Honorary Professor John Hooper
Honorary Professor

John Hooper

Email: 

Background

1991-94 BSc Honours I (Chemistry) University of Queensland, University Medal

1995-99 PhD (Cancer Pathology) University of Queensland

1999-00 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

2001-03 NHMRC CJ Martin/RG Menzies Fellow, Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA

2003-05 NHMRC CJ Martin/RG Menzies Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

2005-09 NHMRC RD Wright Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

2010-15 Associate Professor, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland

2012-16 ARC Future Fellow, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland

2016- Professor of Cancer Biology, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland

Availability

Honorary Professor John Hooper is:
Available for supervision

Research interests

  • Cancers of the reproductive system and gastrointestinal tract

    Our focus is on the identification and evaluation of molecular targets and biomarkers of cancer. As much as possible our research employs disease relevant models that incorporate patient tumours. We have developed a successful R&D pipeline to identify cell surface receptors that are enriched in cancer for the purpose of targeting them for delivery of radiation and cytotoxins for cancer detection and treatment. This has culminated in a PET-CT imaging clinical trial evaluating a new radio-imaging agent to guide targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. My team is expert in generating and employing in vitro, ex vivo and mouse models of cancer, using patient specimens for much of this work. We have extensive experience in cell and molecular biology, protein analysis, including generation, purification and characterisation of recombinant proteins from insect and mammalian cells, enzymology, wide field fluorescent and confocal microscopy of live and fixed specimens, flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent activated cell sorting, bioluminescent and PET/CT imaging of mouse models of cancer, and histological and immunohistochemical analysis of mouse xenografts and patient tumours. We also have expertise in radio- and cytotoxin-labelling of biomolecules using these for detection and treatment of cancer in preclinical models. Our discovery and translational research activities are supported by close collaborations with medical specialists involved in treatment and diagnosis of cancer at Mater, Royal Brisbane and Women’s, Wesley, and Princess Alexandra Hospitals.

Research impacts

My major research contributions are in the identification and evaluation of molecular targets and biomarkers for cancers of the ovary, pancreas, prostate and bowel. At a molecular level my focus is on cell surface receptors, proteolytic enzymes, intracellular signal transducers, mediators of metabolism and protein post-translational modifications. Most recently we have developed a successful R&D pipeline to identify cell surface receptors that are enriched in cancer for the purpose of targeting them for delivery of radiation and cytotoxins for cancer detection and treatment. This has culminated in a PET-CT imaging clinical trial evaluating a new radio-imaging agent to guide targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. My team is expert in generating and employing in vitro, ex vivo and mouse models of cancer, using patient specimens for much of this work. We have extensive experience in cell and molecular biology, protein analysis, including generation, purification and characterisation of recombinant proteins from insect and mammalian cells, enzymology, wide field fluorescent and confocal microscopy of live and fixed specimens, flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent activated cell sorting, bioluminescent and PET/CT imaging of mouse models of cancer, and histological and immunohistochemical analysis of mouse xenografts and patient tumours. We also have expertise in radio- and cytotoxin-labelling of biomolecules using these for detection and treatment of cancer in preclinical models. Our discovery and translational research activities are supported by close collaborations with medical specialists involved in treatment and diagnosis of cancer at Mater, Royal Brisbane and Women’s, Wesley, and Princess Alexandra Hospitals. To date my research has attracted ~$11M in funding, producing 4 patents and 95 papers.

Search Professor John Hooper’s works on UQ eSpace

157 works between 1999 and 2024
All (157) Journal Article (115) Book Chapter (6) Conference Publication (34) Other Outputs (2)

141 - 157 of 157 works

2003

Journal Article

Mouse matriptase-2: identification, characterization and comparative mRNA expression analysis with mouse hepsin in adult and embryonic tissues

Hooper, John D., Campagnolo, Luisa, Goodarzi, Goodarz, Truong, Tony N., Stuhlmann, Heidi and Quigley, James P. (2003). Mouse matriptase-2: identification, characterization and comparative mRNA expression analysis with mouse hepsin in adult and embryonic tissues. Biochemical Journal, 373 (3), 689-702. doi: 10.1042/BJ20030390

Mouse matriptase-2: identification, characterization and comparative mRNA expression analysis with mouse hepsin in adult and embryonic tissues

2003

Journal Article

Membrane anchored serine proteases: A rapidly expanding group of cell surface proteolytic enzymes with potential roles in cancer

Netzel-Arnett, Sarah, Hooper, John D., Szabo, Roman, Madison, Edwin L., Quigley, James P., Bugge, Thomas H. and Antalis, Toni M. (2003). Membrane anchored serine proteases: A rapidly expanding group of cell surface proteolytic enzymes with potential roles in cancer. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 22 (2-3), 237-258. doi: 10.1023/A:1023003616848

Membrane anchored serine proteases: A rapidly expanding group of cell surface proteolytic enzymes with potential roles in cancer

2003

Journal Article

Subtractive immunization using highly metastatic human tumor cells identifies SIMA135/CDCP1, a 135 kDa cell surface phosphorylated glycoprotein antigen

Hooper, John D., Zijlstra, Andries, Aimes, Ronald T., Liang, Hongyan, Claassen, Gisela F., Tarin, David, Testa, Jacqueline E. and Quigley, James P. (2003). Subtractive immunization using highly metastatic human tumor cells identifies SIMA135/CDCP1, a 135 kDa cell surface phosphorylated glycoprotein antigen. Oncogene, 22 (12), 1783-1794. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1206220

Subtractive immunization using highly metastatic human tumor cells identifies SIMA135/CDCP1, a 135 kDa cell surface phosphorylated glycoprotein antigen

2003

Journal Article

Endothelial cell serine proteases expressed during vascular morphogenesis and angiogenesis

Aimes, RT, Zijlstra, A, Hooper, JD, Ogbourne, SM, Sit, ML, Fuchs, S, Gotley, DC, Quigley, JP and Antalis, TM (2003). Endothelial cell serine proteases expressed during vascular morphogenesis and angiogenesis. Thrombosis And Haemostasis, 89 (3), 561-572. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1613388

Endothelial cell serine proteases expressed during vascular morphogenesis and angiogenesis

2002

Journal Article

A quantitative analysis of rate-limiting steps in the metastatic cascade using human-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction

Zijlstra, A, Mellor, R, Panzarella, G, Aimes, RT, Hooper, JD, Marchenko, ND and Quigley, JP (2002). A quantitative analysis of rate-limiting steps in the metastatic cascade using human-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cancer Research, 62 (23), 7083-7092.

A quantitative analysis of rate-limiting steps in the metastatic cascade using human-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction

2001

Journal Article

TTYH2, a human homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster gene tweety, is located on 17q24 and upregulated in renal cell carcinoma

Rae, Fiona K., Hooper, John D., Eyre, Helen J., Sutherland, Grant R., Nicol, David L. and Clements, Judith A. (2001). TTYH2, a human homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster gene tweety, is located on 17q24 and upregulated in renal cell carcinoma. Genomics, 77 (3), 200-207. doi: 10.1006/geno.2001.6629

TTYH2, a human homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster gene tweety, is located on 17q24 and upregulated in renal cell carcinoma

2001

Journal Article

Identification and characterization of KLK14, a novel kallikrein serine protease gene located on human chromosome 19q13.4 and expressed in prostate and skeletal muscle

Hooper, John D., Bui, Loan T., Rae, Fiona K., Harvey, Tracey J., Myers, Stephen A., Ashworth, Linda K. and Clements, Judith A. (2001). Identification and characterization of KLK14, a novel kallikrein serine protease gene located on human chromosome 19q13.4 and expressed in prostate and skeletal muscle. Genomics, 73 (1), 117-122. doi: 10.1006/geno.2000.6490

Identification and characterization of KLK14, a novel kallikrein serine protease gene located on human chromosome 19q13.4 and expressed in prostate and skeletal muscle

2001

Journal Article

Organization and chromosomal localization of the murine Testisin gene encoding a serine protease temporally expressed during spermatogenesis

Scarman, Anthony L., Hooper, John D., Boucaut, Kerry J., Sit, Mae-Le, Webb, Graham C., Normyle, John F. and Antalis, Toni M. (2001). Organization and chromosomal localization of the murine Testisin gene encoding a serine protease temporally expressed during spermatogenesis. European Journal of Biochemistry, 268 (5), 1250-1258. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.01986.x

Organization and chromosomal localization of the murine Testisin gene encoding a serine protease temporally expressed during spermatogenesis

2001

Journal Article

Type II transmembrane serine proteases - Insights into an emerging class of cell surface proteolytic enzymes

Hooper, John D., Clements, Judith A., Quigley, James P. and Antalis, Toni M. (2001). Type II transmembrane serine proteases - Insights into an emerging class of cell surface proteolytic enzymes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276 (2), 857-860. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R000020200

Type II transmembrane serine proteases - Insights into an emerging class of cell surface proteolytic enzymes

2001

Conference Publication

Identification and characterization of a novel gene STAG1 is up-regulated in renal cell carcinoma

Rae, F., Hooper, J.D., Nicol, D. L. and Clements, J.A. (2001). Identification and characterization of a novel gene STAG1 is up-regulated in renal cell carcinoma. 2001 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australasia, Coolum, Australia, March 2001. Australia: Blackwell Publishing Asia.

Identification and characterization of a novel gene STAG1 is up-regulated in renal cell carcinoma

2001

Journal Article

The expanded human kallikrein (KLK) gene family: genomic organisation, tissue-specific expression and potential function.

Clements, Judith, Hooper, John, Dong, Ying and Harvey, Tracey (2001). The expanded human kallikrein (KLK) gene family: genomic organisation, tissue-specific expression and potential function.. Biological Chemistry, 382 (1), 5-14. doi: 10.1515/BC.2001.002

The expanded human kallikrein (KLK) gene family: genomic organisation, tissue-specific expression and potential function.

2000

Journal Article

Tissue-specific expression patterns and fine mapping of the human kallikrein (KLK) locus on proximal 19q13.4

Harvey, TJ, Hooper, JD, Myers, SA, Stephenson, SA, Ashworth, LK and Clements, JA (2000). Tissue-specific expression patterns and fine mapping of the human kallikrein (KLK) locus on proximal 19q13.4. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275 (48), 37397-37406. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M004525200

Tissue-specific expression patterns and fine mapping of the human kallikrein (KLK) locus on proximal 19q13.4

2000

Journal Article

Cloning of the cDNA and localization of the gene encoding human NRBP, a ubiquitously expressed, multidomain putative adapter protein

Hooper, John D., Baker, Elizabeth, Ogbourne, Steven M., Sutherland, Grant R. and Antalis, Toni M. (2000). Cloning of the cDNA and localization of the gene encoding human NRBP, a ubiquitously expressed, multidomain putative adapter protein. Genomics, 66 (1), 113-118. doi: 10.1006/geno.2000.6167

Cloning of the cDNA and localization of the gene encoding human NRBP, a ubiquitously expressed, multidomain putative adapter protein

2000

Conference Publication

Localization, structure and regulation of the human PRSS14 gene encoding the serine proteinase Testisin

Antalis, T. M., Boucaut, K. J., Normyle, J. F., Fitzpatrick, D. R. and Hooper, J. (2000). Localization, structure and regulation of the human PRSS14 gene encoding the serine proteinase Testisin. 91st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, San Francisco, 1-5 Apr, 2000. Philadelphia, U.S.A.: American Association for Cancer Research.

Localization, structure and regulation of the human PRSS14 gene encoding the serine proteinase Testisin

2000

Journal Article

Localization, expression and genomic structure of the gene encoding the human serine protease testisin

Hooper, John D., Bowen, Natalie, Marshall, Heidi, Cullen, Lara M., Sood, Raman, Daniels, Rachael, Stuttgen, Melanie A., Normyle, John F., Higgs, Douglas R., Kastner, Daniel L., Ogbourne, Steven M., Pera, Martin F., Jazwinska, Elizabeth C. and Antalis, Toni M. (2000). Localization, expression and genomic structure of the gene encoding the human serine protease testisin. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1492 (1), 63-71. doi: 10.1016/S0167-4781(00)00071-3

Localization, expression and genomic structure of the gene encoding the human serine protease testisin

2000

Journal Article

Localization of the mosaic transmembrane serine protease corin to heart myocytes

Hooper, J. D., Scarman, A. L., Clarke, B., Normyle, J. F. and Antalis, T. M. (2000). Localization of the mosaic transmembrane serine protease corin to heart myocytes. European Journal of Biochemistry, 267 (23), 6931-6937. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01806.x

Localization of the mosaic transmembrane serine protease corin to heart myocytes

1999

Journal Article

Testisin, a new human serine proteinase expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and lost in testicular germ cell tumors

Hooper, J. D., Nicol, D. L., Dickinson, J. L., Eyre, H. J., Scarman, A. L., Normyle, J. F., Stuttgen, M. A., Douglas, M. L., Loveland, K. A. L., Sutherland, G. R. and Antalis, T. M. (1999). Testisin, a new human serine proteinase expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and lost in testicular germ cell tumors. Cancer Research, 59 (13), 3199-3205.

Testisin, a new human serine proteinase expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and lost in testicular germ cell tumors

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    It glows, it goes - a targeted contrast agent for fluorescence guided ovarian cancer surgery
    TdC Senior Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    A new radio-imaging agent to guide targeted therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer
    NHMRC MRFF EPCDR - Ovarian Cancer Research
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer (AFTRiC)
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Theranostic agents for improved detection and treatment of advanced breast cancer
    National Breast Cancer Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Targeting MUC13 to Sensitise Colorectal Cancer to Therapy (NHMRC Project Grant led by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Validation of a Novel Exosomal Biomarker Panel for the Detection of Ovarian Cancer - Liquid Biopsies to Monitor the Oncogenic Transformation of The Ovary
    Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Investigating the efficacy of intratumoral delivery of immune checkpoint inhibitors in epithelial ovarian cancer
    AstraZeneca Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Nuclear medicine suite for animals
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    A novel theranostic for pancreatic cancer
    Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Tumour-derived exosomes as a signature of ovarian cancer - liquid biopsies as indicators of tumour progression
    Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    A novel protease and growth factor regulated signalling system in ovarian cancer
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Micro CT Scanner
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Macrophages facilitate prostate cancer bone metastasis.
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Targeting CDCP1 to reduce tumour burden and ascites in clear cell ovarian cancer
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The role of the cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer metastasis
    UQ-Ochsner Seed Fund for Collaborative Research - DVCR funds
    Open grant
  • 2013
    A novel molecular pathway in cancer
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    A novel Src regulated protease activated signalling pathway in hematogenous metastasis
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant

Availability

Honorary Professor John Hooper is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Molecular and cellular determinants of CDCP1 targeted, payload-delivery antibodies.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the function of CDCP1 and its potential as a theranostic target for cholangiocarcinoma

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kristofer Thurecht

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations into genetic aberrations underlying recurrent ovarian cancer

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Geoff Faulkner

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel theranostic targets for metastatic colorectal cancer

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Clark

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cancer-associated post-translational modifications of the receptor CDCP1 Background:

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Factors impacting receptor processing in response to peptide and antibody ligands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jodi Saunus

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterisation of EV-associated lipids in the progression of ovarian cancer

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dominic Guanzon, Professor Carlos Salomon Gallo, Dr Andrew Lai

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing new strategies to overcome immune suppression in cancer

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Sherry Wu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing novel strategies to overcome immune suppression in cancer

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Sherry Wu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Enhancing immune responses to cancer

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz, Professor Brian Gabrielli

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biomarker driven diagnostic and therapeutic innovations in breast cancer

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic and epigenomic correlates of prostate cancer therapy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam Ewing

Completed supervision

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