Overview
Background
I am a molecular biologist and cancer researcher at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland, investigating Inflammation and its link to metabolism as well therapeutic strategies against metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) one of the most treatment-resistant and lethal cancers.
My work combines cell biology and immunology to understand how pancreatic tumours build protective barriers, evade the immune system, and spread to distant organs. I focus on dismantling these mechanisms to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities.
Current research areas include:
- PAR2 signalling, tumour immunometabolism, and desmoplastic remodelling
- Cyclic peptide design, intracellular delivery, and fluorescence-based uptake characterisation
- Protease-driven epithelial signalling and stromal-immune crosstalk
I work within Professor David Fairlie's group, using confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and metabolic tracing to bridge molecular mechanism with drug design. My broader interests span cancer-associated fibrosis, metabolic reprogramming, and the development of multi-targeted compounds for cancers with high unmet clinical need.
Availability
- Dr Mahan Azad is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Cyclic Peptide Therapeutics and Intracellular Delivery
Design and characterisation of cyclic peptides as cancer therapeutics, with emphasis on cellular uptake mechanisms, intracellular trafficking, and subcellular localisation using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry in pancreatic cancer cell models. Includes fluorescent conjugate development and artefact identification in peptide internalisation assays.
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Anti-Metastatic and Anti-Desmoplastic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer
Investigating therapeutic strategies to disrupt metastatic progression and desmoplastic stromal remodelling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Central to this work is PAR2 antagonism as a multi-axis intervention, suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition to block metastatic dissemination, modulating cancer-associated fibroblast plasticity (myCAF/iCAF) to dismantle the desmoplastic barrier, and repolarising tumour-associated macrophages to restore anti-tumour immunity. Research integrates protease-PAR2 epithelial signalling with immunometabolic reprogramming to identify vulnerabilities in the metastatic cascade.
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PAR2 Signalling, Immunometabolism and Fibrosis
Investigating how protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) drives immunometabolic reprogramming and fibrotic remodelling in the microenvironment. Research focuses on PAR2-mediated cytokine networks that reprogram metabolic flux in immune and stromal compartments, sustaining desmoplastic fibrosis and immune evasion. This extends to systemic metabolic consequences of PAR2 signalling.
Works
Search Professor Mahan Azad’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Calcium channels and iron metabolism: a redox catastrophe in Parkinson's disease and an innovative path to novel therapies?
Boag, Matthew K., Ma, Linlin, Mellick, George D., Pountney, Dean L., Feng, Yunjiang, Quinn, Ronald J., Liew, Alan Wee-Chung, Dharmasivam, Mahendiran, Azad, Mahan Gholam, Afroz, Rizwana and Richardson, Des R. (2021). Calcium channels and iron metabolism: a redox catastrophe in Parkinson's disease and an innovative path to novel therapies?. Redox Biology, 47 102136, 102136. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102136
2021
Journal Article
The oncogenic signaling disruptor, ndrg1: molecular and cellular mechanisms of activity
Chekmarev, Jason, Azad, Mahan Gholam and Richardson, Des R. (2021). The oncogenic signaling disruptor, ndrg1: molecular and cellular mechanisms of activity. Cells, 10 (9) 2382. doi: 10.3390/cells10092382
2021
Journal Article
Parkinson's disease: alterations in iron and redox biology as a key to unlock therapeutic strategies
Ma, L., Gholam Azad, M., Dharmasivam, M., Richardson, V., Quinn, R. J., Feng, Y., Pountney, D. L., Tonissen, K. F., Mellick, G. D., Yanatori, I. and Richardson, D. R. (2021). Parkinson's disease: alterations in iron and redox biology as a key to unlock therapeutic strategies. Redox Biology, 41 101896, 1-33. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101896
2020
Journal Article
Ascorbate and tumor cell iron metabolism: the evolving story and its link to pathology
Bae, Dong-Hun, Gholam Azad, Mahan, Kalinowski, Danuta S., Lane, Darius J.R., Jansson, Patric J. and Richardson, Des R. (2020). Ascorbate and tumor cell iron metabolism: the evolving story and its link to pathology. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, 33 (12), 816-838. doi: 10.1089/ars.2019.7903
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mahan Azad is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Mahan Azad directly for media enquiries about:
- Cancer
- Desmoplasia
- Inflammation
- Metastasis
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