
Overview
Background
Dr Jodi Saunus is a senior fellow who specialises in translational research on metastatic breast cancer. Based at Brisbane’s Translational Research Institute, she was recruited by Mater Research in 2022 to help facilitate patient-focused research at the interface of biomedical R&D and clinical practice.
Dr Saunus has an honours degree in biochemistry and biomedical science, a PhD in breast cancer molecular genetics, and broad post-doctoral experience in immunology, molecular cell biology, pathology informatics, and early-phase investigator-initiated clinical trials. Her current portfolio focuses finding new ways to improve the clinical management of aggressive breast cancer, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer, and the prevention and treatment of brain metastases. This work spans across multiple disciplines and capabilities, and broadly involves:
- Molecular profiling of patient-donated blood and tumour tissue samples to identify features that can predict treatment response, or represent previously uncharacterised therapeutic targets.
- Using experimental models of breast cancer metastasis to learn about the molecular mechanisms exploited by cancer cells to survive and grow in brain tissue.
- Developing innovative treatment strategies that work differently to conventional cancer drugs, including alpha-particle endoradiotherapy and in-situ vaccination.
With an outstanding network of collaborators from academia and clinical practice, she has secured more than $6M to fund this work and has a track record of publishing in prominent biomedical research journals (e.g., Cancer Research, Nature, Science Translational Medicine, Nature Communications and The Journal of Pathology).
Peripherally, Jodi is a strong proponent of biospecimen banking, and clinician and consumer engagement in translational research.
Availability
- Dr Jodi Saunus is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Biomarkers of triple-negative breast cancer progression and response to therapy
Using published datasets, and tissue donated by Brisbane breast cancer patients, we're trying to identify new biomarkers of prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer.
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Understanding how the triple-negative breast cancer transcriptome is rewired during tumour progression
We apply mathematical approaches to analyse transcriptional networks in TNBC, illuminating how cell biology evolves during tumour development and post-treatment relapse.
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Understanding the brain metastasis immune microenvironment
In collaboration with immuno-oncology experts at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, we are studying the expression of common tumour antigens to develop strategies for vaccination against cancer.
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Therapeutic antibody uptake in brain metastases
Brain metastases are broadly refractory to existing systemic therapies. We believe that abnormal vascular function and interstitial fluid dynamics in these tumours may contribute more than previously appreciated. We aim to engineer molecular-targeted carriers that improve the effectiveness and reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Works
Search Professor Jodi Saunus’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival
Vaz-Gonçalves, Larissa, Marquart-Wilson, Louise, Protani, Melinda M, Stephensen, Meghan T, Moore, Julie, Morris, Michelle F, Saunus, Jodi M and Reeves, Marina M (2025). Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival. Journal of Cancer Policy, 44 100567, 100567-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100567
2025
Journal Article
Hormonal Contraception and Breast Cancer Risk for Carriers of Germline Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2
Phillips, Kelly-Anne, Kotsopoulos, Joanne, Domchek, Susan M., Terry, Mary Beth, Chamberlain, James A., Bassett, Julie K., Aeilts, Amber M., Andrulis, Irene L., Buys, Saundra S., Cui, Wanda, Daly, Mary B., Eisen, Andrea F., Foulkes, William D., Friedlander, Michael L., Gronwald, Jacek, Hopper, John L., John, Esther M., Karlan, Beth Y., Kim, Raymond H., Kurian, Allison W., Lubinski, Jan, Metcalfe, Kelly, Nathanson, Katherine L., Singer, Christian F., Southey, Melissa C., Symecko, Heather, Tung, Nadine, Narod, Steven A., Milne, Roger L. ... Zaheed, Milita (2025). Hormonal Contraception and Breast Cancer Risk for Carriers of Germline Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 43 (4), 422-431. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.00176
2024
Conference Publication
Receipt and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and survival outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer in Queensland: a retrospective population-based cohort
Vaz-Goncalves, Larissa, Marquart-Wilson, Louise, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Moore, Julie, Morris, Michelle J. and Reeves, Marina M. (2024). Receipt and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and survival outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer in Queensland: a retrospective population-based cohort. COSA's 51st Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13–15 November 2024. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2024
Journal Article
Continental differences in the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis
Vaz-Goncalves, Larissa, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Colditz, Graham A. and Reeves, Marina M. (2024). Continental differences in the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 209 (2), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10549-024-07538-w
2024
Journal Article
Co-observation of germline pathogenic variants in breast cancer predisposition genes: Results from analysis of the BRIDGES sequencing dataset
Davidson, Aimee L., Michailidou, Kyriaki, Parsons, Michael T., Fortuno, Cristina, Bolla, Manjeet K., Wang, Qin, Dennis, Joe, Naven, Marc, Abubakar, Mustapha, Ahearn, Thomas U., Alonso, M. Rosario, Andrulis, Irene L., Antoniou, Antonis C., Auvinen, Päivi, Behrens, Sabine, Bermisheva, Marina A., Bogdanova, Natalia V., Bojesen, Stig E., Brüning, Thomas, Byers, Helen J., Camp, Nicola J., Campbell, Archie, Castelao, Jose E., Cessna, Melissa H., Chang-Claude, Jenny, Chanock, Stephen J., Chenevix-Trench, Georgia, Sahlberg, Kristine K., Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise ... kConFab Investigators (2024). Co-observation of germline pathogenic variants in breast cancer predisposition genes: Results from analysis of the BRIDGES sequencing dataset. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 111 (9), 2059-2069. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.07.004
2023
Journal Article
Targeted hyperbranched nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin in breast cancer brain metastasis
Lim, Malcolm, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Saunus, Jodi M., McCart Reed, Amy E., Chittoory, Haarika, Simpson, Peter T., Thurecht, Kristofer J. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2023). Targeted hyperbranched nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin in breast cancer brain metastasis. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 20 (12), 6169-6183. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00558
2023
Journal Article
Association of the CHEK2 c.1100delC variant, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with contralateral breast cancer risk and breast cancer-specific survival
Morra, Anna, Schreurs, Maartje A. C., Andrulis, Irene L., Anton-Culver, Hoda, Augustinsson, Annelie, Beckmann, Matthias W., Behrens, Sabine, Bojesen, Stig E., Bolla, Manjeet K., Brauch, Hiltrud, Broeks, Annegien, Buys, Saundra S., Camp, Nicola J., Castelao, Jose E., Cessna, Melissa H., Chang-Claude, Jenny, Chung, Wendy K., Sahlberg, Kristine K., Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise, Gram, Inger Torhild, Olsen, Karina Standahl, Engebråten, Olav, Naume, Bjørn, Geisler, Jürgen, Grenaker Alnæs, Grethe I., Colonna, Sarah V., Couch, Fergus J., Cox, Angela, Cross, Simon S. ... Hooning, Maartje J. (2023). Association of the CHEK2 c.1100delC variant, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with contralateral breast cancer risk and breast cancer-specific survival. Cancer Medicine, 12 (15), 16142-16162. doi: 10.1002/cam4.6272
2023
Journal Article
COMMD3 loss drives invasive breast cancer growth by modulating copper homeostasis
Hancock, Janelle L., Kalimutho, Murugan, Straube, Jasmin, Lim, Malcolm, Gresshoff, Irma, Saunus, Jodi M., Lee, Jason S., Lakhani, Sunil R., Simpson, Kaylene J., Bush, Ashley I., Anderson, Robin L. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2023). COMMD3 loss drives invasive breast cancer growth by modulating copper homeostasis. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, 42 (1) 90, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s13046-023-02663-8
2023
Journal Article
The impact of coding germline variants on contralateral breast cancer risk and survival
Morra, Anna, Mavaddat, Nasim, Muranen, Taru A., Ahearn, Thomas U., Allen, Jamie, Andrulis, Irene L., Auvinen, Päivi, Becher, Heiko, Behrens, Sabine, Blomqvist, Carl, Bojesen, Stig E., Bolla, Manjeet K., Brauch, Hiltrud, Camp, Nicola J., Carvalho, Sara, Castelao, Jose E., Cessna, Melissa H., Chang-Claude, Jenny, Chenevix-Trench, Georgia, Czene, Kamila, Decker, Brennan, Dennis, Joe, Dörk, Thilo, Dorling, Leila, Dunning, Alison M., Ekici, Arif B., Eriksson, Mikael, Evans, D. Gareth, Fasching, Peter A. ... kConFab Investigators (2023). The impact of coding germline variants on contralateral breast cancer risk and survival. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 110 (3), 475-486. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.02.003
2023
Journal Article
FANCM missense variants and breast cancer risk: a case-control association study of 75,156 European women
Figlioli, Gisella, Billaud, Amandine, Ahearn, Thomas U., Antonenkova, Natalia N., Becher, Heiko, Beckmann, Matthias W., Behrens, Sabine, Benitez, Javier, Bermisheva, Marina, Blok, Marinus J., Bogdanova, Natalia V., Bonanni, Bernardo, Burwinkel, Barbara, Camp, Nicola J., Campbell, Archie, Castelao, Jose E., Cessna, Melissa H., Chanock, Stephen J., Alnæs, Grethe I. Grenaker, Sørlie, Therese, Skjerven, Helle Kristine, Russnes, Hege G., Mælandsmo, Gunhild Mari, Lingjærde, Ole Christian, Langerød, Anita, Hofvind, Solveig, Geitvik, Gry Aarum, Garred, Øystein, Fritzman, Britt ... Peterlongo, Paolo (2023). FANCM missense variants and breast cancer risk: a case-control association study of 75,156 European women. European Journal of Human Genetics, 31 (5), 578-587. doi: 10.1038/s41431-022-01257-w
2022
Conference Publication
Understanding the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis
Goncalves, Larissa Vaz, Protani, Melinda M., Saunus, Jodi M., Colditz, Graham A. and Reeves, Marina M. (2022). Understanding the association between excess body weight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
Journal Article
Modeling brain metastasis by internal carotid artery injection of cancer cells
Lim, Malcolm, Fletcher, Nicholas, Reed, Amy Mccart, Flint, Melanie, Thurecht, Kristofer, Saunus, Jodi and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2022). Modeling brain metastasis by internal carotid artery injection of cancer cells. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2022 (186) e64216. doi: 10.3791/64216
2022
Journal Article
Epigenome erosion and SOX10 drive neural crest phenotypic mimicry in triple-negative breast cancer
Saunus, Jodi M., De Luca, Xavier M., Northwood, Korinne, Raghavendra, Ashwini, Hasson, Alexander, McCart Reed, Amy E., Lim, Malcolm, Lal, Samir, Vargas, A. Cristina, Kutasovic, Jamie R., Dalley, Andrew J., Miranda, Mariska, Kalaw, Emarene, Kalita-de Croft, Priyakshi, Gresshoff, Irma, Al-Ejeh, Fares, Gee, Julia M. W., Ormandy, Chris, Khanna, Kum Kum, Beesley, Jonathan, Chenevix-Trench, Georgia, Green, Andrew R., Rakha, Emad A., Ellis, Ian O., Nicolau, Dan V., Simpson, Peter T. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2022). Epigenome erosion and SOX10 drive neural crest phenotypic mimicry in triple-negative breast cancer. npj Breast Cancer, 8 (1) 57, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41523-022-00425-x
2022
Journal Article
N-glycolylneuraminic acid serum biomarker levels are elevated in breast cancer patients at all stages of disease
Shewell, Lucy K., Day, Christopher J., Kutasovic, Jamie R., Abrahams, Jodie L., Wang, Jing, Poole, Jessica, Niland, Colleen, Ferguson, Kaltin, Saunus, Jodi M., Lakhani, Sunil R., von Itzstein, Mark, Paton, James C., Paton, Adrienne W. and Jennings, Michael P. (2022). N-glycolylneuraminic acid serum biomarker levels are elevated in breast cancer patients at all stages of disease. BMC Cancer, 22 (1) 334, 334. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09428-0
2022
Journal Article
Emerging biomarkers for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of brain metastases—from biology to clinical utility
Kalita-de Croft, Priyakshi, Joshi, Vaibhavi, Saunus, Jodi M. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2022). Emerging biomarkers for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of brain metastases—from biology to clinical utility. Diseases, 10 (1) 11, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/diseases10010011
2022
Journal Article
Landscape of epidermal growth factor receptor heterodimers in brain metastases
Lim, Malcolm, Nguyen, Tam H., Niland, Colleen, Reid, Lynne E., Jat, Parmjit S., Saunus, Jodi M. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2022). Landscape of epidermal growth factor receptor heterodimers in brain metastases. Cancers, 14 (3) 533, 533. doi: 10.3390/cancers14030533
2021
Journal Article
The mutational landscape of melanoma brain metastases presenting as the first visceral site of recurrence
Rabbie, Roy, Ferguson, Peter, Wong, Kim, Couturier, Dominique-Laurent, Moran, Una, Turner, Clinton, Emanuel, Patrick, Haas, Kerstin, Saunus, Jodi M., Davidson, Morgan R., Lakhani, Sunil R., Shivalingam, Brindha, Long, Georgina, Parkinson, Christine, Osman, Iman, Scolyer, Richard A., Corrie, Pippa and Adams, David J. (2021). The mutational landscape of melanoma brain metastases presenting as the first visceral site of recurrence. British Journal of Cancer, 124 (1), 156-160. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-01090-2
2021
Journal Article
Mendelian randomisation study of smoking exposure in relation to breast cancer risk
Park, Hanla A., Neumeyer, Sonja, Michailidou, Kyriaki, Bolla, Manjeet K., Wang, Qin, Dennis, Joe, Ahearn, Thomas U., Andrulis, Irene L., Anton-Culver, Hoda, Antonenkova, Natalia N., Arndt, Volker, Aronson, Kristan J., Augustinsson, Annelie, Baten, Adinda, Beane Freeman, Laura E., Becher, Heiko, Beckmann, Matthias W., Behrens, Sabine, Benitez, Javier, Bermisheva, Marina, Bogdanova, Natalia V., Bojesen, Stig E., Brauch, Hiltrud, Brenner, Hermann, Brucker, Sara Y., Burwinkel, Barbara, Campa, Daniele, Canzian, Federico, Castelao, Jose E. ... Chang-Claude, Jenny (2021). Mendelian randomisation study of smoking exposure in relation to breast cancer risk. British Journal of Cancer, 125 (8), 1135-1145. doi: 10.1038/s41416-021-01432-8
2021
Journal Article
Altered calcium influx pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts
Sadras, Francisco, Stewart, Teneale A., Robitaille, Mélanie, Peters, Amelia A., Croft, Priyakshi Kalita-de, Soon, Patsy S., Saunus, Jodi M., Lakhani, Sunil R., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2021). Altered calcium influx pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Biomedicines, 9 (6) 680, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9060680
2021
Journal Article
Characterization of immune cell subsets of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in brain metastases
Croft, Priyakshi Kalita-de, Chittoory, Haarika, Nguyen, Tam H., Saunus, Jodi M., Kim, Woo Gyeong, Reed, Amy E. McCart, Lim, Malcolm, De Luca, Xavier M., Ferguson, Kaltin, Niland, Colleen, Mazzieri, Roberta, Dolcetti, Riccardo, Simpson, Peter T. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2021). Characterization of immune cell subsets of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in brain metastases. Biology, 10 (5) 425, 425. doi: 10.3390/biology10050425
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jodi Saunus is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Development of new theranostic agents for metastatic breast cancer surveillance and treatment
Most of the time, treatments for early breast cancer successfully prevent metastatic spread, but 10% of Australian patients still develop lethal recurrences within 5 years. Rather than waiting to see which patients develop symptoms of a possible relapse (e.g., headaches, respiratory symptoms), we are getting better at detecting metastasis early. Patients deemed to be at ‘high risk’ are offered regular PET or MRI scans, allowing earlier intervention and better quality-of-life. PET imaging of radioactive tracers is more specific than MRI, but the standard tracer used in oncology – [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) – is not useful for imaging the brain. We are seeking a student to help us develop agents that seek out tumour cells more specifically than FDG and can also be engineered to function as therapeutics. The project is flexible depending on the successful candidate’s expertise and interest (e.g., in vivo models of metastatic breast cancer, protein chemistry and/or molecular biology).
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Epigenomic determinants of chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chris Pyke, Associate Professor Adam Ewing
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Doctor Philosophy
Epigenomic determinants of chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chris Pyke, Associate Professor Adam Ewing
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Master Philosophy
Treatment patterns and prognostic indicators in triple-negative breast cancer: a multicentre study of contemporary cases from Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chris Pyke
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the diagnostic and functional significance of specific epigenomic features in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kum Kum Khanna
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Doctor Philosophy
Strategies to improve immunotherapy for patients with glioblastoma or breast cancer brain metastases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Simpson, Professor Nikolas Haass
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Doctor Philosophy
The effect of avidity on nanobody-based formats for theranostic applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Pie Huda, Professor Kristofer Thurecht
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Master Philosophy
Development and characterization of bispecific and bivalent nanobodies for targeting ErBb receptors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Pie Huda, Professor Kristofer Thurecht
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Doctor Philosophy
Factors impacting receptor processing in response to peptide and antibody ligands
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Obesity and triple-negative breast cancer: an epidemiological study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Melinda Protani, Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson
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Doctor Philosophy
Triple-negative breast cancer in Australia: investigating factors associated with prognosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Melinda Protani, Dr Louise Marquart-Wilson
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Doctor Philosophy
Applying long-read sequencing technologies to cancer genomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yuanhao Yang, Dr Sandra Richardson, Associate Professor Adam Ewing
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of theranostic nanomedicines for breast cancer brain metastases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of epigenetic influences on DNA methylation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Melissa Brown, Professor Sunil Lakhani
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Detailed Characterisation of Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani, Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Identification of new prognostic biomarker for triple negative breast cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani, Associate Professor Peter Simpson
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Heregulin/HER3 signalling increases invasive behaviour of HER2-positive breast cancer cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Jodi Saunus directly for media enquiries about:
- brain metastases
- breast cancer
- metastatic breast cancer
- stage IV breast cancer
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