Overview
Background
Dr Shehzahdi (Sheb) Moonshi is a nanobiologist and translational immunology researcher at the University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute and Translational Research Institute (TRI). Her research focuses on developing antigen-specific immunotherapies (ASI) and nanoparticle-based precision medicines to treat autoimmune diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
At TRI (2025), she has translated this skillset to optimise antigen-specific liposomal nanotherapies for in vitro stability and evaluate their biodistribution and efficacy in vivo using preclinical models of autoimmune disease. She has also developed unique expertise in creating scalable, immune-targeted delivery platforms for clinical translation through close collaboration with a Clinical Drug Manufacturing Organisation for the scale-up and manufacture of ASITI-RA, a rheumatoid arthritis antigen-specific immunotherapy.
Her broader expertise spans:
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Nanomedicine formulation and characterisation
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Translational immunology and preclinical model development (humanised mice)
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Collaborative, consumer-partnered, and clinician-led translational research
Dr Moonshi’s goal is to advance precision immunotherapies that restore immune tolerance and transform outcomes for people with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Availability
- Dr Shehzahdi Moonshi is:
- Available for supervision
Research interests
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Liposomal Nanomedicine for Autoimmune Therapy
I develop and optimise liposomal nanotherapies that co-encapsulate disease-specific peptides and immune modulators for targeted lymph-node delivery. My work focuses on formulation stability, biodistribution, and clinical-scale manufacture of precision nanomedicines for autoimmune disease.
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Translational Immunology and Preclinical Models
I use humanised and SKG mouse models to study immune regulation, macrophage modulation, and therapeutic tolerance induction. These models enable preclinical testing and translation of antigen-specific immunotherapies toward clinical application.
Research impacts
Dr Shehzahdi (Sheb) Moonshi’s research bridges nanomedicine and immunology to create next-generation, antigen-specific immunotherapies (ASI) that retrain—rather than suppress—the immune system in autoimmune diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Collaborating with clinical and industry partners, she has helped advance this technology from lab-scale formulation to GMP-compatible manufacture, demonstrating real-world feasibility for clinical use.
At TRI, Dr Moonshi leads the optimisation of immune-targeted liposomal platforms that enhance drug stability, precision, and safety. These innovations are now being extended to other autoimmune conditions, creating a scalable platform for personalised tolerance-inducing therapies.
Her research impact extends beyond the laboratory through:
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Partnerships with clinicians and biotechnology companies to accelerate clinical translation.
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Active consumer engagement to align therapeutic design with patient priorities.
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Mentorship and collaboration that build Australia’s capacity in nanomedicine and translational immunology.
Together, these efforts are helping redefine how autoimmune diseases are treated—paving the way for safer, more durable, and targeted immune tolerance therapies.
Works
Search Professor Shehzahdi Moonshi’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
Microcapsules engineered to support mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) survival and proliferation enable long-term retention of MSCs in infarcted myocardium
Blocki, Anna, Beyer, Sebastian, Dewavrin, Jean-Yves, Goralczyk, Anna, Wang, Yingting, Peh, Priscilla, Ng, Michael, Moonshi, Shehzahdi S., Vuddagiri, Susmitha, Raghunath, Michael, Martinez, Eliana C. and Bhakoo, Kishore K. (2015). Microcapsules engineered to support mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) survival and proliferation enable long-term retention of MSCs in infarcted myocardium. Biomaterials, 53, 12-24. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.02.075
2015
Journal Article
Sourcing of an alternative pericyte-like cell type from peripheral blood in clinically relevant numbers for therapeutic angiogenic applications
Blocki, Anna, Wang, Yingting, Koch, Maria, Goralczyk, Anna, Beyer, Sebastian, Agarwal, Nikita, Lee, Michelle, Moonshi, Shehzahdi, Dewavrin, Jean-Yves, Peh, Priscilla, Schwarz, Herbert, Bhakoo, Kishore and Raghunath, Michael (2015). Sourcing of an alternative pericyte-like cell type from peripheral blood in clinically relevant numbers for therapeutic angiogenic applications. Molecular Therapy, 23 (3), 510-522. doi: 10.1038/mt.2014.232
2013
Journal Article
A comparison of PET imaging agents for the assessment of therapy efficacy in a rodent model of glioma
Moonshi, Shehzahdi S., Bejot, Romain, Atcha, Zeenat, Vijayaragavan, Vimalan, Bhakoo, Kishore K. and Goggi, Julian L. (2013). A comparison of PET imaging agents for the assessment of therapy efficacy in a rodent model of glioma. American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 3 (5), 397-407.
2013
Journal Article
Stratification of 18F-labeled PET imaging agents for the assessment of antiangiogenic therapy responses in tumors
Goggi, Julian L., Bejot, Romain, Moonshi, Shehzahdi S. and Bhakoo, Kishore K. (2013). Stratification of 18F-labeled PET imaging agents for the assessment of antiangiogenic therapy responses in tumors. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 54 (9), 1630-1636. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.112.115824
2013
Journal Article
A practical synthesis of [18F]FtRGD: an angiogenesis biomarker for PET
Bejot, Romain, Goggi, Julian, Moonshi, Shebbrin S. and Robins, Edward G. (2013). A practical synthesis of [18F]FtRGD: an angiogenesis biomarker for PET. Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 56 (2), 42-49. doi: 10.1002/jlcr.3019
2012
Journal Article
Aminooxy-functionalized DOTA for radiolabeling of oxidized antibodies: evaluation of site-specific 111In-labeled trastuzumab
Bejot, Romain, Goggi, Julian, Moonshi, Shebbrin S., Padmanabhan, Parasuraman and Bhakoo, Kishore K. (2012). Aminooxy-functionalized DOTA for radiolabeling of oxidized antibodies: evaluation of site-specific 111In-labeled trastuzumab. Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 55 (9), 346-353. doi: 10.1002/jlcr.2950
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Shehzahdi Moonshi is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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