Professor Nikolas Haass
Professor

Nikolas Haass

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 37087

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

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences

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.

Search Professor Nikolas Haass’s works on UQ eSpace

218 works between 1996 and 2024
All (218) Journal Article (98) Book Chapter (14) Conference Publication (105) Other Outputs (1)

181 - 200 of 218 works

2008

Conference Publication

Tumour depth influences vertical and horizontal expression of Cx26 in epidermis adjacent to malignant melanoma

Ripperger, D., Wladykowski, E., Haass, N. K., Fischer, F., Moll, I. and Brandner, J. M. (2008). Tumour depth influences vertical and horizontal expression of Cx26 in epidermis adjacent to malignant melanoma. 35th Annual Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft-Dermatolog-Forschung, Eriangen Germany, Feb 28-Mar 01, 2008. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.

Tumour depth influences vertical and horizontal expression of Cx26 in epidermis adjacent to malignant melanoma

2008

Journal Article

Discovery of a selective inhibitor of oncogenic B-Raf kinase with potent antimelanoma activity

Tsai, James, Lee, John T., Wang, Weiru, Zhang, Jiazhong, Cho, Hanna, Mamo, Shumeye, Bremer, Ryan, Gillette, Sam, Kong, Jun, Haass, Nikolas K., Sproesser, Katrin, Li, Ling, Smalley, Keiran S. M., Fong, Daniel, Zhu, Yong-Liang, Marimuthu, Adhirai, Nguyen, Hoa, Lam, Billy, Liu, Jennifer, Cheung, Ivana, Rice, Julie, Suzuki, Yoshihisa, Luu, Catherine, Settachatgul, Calvin, Shellooe, Rafe, Cantwell, John, Kim, Sung-Hou, Schlessinger, Joseph, Zhang, Kam Y. J. ... Bollag, Gideon (2008). Discovery of a selective inhibitor of oncogenic B-Raf kinase with potent antimelanoma activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105 (8), 3041-3046. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711741105

Discovery of a selective inhibitor of oncogenic B-Raf kinase with potent antimelanoma activity

2008

Journal Article

The mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) induces growth arrest in melanoma cells and tumor regression when combined with docetaxel

Haass, Nikolas K., Sproesser, Katrin, Nguyen, Thiennga K., Contractor, Rooha, Medina, C. Angelica, Nathanson, Katherine L., Herlyn, Meenhard and Smalley, Keiran S. M. (2008). The mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) induces growth arrest in melanoma cells and tumor regression when combined with docetaxel. Clinical Cancer Research, 14 (1), 230-239. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-1440

The mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) induces growth arrest in melanoma cells and tumor regression when combined with docetaxel

2008

Journal Article

In vitro three-dimensional tumor microenvironment models for anticancer drug discovery

Smalley, Keiran S. M., Lioni, Mercedes, Noma, Kazuhiro, Haass, Nikolas K. and Herlyn, Meenhard (2008). In vitro three-dimensional tumor microenvironment models for anticancer drug discovery. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 3 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1517/17460441.3.1.1

In vitro three-dimensional tumor microenvironment models for anticancer drug discovery

2008

Journal Article

Identification of American herring gull Larus smithsonianus and European herring gull L. argentatus

Gottschling, Martin, Haass, Nikolas K. and Buchheim, Andreas (2008). Identification of American herring gull Larus smithsonianus and European herring gull L. argentatus. Limicola, 22 (1), 1-29.

Identification of American herring gull Larus smithsonianus and European herring gull L. argentatus

2008

Book Chapter

Targeting signaling pathways: in the search of melanoma's Achilles' heel

Haass, Nikolas K., Hoeller, Christoph and Herlyn, Meenhard (2008). Targeting signaling pathways: in the search of melanoma's Achilles' heel. Regulation of Gene Expression in the Tumor Environment. (pp. 27-42) edited by Menashe Bar-Eli. London, UK: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8341-9

Targeting signaling pathways: in the search of melanoma's Achilles' heel

2007

Conference Publication

The novel MEK1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) inhibits the growth of melanomas harboring the BRAF V600E mutation in vitro and in vivo

Haass, N. K., Smalley, K. S., Sproesser, K., Contractor, R. and Herlyn, M. (2007). The novel MEK1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) inhibits the growth of melanomas harboring the BRAF V600E mutation in vitro and in vivo. 68th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Investigative-Dermatology, Los Angeles Ca, May 09-12, 2007. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP.

The novel MEK1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) inhibits the growth of melanomas harboring the BRAF V600E mutation in vitro and in vivo

2007

Journal Article

Ki67 expression levels are a better marker of reduced melanoma growth following MEK inhibitor treatment than phospho-ERK levels

Smalley, K. S. M., Contractor, R., Haass, N. K., Lee, J. T., Nathanson, K. L., Medina, C. A., Flaherty, K. T. and Herlyn, M. (2007). Ki67 expression levels are a better marker of reduced melanoma growth following MEK inhibitor treatment than phospho-ERK levels. British Journal of Cancer, 96 (3), 445-449. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603596

Ki67 expression levels are a better marker of reduced melanoma growth following MEK inhibitor treatment than phospho-ERK levels

2007

Journal Article

An organometallic protein kinase inhibitor pharmacologically activates p53 and induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells

Smalley K.S.M., Contractor R., Haass N.K., Kulp A.N., Atilla-Gokcumen G.E., Williams D.S., Bregman H., Flaherty K.T., Soengas M.S., Meggers E. and Herlyn M. (2007). An organometallic protein kinase inhibitor pharmacologically activates p53 and induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells. Cancer Research, 67 (1), 209-217. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-1538

An organometallic protein kinase inhibitor pharmacologically activates p53 and induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells

2007

Journal Article

Expression of integrin alpha10 is induced in malignant melanoma

Wenke A.-K., Kjellman C., Lundgren-Akerlund E., Uhlmann C., Haass N.K., Herlyn M. and Bosserhoff A.K. (2007). Expression of integrin alpha10 is induced in malignant melanoma. Cellular Oncology, 29 (5), 373-386.

Expression of integrin alpha10 is induced in malignant melanoma

2006

Journal Article

Multiple signaling pathways must be targeted to overcome drug resistance in cell lines derived from melanoma metastases

Smalley, Keiran S.M., Haass, Nikolas K., Brafford, Patricia A., Lioni, Mercedes, Flaherty, Keith T. and Herlyn, Meenhard (2006). Multiple signaling pathways must be targeted to overcome drug resistance in cell lines derived from melanoma metastases. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 5 (5), 1136-1144. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-06-0084

Multiple signaling pathways must be targeted to overcome drug resistance in cell lines derived from melanoma metastases

2006

Conference Publication

The microenvironment is the key determinant of melanoma drug resistance

Haass, N. K., Smalley, K. S. and Herlyn, M. (2006). The microenvironment is the key determinant of melanoma drug resistance. 67th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Investigative-Dermatology, Philadelphia Pa, May 03-06, 2006. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP.

The microenvironment is the key determinant of melanoma drug resistance

2006

Journal Article

Differential induction of connexins 26 and 30 in skin tumors and their adjacent epidermis

Haass N.K., Wladykowski E., Kief S., Moll I. and Brandner J.M. (2006). Differential induction of connexins 26 and 30 in skin tumors and their adjacent epidermis. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 54 (2), 171-182. doi: 10.1369/jhc.5A6719.2005

Differential induction of connexins 26 and 30 in skin tumors and their adjacent epidermis

2005

Journal Article

Normal human melanocyte homeostasis as a paradigm for understanding melanoma

Haass, NK and Herlyn, M (2005). Normal human melanocyte homeostasis as a paradigm for understanding melanoma. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings, 10 (2), 153-163. doi: 10.1111/j.1087-0024.2005.200407.x

Normal human melanocyte homeostasis as a paradigm for understanding melanoma

2005

Conference Publication

Differential gap junctional intercellular communication between melanoma cells and cells in their microenvironment

Haass, N, Brandner, J, Brafford, P, Wladykowski, E, Kazianis, S, Moll, I and Herlyn, M (2005). Differential gap junctional intercellular communication between melanoma cells and cells in their microenvironment. 35th Annual Meeting of the European-Society-for-Dermatological-Research, Tubingen Germany, Sep 22-24, 2005. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.

Differential gap junctional intercellular communication between melanoma cells and cells in their microenvironment

2005

Journal Article

Adhesion, migration and communication in melanocytes and melanoma

Haass, Nikolas K., Smalley, Keiran S. M. , Li, Ling and Herlyn, Meenhard (2005). Adhesion, migration and communication in melanocytes and melanoma. Pigment Cell Research, 18 (3), 150-159. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0749.2005.00235.x

Adhesion, migration and communication in melanocytes and melanoma

2005

Journal Article

Up-regulated expression of zonula occludens protein-1 in human melanoma associates with N-cadherin and contributes to invasion and adhesion

Smalley, KSM, Brafford, P, Haass, NK, Brandner, JM, Brown, E and Herlyn, M (2005). Up-regulated expression of zonula occludens protein-1 in human melanoma associates with N-cadherin and contributes to invasion and adhesion. American Journal of Pathology, 166 (5), 1541-1554. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)62370-X

Up-regulated expression of zonula occludens protein-1 in human melanoma associates with N-cadherin and contributes to invasion and adhesion

2004

Conference Publication

Connexins 26 and 43 are differentially induced in skin tumors and the adjacent epidermis

Haass, NK, Wladykowski, E, Kief, S, Moll, I and Brandner, JM (2004). Connexins 26 and 43 are differentially induced in skin tumors and the adjacent epidermis. 34th Annual Meeting of the European-Society-for-Dermatological-Research, Vienna Austria, Sep 09-11, 2004. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING INC.

Connexins 26 and 43 are differentially induced in skin tumors and the adjacent epidermis

2004

Journal Article

The role of altered cell-cell communication in melanoma progression

Haass, Nikolas K., Smalley, Keiran S. M. and Herlyn, Meenhard (2004). The role of altered cell-cell communication in melanoma progression. Journal of Molecular Histology, 35 (3), 309-318. doi: 10.1023/B:HIJO.0000032362.35354.bb

The role of altered cell-cell communication in melanoma progression

2004

Conference Publication

Connexins are differentially expressed in melanoma and adjacent epidermis

Haass, NK, Brandner, JM, Brafford, PA, Wladykowski, E, Kazianis, S, Smalley, KS, Moll, I and Herlyn, M (2004). Connexins are differentially expressed in melanoma and adjacent epidermis. 65th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Investigative-Dermatology, Providence Ri, Apr 28-May 01, 2004. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING INC.

Connexins are differentially expressed in melanoma and adjacent epidermis

Past funding

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

Availability

Professor Nikolas Haass is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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