NEXT-GENERATION NK CELL-BASED IMMUNOTHERAPIES FOR HARD-TO-TREAT CANCERS
Associate Professor Fernando S. F. Guimaraes, PhD, GAICD
Group Leader, Translational Innate Immunotherapy
Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine,
The University of Queensland, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Brisbane, Australia | February 2025
Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes is an internationally recognised leader in cancer immunotherapy and natural killer (NK) cell biology. Based at The University of Queensland, he leads innovative research focused on developing next-generation NK cell-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers, including sarcomas and neuroblastoma.
A/Prof Guimaraes completed his PhD at the Institut Pasteur and pursued postdoctoral research at QIMR Berghofer and WEHI before joining UQ in 2019. His pioneering work has significantly advanced understanding of immune evasion mechanisms in cancer, leading to potential breakthroughs in NK cell therapies. His research integrates systems biology, experimental oncology, and bioinformatics to design novel, targeted treatments resistant to tumour-induced immunosuppression. His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the QLD Tall Poppy, UQ Frazer Institute Rising Star, Translational Research Institute – Connecting with the Clinic Awards.
He has published extensively in top-tier journals, secured and led major research funding (NHMRC, MRFF, US DoD) focused on NK cell therapies. A/Prof Guimaraes also plays a key role in mentoring early-career researchers, serving as the Chair of the Research Committee at Cure Cancer Australia and leading multiple international collaborations.
Source: supplied
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2037-8946
-
Behavioural science in cancer screening, control and communication
Dr Dodd has an established international reputation as a behavioural scientist in cancer control and communication. Since completing her PhD in 2016, Dr Dodd has been awarded a three-year University of Sydney Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2018-2021) and a three-year Research Fellowship at The Daffodil Centre (current). Dr Dodd is the co-chair of the ‘Strengthening and optimising approaches to cancer prevention, screening, and early detection’ hub at The Daffodil Centre (with more than 130 staff and students).
-
Optimising Rural Musculoskeletal Health
Adnan Asger Ali is a Director of Accelerate Physiotherapy and PhD candidate at The University of Sydney, where he is researching implementation strategies for musculoskeletal care pathways in rural Australia as part of the PACE-RURAL project.
A passionate advocate for physiotherapy, Adnan serves as Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s National Musculoskeletal Committee and sits on the Capital Health Network’s Clinical Council. His commitment to clinical excellence was recognised when he received Physiotherapist of the Year at the 2023 Allied Health Awards.
-
Links investigated between poor sleep and onset of dementia
Watch Samantha Bramich, a PHD candidate at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania talk on identify the prevalence of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) in Tasmania and how poor sleep contributes to the onset of dementia and other diseases.
