improve both targeted and immune therapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Gabrielli, Dr Janin Chandra
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the interplay of MITF, TFEB and CDK4/6 on lysosome activity in melanoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jason Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting epigenetic regulation to overcome immunotherapy resistance in cutaneous melanoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani, Dr Abbas Shafiee, Associate Professor Jason Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
Strategies to improve immunotherapy for patients with glioblastoma or breast cancer brain metastases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jodi Saunus, Professor Fiona Simpson
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing ER stress induced apoptosis and immunogenic cell death in melanoma
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor (MITF)-driven tumour heterogeneity in a 3D melanoma spheroid model in vitro.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Helmut Schaider
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
The regulation of cGAS during cell cycle
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Clarke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of Microtubules in 3D by CLASPs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Samantha Stehbens
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms and markers of CHK1 inhibitors sensitivity in melanoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Gabrielli
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Nikolas Haass's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: