
Overview
Background
Maher Gandhi received his medical degree in the UK in 1989, and then trained as a haematologist, including a Fellowship in malignant haematology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto. He was awarded a PhD in immunology at Cambridge University under Patrick Sissons. He moved to Brisbane and from 2003-2024 worked as a Senior Staff Specialist (Pre-Eminent Status) in the Haematology / Oncology Department of the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He leads his own laboratory group and has established an international reputation studying the tumour immune microenvironment in lymphoma and its manipulation, with continuous NHMRC/MRFF funding since 2005. He was Chair of Laboratory Sciences for the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group between 2010-2016, won the prestigious Australian Society of Medical Research Clinical Research Award in 2010 and in 2012 took up the inaugural John McCaffrey Cancer Council of Queensland / Office of Health and Medical Research Clinical Research Fellowship. Between 2011-2014 he was privileged to serve as Chair of the Metro South Human Research Ethics Committee. In 2013 he was appointed Professor of Experimental Haematology, University of Queensland, based at the Translational Research Institute, in 2014 became the inaugural Leukaemia Foundation Chair of Blood Cancer Research at the University of Queensland Frazer Institute, and was appointed Cancer Program Head in 2016. In 2018 he became Executive Director and Director of Clinical Research at Mater Research. He also continues to head the Blood Cancer Research Group, which is based in Mater Research. In 2025 to current, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Translational Research Institute and its manufacturing branch TM@TRI, to serve Queenslanders by transforming health through collaborative research.
Availability
- Professor Maher Gandhi is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine Surgery, University of Aberdeen
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
Research interests
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Lymphoma
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Immunotherapy
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Biomarkers
Research impacts
The research of the Blood Cancer Research Laboratory aims to understand the basis of lymphoma; to devise new treatments which are less toxic and more effective; to establish new biomarkers which will help determine the most effective treatment strategies and to monitor response and relapse and understand the development of lymphomas. The group has a strong emphasis on patient material, which it obtains from international and national clinical collaborators. Lymphomas studied includeEBV-associated lymphomas, Hodgkin Lymphoma, PTLD, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma and amyloidosis. We utilise a broad range of approaches including genomics, transcriptomics and functional immunoassays, and are conducting a number of MRFF funded cellular therapy studies sponsored by the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.
The Mater Foundation, the Leukaemia Foundation, the Mark Coghlan EBV Lymphoma Project and the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Kirsten Jack Memorial Fund are thanked for their kind support.
Works
Search Professor Maher Gandhi’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Adjuvant rituximab and elevated intratumoural CD8 expression are associated with sustained disease control after radiotherapy in a randomised trial of systemic therapy in early-stage follicular lymphoma
MacManus, Michael P., Seymour, John F., Tsang, Hennes, Fisher, Richard, Keane, Colm, Sabdia, Muhammed B., Law, Soi C., Gunawardana, Jay, Nath, Karthik, Kazakoff, Stephen H., Marques-Piubelli, Mario L., Duenas, Daniela E., Green, Michael R., Roos, Daniel, O'Brien, Peter, McCann, Andrew, Tsang, Richard, Davis, Sidney, Christie, David, Cheah, Chan, Amanuel, Benhur, Cochrane, Tara, Butler, Jason, Johnston, Anna, Shanavas, Mohamed, Li, Li, Vajdic, Claire, Kridel, Robert, Shelton, Victoria ... Tobin, Joshua W.D. (2024). Adjuvant rituximab and elevated intratumoural CD8 expression are associated with sustained disease control after radiotherapy in a randomised trial of systemic therapy in early-stage follicular lymphoma. eBioMedicine, 110 105468, 105468. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105468
2024
Journal Article
Ibrutinib plus rituximab and mini-CHOP in older patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL: a phase 2 ALLG study
Verner, Emma, Johnston, Amanda, Pati, Nalini, Hawkes, Eliza A., Lee, Hui-Peng, Cochrane, Tara, Cheah, Chan Yoon, Filshie, Robin, Purtill, Duncan, Sia, Hanlon, Enjeti, Anoop K., Brown, Christina, Murphy, Nicholas, Curnow, Jennifer, Lee, Kenneth, Gandhi, Maher K., Walia, Mannu, Butcher, Belinda E. and Trotman, Judith (2024). Ibrutinib plus rituximab and mini-CHOP in older patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL: a phase 2 ALLG study. Blood Advances, 8 (21), 5674-5682. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024014035
2024
Conference Publication
Multiomics Analysis of Paired Diagnosis and Relapse DLBCL Biopsies Shows a Reduction in T Cell Infiltration and Function at Relapse
Swain, Fiona, Burgess, Melinda, Kempe, Sarah, Sabdia, Muhammed B., Henden, Andrea S., Wight, Joel, Hawkes, Eliza A., Mutsando, Howard, Talaulikar, Dipti, Merida de Long, Lilia, Birch, Simone, Wyche, Penelope, Hawula, Zachary, Chowdhury, Rakin, Gandhi, Maher K. and Keane, Colm (2024). Multiomics Analysis of Paired Diagnosis and Relapse DLBCL Biopsies Shows a Reduction in T Cell Infiltration and Function at Relapse. 66th ASH Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 December 2024. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2024-199352
2024
Journal Article
The Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders—Metagenomic Shotgun Microbial Sequencing (PTLD-MSMS) Study Methods and Protocol
Dharnidharka, Vikas R., Wylie, Kristine M., Wylie, Todd N., Ruzinova, Marianna B., Goss, Charles W., Storch, Gregory A., Mehta-Shah, Neha, Byers, Derek, Walther, Leslie, Jaza, Lujain, Gu, Hongjie, Agarwal, Mansi, Green, Michael, Moore, Erika, Swerdlow, Steven H., Silveira, Fernanda, Marks, Lianna J., Gratzinger, Dita, Bagg, Adam, Law, Soi Cheng and Gandhi, Maher (2024). The Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders—Metagenomic Shotgun Microbial Sequencing (PTLD-MSMS) Study Methods and Protocol. Transplantation Direct, 10 (11) e1723, e1723. doi: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001723
2024
Journal Article
Systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the central nervous system have high rates of defective antigen presentation and immune surveillance
Wight, Joel, Blombery, Piers, Lickiss, Jennifer, Burgess, Melinda, Gould, Clare, Minson, Adrian, Swain, Fiona, Sabdia, Muhammed B., Gandhi, Maher K., Birchley, Andrew, Keane, Colm and Hawkes, Eliza A. (2024). Systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the central nervous system have high rates of defective antigen presentation and immune surveillance. Haematologica, 109 (9), 3013-3018. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284600
2024
Journal Article
Intra‐tumoral and peripheral blood <scp>TIGIT</scp> and <scp>PD</scp>‐1 as immune biomarkers in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Gunawardana, Jay, Law, Soi C., Sabdia, Muhammed B., Fennell, Éanna, Hennessy, Aoife, Leahy, Ciara I., Murray, Paul G., Bednarska, Karolina, Brosda, Sandra, Trotman, Judith, Berkahn, Leanne, Zaharia, Andreea, Birch, Simone, Burgess, Melinda, Talaulikar, Dipti, Lee, Justina N., Jude, Emily, Hawkes, Eliza A., Jain, Sanjiv, Nath, Karthik, Snell, Cameron, Swain, Fiona, Tobin, Joshua W. D., Keane, Colm, Shanavas, Mohamed, Blyth, Emily, Steidl, Christian, Savage, Kerry, Farinha, Pedro ... Gandhi, Maher K. (2024). Intra‐tumoral and peripheral blood TIGIT and PD‐1 as immune biomarkers in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. American Journal of Hematology, 99 (11), 2096-2107. doi: 10.1002/ajh.27459
2024
Journal Article
Identification of genetic subtypes in follicular lymphoma
Shelton, Victoria, Detroja, Rajesh, Liu, Ting, Isaev, Keren, Silva, Anjali, Passerini, Verena, Bakhtiari, Mehran, Calvente, Lourdes, Hong, Michael, He, Michael Y., Modi, Saloni, Hershenfeld, Samantha A., Ludvigsen, Maja, Madsen, Charlotte, Hamilton-Dutoit, Stephen, d’Amore, Francesco Annibale, Brodtkorb, Marianne, Johnson, Nathalie A., Baetz, Tara, LeBrun, David, Tobin, Josh W. D., Gandhi, Maher K., Mungall, Andrew J., Xu, Wei, Ben-Neriah, Susana, Steidl, Christian, Delabie, Jan, Tremblay-LeMay, Rosemarie, Jegede, Opeyemi ... Kridel, Robert (2024). Identification of genetic subtypes in follicular lymphoma. Blood Cancer Journal, 14 (1) 128, 128. doi: 10.1038/s41408-024-01111-w
2024
Journal Article
Harnessing the cytotoxic granule exocytosis to augment the efficacy of T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody therapy
Casey, Mika, Lee, Carol, Hoyte, Sharon M., Johnston, Rebecca L., Kwok, Wing Yu, Law, Soi Cheng, Gandhi, Maher K., Harrison, Simon J. and Nakamura, Kyohei (2024). Harnessing the cytotoxic granule exocytosis to augment the efficacy of T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody therapy. Haematologica, 109 (7), 2131-2143. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284435
2024
Journal Article
Epstein–Barr virus‐associated lymphomas decoded
Bednarska, Karolina, Chowdhury, Rakin, Tobin, Joshua W. D., Swain, Fiona, Keane, Colm, Boyle, Stephen, Khanna, Rajiv and Gandhi, Maher K. (2024). Epstein–Barr virus‐associated lymphomas decoded. British Journal of Haematology, 204 (2), 415-433. doi: 10.1111/bjh.19255
2024
Journal Article
EBNA2: a viral maestra conducting a symphony orchestra
Gandhi, Maher K. and Kelly, Gemma L. (2024). EBNA2: a viral maestra conducting a symphony orchestra. Blood, 143 (5), 384-385. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023022744
2024
Journal Article
EBV-infected hematopoietic stem cells drive CAEBV
Khanna, Rajiv and Gandhi, Maher K. (2024). EBV-infected hematopoietic stem cells drive CAEBV. Blood, 143 (1), 2-4. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023022739
2024
Journal Article
The IRE1α endonuclease plays a dual role in regulating the XBP1/miRNA-34a axis and PD-1 Expression within natural killer cells in Hodgkin lymphoma
Bednarska, Karolina, Thillaiyampalam, Gayathri, Mujaj, Sally, Nourse, Jamie, Gunawardana, Jay, Sabdia, Muhammed B., Law, Soi C., Pilaar, Anna, Cui, Qingyan, de Long, Lilia M., Vari, Frank, Gandhi, Maher K. and Cristino, Alexandre S. (2024). The IRE1α endonuclease plays a dual role in regulating the XBP1/miRNA-34a axis and PD-1 Expression within natural killer cells in Hodgkin lymphoma. Acta Haematologica, 147 (6), 1-16. doi: 10.1159/000536044
2024
Journal Article
Single gene mutations and prognosis in limited-stage follicular lymphoma treated with radiation therapy
Hershenfeld, Samantha A., Tobin, Josuha W.D., Shelton, Victoria, Calvente, Lourdes, Lajkosz, Katherine, Liu, Ting, Brodtkorb, Marianne, d'Amore, Francesco Annibale, Ludvigsen, Maja, Baetz, Tara, LeBrun, David, Johnson, Nathalie, Crump, Michael, Hong, Michael, Kuruvilla, John, Tremblay-LeMay, Rosemarie, MacManus, Michael, Tsang, Richard, Hodgson, David C., Gandhi, Maher K. and Kridel, Robert (2024). Single gene mutations and prognosis in limited-stage follicular lymphoma treated with radiation therapy. British Journal of Haematology, 205 (5), 1810-1814. doi: 10.1111/bjh.19698
2023
Conference Publication
High Frequency of HLA-Class II B Cell Receptor Neoantigens in IGHV Mutated-CLL
Sabdia, Muhammed B., Burgess, Melinda, Law, Soi Cheng, Thurgood, Lauren A., Kazakoff, Stephen, Swain, Fiona, Tobin, Joshua W.D., Mollee, Peter, Patch, Ann-Marie and Gandhi, Maher K (2023). High Frequency of HLA-Class II B Cell Receptor Neoantigens in IGHV Mutated-CLL. 65th ASH Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 9-12 December 2023. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2023-174149
2023
Journal Article
Genome-wide transcription factor binding maps reveal cell-specific changes in the regulatory architecture of human HSPC
Subramanian, Shruthi, Thoms, Julie A I, Huang, Yizhou, Cornejo Paramo, Carina Paola, Koch, Forrest Charles, Jacquelin, Sebastien, Shen, Sylvie, Song, Emma, Joshi, Swapna, Brownlee, Christopher Peter, Woll, Petter S., Chacon-Fajardo, Diego, Beck, Dominik, Curtis, David J, Yehson, Kenneth, Antonenas, Vicki, O'Brien, Tracey, Trickett, Annette, Powell, Jason A., Lewis, Ian D, Pitson, Stuart M, Gandhi, Maher K., Lane, Steven W, Vafaee, Fatemeh, Wong, Emily, Gottgens, Berthold, Rokny, Hamid, Wong, Jason Wing Hon and Pimanda, John E (2023). Genome-wide transcription factor binding maps reveal cell-specific changes in the regulatory architecture of human HSPC. Blood Journal, 142 (17), 1448-1462. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023021120
2023
Journal Article
Regulatory T cells hamper the efficacy of T-cell engaging bispecific antibody therapy
Casey, Mika, Lee, Carol, Kwok, Wing Yu, Law, Soi Cheng, Corvino, Dillon, Gandhi, Maher K., Harrison, Simon J. and Nakamura, Kyohei (2023). Regulatory T cells hamper the efficacy of T-cell engaging bispecific antibody therapy. Haematologica, 109 (3), 787-798. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283758
2023
Conference Publication
Final Analysis Of Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group NHL29: A Phase II Study Of Ibrutinib, Rituximab And Mini-chop In Very Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed DLBCL
Verner, Emma, Johnston, Amanda, Pati, Nalini, Hawkes, Eliza, Peng Lee, Hui, Cochrane, Tara, Yoon Cheah, Chan, Filshie, Robin, Purtill, Duncan, Sia, Hanlon, Enjeti, Anoop K, Brown, Christina, Murphy, Nicholas, Curnow, Jennifer, Lee, Kenneth, Gandhi, Maher, Butcher, Belinda and Trotman, Judith (2023). Final Analysis Of Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group NHL29: A Phase II Study Of Ibrutinib, Rituximab And Mini-chop In Very Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed DLBCL. EHA2023, Online, 8 - 15 June 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1097/01.hs9.0000971404.12997.4b
2023
Journal Article
Expanding the bacterial origins of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Gandhi, Maher K. and Keane, Colm (2023). Expanding the bacterial origins of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Haematologica, 108 (12), 3195-3196. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283392
2023
Conference Publication
Rituximab‐containing combined modality therapy in limited stage follicular lymphoma: mature follow up and derivation of a novel prognostic score from the TROG99.03 trial
Tobin, J. W., Jurinovic, V., Tsang, H., Roos, D., Tsang, R., Macann, A., Davis, S., Christie, D., Law, S., Nath, K., Sabdia, M., Patch, A. M., Gunawardana, J., Merida de Long, L., Hoster, E., Horn, H., Shanavas, M., Li, L., Cheah, C., Benhur, A., Hou, M., O'Brien, P., Johnston, A. M., Cochrane, T., Butler, J., Thompson, E., Blombery, P., Seymour, J. F., Gandhi, M. K. and MacManus, M. (2023). Rituximab‐containing combined modality therapy in limited stage follicular lymphoma: mature follow up and derivation of a novel prognostic score from the TROG99.03 trial. 17th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Lugano, Switzerland, 13-17 June 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/hon.3163_140
2023
Conference Publication
Gene expression and spatial transcriptomic analysis of paired diagnosis and relapse DLBCL biopsies show a reduction in T cell infiltration and function at relapse
Swain, F., Burgess, M., Kempe, S., Sabdia, M., Wight, J., Hawkes, E., Mutsando, H., Talaulikar, D., Merida de Long, L., Hawula, Z., Birch, S., Wyche, P., Gandhi, M. K. and Keane, C. (2023). Gene expression and spatial transcriptomic analysis of paired diagnosis and relapse DLBCL biopsies show a reduction in T cell infiltration and function at relapse. 17th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Lugano, Switzerland, 13 - 17 June 2023. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/hon.3164_191
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Maher Gandhi is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of genetics upon the tumour microenvironment in Follicular Lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joshua Tobin, Dr Soi Law, Associate Professor Colm Keane
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of genetics upon the tumour microenvironment in Follicular Lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joshua Tobin, Dr Soi Law, Associate Professor Colm Keane
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Doctor Philosophy
Personalised therapy for lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kristen Radford
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Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic Reprogramming of Malignant B-cells Impairs Immune-Fitness of Intratumoral T-Cells in Follicular Lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joshua Tobin, Dr Soi Law
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Doctor Philosophy
Personalised therapy for lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kristen Radford
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigations in the development of cord blood derived, GMP grade cellular immunotherapies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kristen Radford
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Master Philosophy
Developing Companion Biomarkers Application in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam Ewing, Dr Joshua Tobin
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of novel vaccines for cancer immunotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kelvin Tuong, Honorary Professor Kristen Radford
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
A Comprehensive Study of Intratumoural T-cells in Follicular Lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Soi Law, Associate Professor Colm Keane
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical and Prognostic Tools to Improve Frontline Management Strategies in Follicular Lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Colm Keane
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of deficient antigen presentation on the tumour microenvironment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Colm Keane
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A LABORATORY STUDY OF PRIMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM LYMPHOMA
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Colm Keane
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2016
Master Philosophy
Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors in Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Novel strategies for monitoring, treating and preventing Epstein Barr virus-associated Lymphomas
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising miRNA - gene network associated with natural killer cell activation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Soi Law
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering the structure and function of class I cytokine receptors: GHR and GP130
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
IRE1-mediated splicing of xbp1 in Natural Killer cells
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Maher Gandhi directly for media enquiries about:
- Biomarkers
- Immunotherapy
- Lymphoma
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