Dr Jodi Saunus
Dr

Jodi Saunus

Email: 

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

Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Genetics Immunology Information and Computing Sciences Oncology and carcinogenesis

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Search Professor Jodi Saunus’s works on UQ eSpace

104 works between 2002 and 2025
All (104) Journal Article (67) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (33) Other Outputs (2)

61 - 80 of 104 works

2017

Journal Article

Breast cancer brain metastases: clonal evolution in clinical context

Saunus, Jodi M., McCart Reed, Amy E., Lim, Zhun Leong and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2017). Breast cancer brain metastases: clonal evolution in clinical context. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18 (1) 152, 152. doi: 10.3390/ijms18010152

Breast cancer brain metastases: clonal evolution in clinical context

2017

Conference Publication

Mixed ductal-lobular carcinomas of the breast: Abrogated cell adhesion in the clonal evolution from ductal to lobular morphology

Reed, A. E. McCart, Kutasovic, J. R., Nones, K., da Silva, L., Melville, L., Jayanthan, J., Vargas, A. C., Reid, L. E., Saunus, J. M., Cummings, M. M., Porter, A., Evans, E., Waddell, N., Lakhani, S. R. and Simpson, P. T. (2017). Mixed ductal-lobular carcinomas of the breast: Abrogated cell adhesion in the clonal evolution from ductal to lobular morphology. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX, United States, 6-10 December 2016. Philadelphia, PA, United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.SABCS16-P1-07-08

Mixed ductal-lobular carcinomas of the breast: Abrogated cell adhesion in the clonal evolution from ductal to lobular morphology

2017

Conference Publication

RNA immunoprecipitation reveals lncRNA-protein interactions in basal-like breast cancer

Northwood, K., Saunus, J., Milevskiy, M., Lakhani, S. and Brown, M. (2017). RNA immunoprecipitation reveals lncRNA-protein interactions in basal-like breast cancer. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio TX, United States, 6-10 December 2016. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.SABCS16-P1-04-05

RNA immunoprecipitation reveals lncRNA-protein interactions in basal-like breast cancer

2016

Journal Article

'Omics approaches in breast cancer research and clinical practice

Kalita-De Croft, Priyakshi, Al-Ejeh, Fares, McCart Reed, Amy E., Saunus, Jodi M. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2016). 'Omics approaches in breast cancer research and clinical practice. Advances in Anatomic Pathology, 23 (6), 356-367. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0000000000000128

'Omics approaches in breast cancer research and clinical practice

2016

Journal Article

SASH1 mediates sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chloropyramine and is associated with prognosis in breast cancer

Burgess, Joshua T., Bolderson, Emma, Saunus, Jodi M., Zhang, Shu-Dong, Reid, Lynne E., McNicol, Anne Marie, Lakhani, Sunil R., Cuff, Katharine, Richard, Kerry, Richard, Derek J. and O'Byrne, Kenneth J. (2016). SASH1 mediates sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chloropyramine and is associated with prognosis in breast cancer. Oncotarget, 7 (45), 72807-72818. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.12020

SASH1 mediates sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chloropyramine and is associated with prognosis in breast cancer

2016

Journal Article

Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer

Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Al-Ejeh, Fares, Saunus, Jodi M., Northwood, Korinne S., Bailey, Peter J., Betts, Joshua A., McCart Reed, Amy E., Nephew, Kenneth P., Stone, Andrew, Gee, Julia M. W., Dowhan, Dennis H., Dray, Eloise, Shewan, Annette M., French, Juliet D., Edwards, Stacey L., Clark, Susan J., Lakhani, Sunil R. and Brown, Melissa A. (2016). Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer. Human Molecular Genetics, 25 (15), 3269-3283. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw177

Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer

2016

Journal Article

The calcium pump plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2) regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to doxorubicin

Peters, Amelia A., Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Lee, WeiC., Curry, Merril C., Smart, Chanel E., Saunus, Jodi M., Reid, Lynne, da Silva, Leonard, Marcial, Daneth L., Dray, Eloise, Brown, Melissa A., Lakhani, Sunil R., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2016). The calcium pump plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2) regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to doxorubicin. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 25505, 25505. doi: 10.1038/srep25505

The calcium pump plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2) regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to doxorubicin

2016

Journal Article

Novel highly specific anti-periostin antibodies uncover the functional importance of the fascilin 1-1 domain and highlight preferential expression of periostin in aggressive breast cancer

Field, Sarah, Uyttenhove, Catherine, Stroobant, Vincent, Cheou, Paméla, Coutelier, Jean-Paul, Simpson, Peter T., Cummings, Margaret C., Saunus, Jodi M., Reid, Lynne E., Kutasovic, Jamie R., McNicol, Anne Marie, Kim, Ba Reun, Kim, Jae Ho, Lakhani, Sunil R., Neville, A. Munro, Van Snick, Jacques and Jat, Parmjit S. (2016). Novel highly specific anti-periostin antibodies uncover the functional importance of the fascilin 1-1 domain and highlight preferential expression of periostin in aggressive breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 138 (8), 1959-1970. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29946

Novel highly specific anti-periostin antibodies uncover the functional importance of the fascilin 1-1 domain and highlight preferential expression of periostin in aggressive breast cancer

2016

Conference Publication

Investigating the Her2-3 dimer as a theranostic target in brain metastases

Saunus, Jodi M., Kalita-de Croft, Priyakshi, Lee, F. T., Al-Ejeh, Fares, Lim, Malcolm, Ensbey, Kathleen, Niland, Colleen, Jeffree, Rosalind L., Thomas, Paul, Day, Bryan W., Rose, Stephen, Scott, Andrew M. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2016). Investigating the Her2-3 dimer as a theranostic target in brain metastases. COSA's 43 and ANZBCTG's 38 Annual Scientific Meetings. Partners for Progress in Breast Cancer Research and Care, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 15-17 November 2016. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/ajco.12646

Investigating the Her2-3 dimer as a theranostic target in brain metastases

2015

Journal Article

Microenvironment-induced PTEN loss by exosomal microRNA primes brain metastasis outgrowth

Zhang, Lin, Zhang, Siyuan, Yao, Jun, Lowery, Frank J., Zhang, Qingling, Huang, Wen-Chien, Li, Ping, Li, Min, Wang, Xiao, Zhang, Chenyu, Wang, Hai, Ellis, Kenneth, Cheerathodi, Mujeeburahiman, McCarty, Joseph H., Palmieri, Diane, Saunus, Jodi, Lakhani, Sunil, Huang, Suyun, Sahin, Aysegul A., Aldape, Kenneth D., Steeg, Patricia S. and Yu, Dihua (2015). Microenvironment-induced PTEN loss by exosomal microRNA primes brain metastasis outgrowth. Nature, 527 (7576), 100-104. doi: 10.1038/nature15376

Microenvironment-induced PTEN loss by exosomal microRNA primes brain metastasis outgrowth

2015

Journal Article

Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of human brain metastases identifies recurrently altered pathways of potential clinical significance

Saunus, Jodi M., Quinn, MIchael C. J., Patch, Ann-Marie, Pearson, John V., Bailey, Peter J., Nones, Katia, McCart Reed, Amy E., Miller, David, Peter J. Wilson, Al-Ejeh, Fares, Mariasegaram, Mythily, Lau, Queenie, Withers, Teresa, Jeffree, Rosalind L., Reid, Lynne E., Da Silva, Leonard, Matsika, Admire, Niland, Colleen M., Cummings, Margaret C., Bruxner, Timothy J. C., Christ, Angelika N., Harliwong, Ivon, Idrisoglu, Senel, Manning, Suzanne, Nourse, Craig, Nourbakhsh, Ehsan, Wani, Shivangi, Anderson, Matthew J., Fink, J. Lynn ... Lakhani, Sunil R. (2015). Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of human brain metastases identifies recurrently altered pathways of potential clinical significance. Journal of Pathology, 237 (3), 363-378. doi: 10.1002/path.4583

Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of human brain metastases identifies recurrently altered pathways of potential clinical significance

2015

Journal Article

Using the MCF10A/MCF10CA1a Breast Cancer Progression Cell Line Model to Investigate the Effect of Active, Mutant Forms of EGFR in Breast Cancer Development and Treatment Using Gefitinib

Bessette, Darrell C., Tilch, Erik, Seidens, Tatjana, Quinn, Michael C. J., Wiegmans, Adrian P., Shi, Wei, Cocciardi, Sibylle, McCart-Reed, Amy, Saunus, Jodi M., Simpson, Peter T., Grimmond, Sean M., Lakhani, Sunil R., Khanna, Kum Kum, Waddell, Nic, Al-Ejeh, Fares and Chevenvix-Trench, Georgia (2015). Using the MCF10A/MCF10CA1a Breast Cancer Progression Cell Line Model to Investigate the Effect of Active, Mutant Forms of EGFR in Breast Cancer Development and Treatment Using Gefitinib. PLoS One, 10 (5) e0125232, e0125232-e0125232. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125232

Using the MCF10A/MCF10CA1a Breast Cancer Progression Cell Line Model to Investigate the Effect of Active, Mutant Forms of EGFR in Breast Cancer Development and Treatment Using Gefitinib

2015

Journal Article

Heregulin-HER3-HER2 signaling promotes matrix metalloproteinase-dependent blood-brain-barrier transendothelial migration of human breast cancer cell lines

Momeny, Majid, Saunus, Jodi M., Marturana, Flavia, McCart Reed, Amy E., Black, Debra, Sala, Gianluca, Iacobelli, Stefano, Holland, Jane D., Yu, Dihua, Da Silva, Leonard, Simpson, Peter T., Khanna, Kum Kum, Chenevix-Trench, Georgia and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2015). Heregulin-HER3-HER2 signaling promotes matrix metalloproteinase-dependent blood-brain-barrier transendothelial migration of human breast cancer cell lines. Oncotarget, 6 (6), 3932-3946. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2846

Heregulin-HER3-HER2 signaling promotes matrix metalloproteinase-dependent blood-brain-barrier transendothelial migration of human breast cancer cell lines

2015

Conference Publication

Exploring the HER3 tyrosine kinase as a therapeutic target for treatment of brain metastases

Saunus, Jodi M., Momeny, Majid, Da Silva, Leonard, Reid, Lynne, Holland, Jane D., Birchmeier, Walter, Jat, Parmjit, Brandner, Sebastian, Al-Ejeh, Fares, Khanna, Kum Kum, Chenevix-Trench, Georgia, Simpson, Peter T. and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2015). Exploring the HER3 tyrosine kinase as a therapeutic target for treatment of brain metastases. 15th International Biennial Congress of the Metastasis Research Society, Heidelberg, Germany, 28 June - 01 July 2014. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s10585-015-9708-3

Exploring the HER3 tyrosine kinase as a therapeutic target for treatment of brain metastases

2015

Journal Article

ID4 controls mammary stem cells and marks breast cancers with a stem cell-like phenotype

Junankar, Simon, Baker, Laura A., Roden, Daniel L., Nair, Radhika, Elsworth, Ben, Gallego-Ortega, David, Lacaze, Paul, Cazet, Aurelie, Nikolic, Iva, Teo, Wee Siang, Yang, Jessica, McFarland, Andrea, Harvey, Kate, Naylor, Matthew J., Lakhani, Sunil R., Simpson, Peter T., Raghavendra, Ashwini, Saunus, Jodi, Madore, Jason, Kaplan, Warren, Ormandy, Christopher, Millar, Ewan K. A., O'Toole, Sandra, Yun, Kyuson and Swarbrick, Alexander (2015). ID4 controls mammary stem cells and marks breast cancers with a stem cell-like phenotype. Nature Communications, 6 (1) 6548, 6548.1-6548.12. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7548

ID4 controls mammary stem cells and marks breast cancers with a stem cell-like phenotype

2015

Conference Publication

Genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of human brain metastases

Saunus, J. M., Quinn, M. C. J., Patch, A. M., Pearson, J. V., Bailey, P. J., Cloonan, N., Nones, K., Miller, D., Mariasegaram, M., Lau, Q., Jeffree, L., Khanna, K. K., Chenevix-Trench, G., Grimmond, S. M., Simpson, P. T., Waddell, N. and Lakhani, S. R. (2015). Genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of human brain metastases. 15th International Biennial Congress of the Metastasis Research Society, Heidelberg, Germany, June 28th–July 1st, 2014. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. doi: 10.1007/s10585-015-9708-3

Genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of human brain metastases

2014

Journal Article

Meta-analysis of the global gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer identifies genes for the prognostication and treatment of aggressive breast cancer

Al-Ejeh, F., Simpson, P. T., Sanus, J. M., Klein, K., Kalimutho, M., Shi, W., Miranda, M., Kutasovic, J., Raghavendra, A., Madore, J., Reid, L., Krause, L., Chenevix-Trench, G., Lakhani, S. R. and Khanna, K. K. (2014). Meta-analysis of the global gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer identifies genes for the prognostication and treatment of aggressive breast cancer. Oncogenesis, 3 (4) e100, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/oncsis.2014.14

Meta-analysis of the global gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer identifies genes for the prognostication and treatment of aggressive breast cancer

2014

Journal Article

Kinome profiling reveals breast cancer heterogeneity and identifies targeted therapeutic opportunities for triple negative breast cancer

Al-Ejeh, Fares, Miranda, Mariska, Shi,Wei, Simpson, Peter T., Song, Sarah, Vargas, Ana Cristina, Saunus, Jodi M., Smart, Chanel E., Mariasegaram, Mythily, Wiegmans, Adrian P., Chenevix-Trench, Georgia, Lakhani, Sunil R. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2014). Kinome profiling reveals breast cancer heterogeneity and identifies targeted therapeutic opportunities for triple negative breast cancer. Oncotarget, 5 (10), 3145-3158. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.1865

Kinome profiling reveals breast cancer heterogeneity and identifies targeted therapeutic opportunities for triple negative breast cancer

2013

Journal Article

In vitro analysis of breast cancer cell line tumourspheres and primary human breast epithelia mammospheres demonstrates inter- and intrasphere heterogeneity

Smart, Chanel E., Morrison, Brian J., Saunus, Jodi M., Vargas, Ana Cristina, Keith, Patricia, Reid, Lynne, Wockner, Leesa, Amiri, Marjan Askarian, Sarkar, Debina, Simpson, Peter T., Clarke, Catherine, Schmidt, Chris W., Reynolds, Brent A., Lakhani, Sunil R. and Lopez, J. Alejandro (2013). In vitro analysis of breast cancer cell line tumourspheres and primary human breast epithelia mammospheres demonstrates inter- and intrasphere heterogeneity. PloS One, 8 (6) e64388, e64388. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064388

In vitro analysis of breast cancer cell line tumourspheres and primary human breast epithelia mammospheres demonstrates inter- and intrasphere heterogeneity

2013

Book Chapter

Breast cancer heterogeneity in primary and metastatic disease

Saunus, Jodi M., McCart-Reed, Amy, Momeny, Majid, Cummings, Margaret and Lakhani, Sunil R. (2013). Breast cancer heterogeneity in primary and metastatic disease. Breast Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance: Challenges and Progress. (pp. 65-95) edited by Aamir Ahmad. New York, NY, USA: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-5647-6

Breast cancer heterogeneity in primary and metastatic disease

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
    ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer (AFTRiC)
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Identification and validation of novel classes of clinically relevant CD8 tumour antigens for cancer vaccination: supporting translational pipeline feasibility
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    New immunotherapeutic options for triple negative and brain metastatic breast cancer: next generation cancer vaccines exploiting new classes of tumour antigens
    National Breast Cancer Foundation Investigator Initiated Research Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Nanomedicine strategies for early detection and treatment of brain metastases
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Exploiting the Remodeling of Ca2+ Signaling in Breast Cancer Cell Microenvironments to Control Metastasis and to Specifically Target Brain Metastases
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Breast Cancer Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Repurposing pertuzumab for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer patients with HER2-positive brain metastases
    ANZBCTG Discretionary Funding - Research Seed Funding
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    The Brisbane Breast Bank
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Prospective study of breast cancer progression by content analysis of circulating exosomes in serially collected blood samples
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Applying Inducible Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell Technology to Mammary Biology Research.
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Isolation of oral epithelial stem cells from normal and dysplastic oral mucosa
    Dental Research Grant Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Molecular validation of autofluorescence and narrow band imaging of oral cancer resection margins
    Dental Research Grant Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Isolation of Epithelial Stem Cells from Normal and Dysplastic Oral Epithelium.
    Ian Potter Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Jodi Saunus is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • 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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Jodi Saunus directly for media enquiries about:

  • brain metastases
  • breast cancer
  • metastatic breast cancer
  • stage IV breast cancer

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au