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

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cancer cell biology Cancer diagnosis Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy) Oncology and carcinogenesis

Research interests

  • Cancers of the urological system, gynaecological 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 and bladder 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 phase 1 PET-CT imaging clinical trials evaluating the safety and tumour/normal biodistribution of a new radio-imaging agent to guide targeted therapy for ovarian and bladder 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 ~$17M in funding, producing 4 patents and 128 papers.

Search Professor John Hooper’s works on UQ eSpace

165 works between 1999 and 2025
All (165) Journal Article (123) Book Chapter (6) Conference Publication (34) Other Outputs (2)

161 - 165 of 165 works

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

Availability

Honorary Professor John Hooper is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Cellular targets for cancer detection and treatment

    The project involves the use of state-of-the-art in silico and omics approaches to identify antigens that are suitable targets for delivery of radioactive and cytotoxic payloads to cancers. Candidates will be validated by analysis of patient tumours and normal organs.

  • Agents for targeted delivery of cytotoxins to cancer

    A range of screening approaches will be employed to identify organic compounds, peptides and antibodies that bind with high affinity and specificity to antigens enriched on the surface of cancer cells. The efficacy of these agents for delivery of payloads to cancer will be evaluated using cellular and mouse models of cancer.

  • Disrupting metabolsim to improve cancer treatment efficacy

    The project will employ disease-relevant in vitro mouse models to test metabolism modulating approaches to improve the efficacy of current anti-cancer treatments.

  • Targeting cell division to significatly improve the effectiveness of ovarian cancer treatments

    The project will employ nanoparticle formulations of cell division disrupting drugs against patient-derived in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models of high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

    Novel Theranostic Targets for Colorectal Cancer

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Clark

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Factors impacting receptor processing in response to peptide and antibody ligands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jodi Saunus

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of antibody-drug conjugates against hard-to-cure solid cancers

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Brett Paterson, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes

  • 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

    Genomic and epigenomic correlates of prostate cancer therapy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam Ewing

  • 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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Honorary Professor John Hooper's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au