Professor Nikolas Haass

Professor

Frazer Institute
Faculty of Medicine

Director (Research Training)

Research Strategy and Support (Medicine)
Faculty of Medicine
n.haass1@uq.edu.au
+61 7 344 37087

Overview

I am a clinician scientist and academic leader with research in melanoma cell biology and experimental melanoma therapy. I received my degree in medicine from the University of Heidelberg, Germany (1990-1998). I graduated summa cum laude with a PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Heidelberg (1993-1999) and trained in clinical dermatology at the University of Hamburg, Germany (1999-2003). In 2003 I moved to Philadelphia, PA, to work as a post-doctoral fellow in Meenhard Herlyn’s lab at The Wistar Institute (2003-2007). From there I was recruited as an associate faculty member to the Centenary Institute/University of Sydney (2007-2013). In 2013 I commenced a position as Associate Professor for Cutaneous Oncology at University of Queensland Diamantina Institute (now Frazer Institute) and was promoted to full Professor in April 2016.

Research Impacts

Using cutting-edge technology, including real-time cell cycle imaging in 3D culture and in vivo, my team studies the role of dynamic melanoma heterogeneity in melanomagenesis with the goal to develop novel therapeutic approaches by simultaneously targeting different tumor cell subpopulations. My laboratory and our team are in the unique position to combine sophisticated imaging and biosensor approaches with biochemical methods to provide unprecedented insight to the mechanisms of tumor heterogeneity, tumor-stroma interactions and cancer immunology.

My contribution to the field is best evidenced by 97 original papers and invited reviews in leading biomedical journals. Many of our papers have a large impact in the field (>7500 citations in total, and 19 papers cited >100 times each). The papers in Mol Cancer Ther (2006, cited >500x), Cancer Res (2007, cited 265x) and PNAS (2008, cited 1500x) were evaluated by Faculty 1000 Biology as recommended or exceptional, respectively.

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Diploma, Ruprecht Karls Universität Heidelberg

Publications

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Supervision

View all Supervision

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Spoerri, Loredana, Beaumont, Kimberley A., Anfosso, Andrea, Murphy, Ryan J., Browning, Alexander P., Gunasingh, Gency and Haass, Nikolas K. (2024). Real-time cell cycle imaging in a 3D cell culture model of melanoma, quantitative analysis, optical clearing, and mathematical modeling. 3D cell culture: methods and protocols. (pp. 291-310) edited by Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova. New York, NY, United States: Humana. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3674-9_19

  • Fernandez-Peñas, Pablo, Jones-Caballero, María and Haass, Nikolas (2023). Melanocytes and melanogenesis. Schachner and Hansen's pediatric dermatology. (pp. 1093-1097) edited by Antonio Torrelo, Angela Hernández-Martín, Elaine C. Siegfried, Anne W. Lucky, Robert A. Silverman, Elena Pope and Karen Wiss. New Delhi, India & London, United Kingdom: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. doi: 10.5005/jp/books/18588_59

  • Kuphal, Silke and Haass, Nikolas K. (2017). Cell–cell contacts in melanoma and the tumor microenvironment. Melanoma development: molecular biology, genetics and clinical application. (pp. 227-269) edited by Anja K. Bosserhoff. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-41319-8_9

  • Spoerri, Loredana, Beaumont, Kimberley A., Anfosso, Andrea and Haass, Nikolas K. (2017). Real-time cell cycle imaging in a 3D cell culture model of melanoma. In 3D cell culture: methods and protocols (pp. 401-416) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-7021-6_29

  • Spoerri, Loredana, Oo, Zay Yar, Larsen, Jill E., Haass, Nikolas K., Gabrielli, Brian and Pavey, Sandra (2015). Cell cycle checkpoint and DNA damage response defects as anticancer targets: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities.. Stress response pathways in cancer: from molecular targets to novel therapeutics. (pp. 29-49) edited by Georg T. Wondrak. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media. doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-9421-3_3

  • Tonnessen, Crystal A. and Haass, Nikolas K. (2015). Melanoma: From tumor-specific mutations to a new molecular taxonomy and innovative therapeutics. Personalized treatment options in dermatology. (pp. 7-27) edited by Thomas Bieber and Frank Nestle. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-45840-2_2

  • Haass, Nikolas K. (2014). The Grey-headed Albatross conundrum at the Australian east coast. The Petrel: Annual Report for Southport The Brisbane Seabird Study Group SOSSA, Northern Sector. (pp. 96-107) edited by Paul Walbridge. Brisbane, QLD Australia: SOSSA.

  • Kuphal, Silke and Haass, Nikolas K. (2011). Cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts in melanoma and the tumor microenvironment. Melanoma Development: Molecular Biology, Genetics and Clinical Application. (pp. 181-215) edited by Anja Bosserhoff. Vienna, Austria: SpringerWienNewYork. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0371-5

  • Haass, N. K. and Bauer, H.-G. (2011). Egretta schistacea: Kuestenreiher. Nicht-Singvögel: Rheidae (Nandus) - Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos). (pp. 266-268) edited by Jochen Hölzinger and Hans-Günther Bauer. Stuttgart, Germany: Ulmer Eugen Verlag.

  • Haass, Nikolas K., Hoeller, Christoph and Herlyn, Meenhard (2008). Targeting signaling pathways: in the search of melanoma's Achilles' heel. Regulation of Gene Expression in the Tumor Environment. (pp. 27-42) edited by Menashe Bar-Eli. London, UK: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8341-9

  • Haass, Nikolas K., Houdek, Pia, Brandner, Johanna M. and Moll, Ingrid (2003). Expression patterns of connexins in Merkel cell carcinoma and adjacent epidermis. The Merkel Cell: Structure-Development-Function-Cancerogenesis. Proceedings of the International Merkel Cell Symposium, Hamburg 2002. (pp. 219-222) edited by Klaus I. Baumann, Zdenek Halata and Ingrid Moll. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-10358-6_31

  • Haass, Nikolas K., Houdek, Pia, Wladykowski, Ewa, Moll, Ingrid and Brandner, Johanna M. (2003). Expression patterns of tight junction proteins in Merkel cell carcinoma. The Merkel Cell: Structure-Development-Function-Cancerogenesis. Proceedings of the International Merkel Cell Symposium, Hamburg 2002. (pp. 223-226) edited by Klaus I. Baumann, Zdenek Halata and Ingrid Moll. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-10358-6_32

  • Siegel, H. and Haass, N. K. (1997). Graureiher: Ardea cinerea. Avifauna von Hessen. (pp. 5.1.7.1.1-5.1.7.1.9) edited by Karl-Heinz Berck. Wiesbaden, Germany: Hessische Gesellschaft für Ornithologie und Naturschutz.

  • Kreuziger, J., Werner, M., Haass, N. K., Haass, C. and Siegel, H. (1997). Kormoran: Phalacrocorax carbo. Avifauna von Hessen. (pp. 4.2.1.1.1-4.2.1.1.13) edited by Karl-Heinz Berck. Wiesbaden, Germany: Hessische Gesellschaft für Ornithologie und Naturschutz.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

  • Guan, Yimeng, Gunasingh, Gency and Haass, Nikolas (2023). Specific T cells infiltration assay. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ede5871

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision