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Dr Behnam Rashidieh

Honorary Research Fellow

Mater Research Institute-UQ
Faculty of Medicine
behnam.rashidieh@mater.uq.edu.au

Overview

I am a Principal Investigator (PI) and a senior research officer (SRO) at Mater research – UQ with excellent clinical and research laboratory skills and expertise in conducting and analyzing laboratory assays and resolving complex research and clinical laboratory problems. I can describe myself as determined, reliable, studious, conscientious, attentive, industrious, diligent, and focused on the timely, quality completion of all lab procedures. I am able to work well under pressure and time constraints within high-volume environments both independently and in collaboration within a team. I am also a highly self-motivated and career-oriented individual with a genuine interest in addressing cancer molecular mechanisms with the goal of developing novel cancer therapeutics and immunotherapy focusing on tumor microenvironment, immunoregulation and signaling pathways in cancer and metastasis.

Research Interests

  • Tumor microenvironment and Metastasis
  • Immunotherapy and immunoregulation
  • Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
  • Drug delivery and nanomedicine
  • Transgenic and xenograft mouse models of metastatic breast and lung cancer

Publications

  • Journal Article: Alpha-B-Crystallin overexpression is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice

    Rashidieh, Behnam, Bain, Amanda Louise, Tria, Simon Manuel, Sharma, Sowmya, Stewart, Cameron Allan, Simmons, Jacinta Ley, Apaja, Pirjo M., Duijf, Pascal H. G., Finnie, John and Khanna, Kum Kum (2023). Alpha-B-Crystallin overexpression is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice. Experimental Hematology and Oncology, 12 (1) 4, 1-4. doi: 10.1186/s40164-022-00365-z

  • Conference Publication: Understanding the role of Cep55 in initiation and progression of cancers

    Rashidieh, Behnam, Tria, Simon M. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2022). Understanding the role of Cep55 in initiation and progression of cancers. AACR Annual Meeting 2022, New Orleans, LA United States, 8-13 April 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-6033

  • Journal Article: Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis

    Rashidieh, Behnam, Shohayeb, Belal, Bain, Amanda Louise, Fortuna, Patrick R. J., Sinha, Debottam, Burgess, Andrew, Mills, Richard, Adams, Rachael C., Lopez, J. Alejandro, Blumbergs, Peter, Finnie, John, Kalimutho, Murugan, Piper, Michael, Hudson, James Edward, Ng, Dominic C. H. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2021). Cep55 regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling is required for neocortical development and ciliogenesis. PLoS Genetics, 17 (10) e1009334, 1-31. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009334

View all Publications

Available Projects

  • Advancing Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Breast and Gynaecologic Cancers using RNA-based Therapeutics with Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Delivery System

    BACKGROUND Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death globally and Breast cancer (BC) stands as the most prevalent malignancy among women. Despite advancements in early diagnosis and personalised treatment approaches for cancer, recurrence and metastasis remain the leading causes of cancer-related mortality (~90%). Conventional chemotherapy yields limited efficacy for metastatic disease and recurrent metastatic breast cancer as well as gynecologic cancers, such as ovarian and endometrial cancer, where the 5-year survival rate remains below 20%. Our research has demonstrated that genetic inhibition of Cep55 reduces cancer progression and metastatic potential in mouse models. However, Cep55 is considered undruggable due to its coiled-coil structure. Therefore, we propose an innovative approach using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to inhibit Cep55 expression at the mRNA level. This strategy aims to provide proof-of-concept for targeting undruggable and hard-to-treat cancers, particularly invasive, aggressive, and advanced cancers, as well as metastasis, through preclinical studies both in vitro and in vivo. AIMS 1) Screening ASOs and performing functional assays across a spectrum of human and mouse metastatic breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer cell lines, tumouroids, patient-derived xenograft organoids (PDXOs), and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). 2) Evaluating preclinically whether ASO-Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) impedes cancer growth, progression, and spread and examining the efficacy, stability, specificity, and toxicity in-vivo. 3) Investigating the mechanism of action and functional role of drug in tumour-microenvironment and metastasis by spatial transcriptomics.

    OUR MISSION: We are committed to developing innovative molecular medicines and therapeutics for hard-to-treat cancers and metastasis. Our multidisciplinary team of scientists covers all aspects of drug development, ranging from target identification and validation to payload design, formulation, delivery, and drug testing using state-ofthe-art translational research experimental models. RESEARCH FOCUS: The Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Lab is dedicated to developing next-generation RNA therapeutics for oncology, focusing on cancer types with extremely poor outcomes, such as triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Currently, our efforts involve designing and developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) coupled with a lipid nanoparticle drug delivery system to target genes of interest with high specificity, aiming to inhibit cancer growth and metastasis. We aim to validate the efficacy of our novel medicines in innovative translational model systems, including patient-derived cells, tumoroids, and organoids, which can serve as personalized patient embodiments. SIGNIFICANCE To overcome the challenge of undruggable cancer targets, we will use ASOs which target mRNAs and this strategy can be expanded to other undruggable targets in cancer. We utilised the nextgeneration ASOs design which enhances the potency, stability, binding properties, reduced toxicity, pro-inflammatory and off-target effects, improved therapeutic index, and extended duration of effect. In our human cells and mouse models, we will test the efficacy of LNP-based drug delivery which shall protect ASOs from degradation and permit cellular uptake and drug release. We expect this project will generate proof-of-concept data on the effectiveness of the ASO-LNP system and provide an on-target mechanistic validation in preclinical models of breast cancer. We anticipate this strategy pave the way for a resolution to treat patients with aggressive cancers and overcome the metastatic burden.

    Dr. Ben Rashidieh: Behnam.rashidieh@mater.uq.edu.au

View all Available Projects

Publications

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Understanding the role of Cep55 in initiation and progression of cancers

    Rashidieh, Behnam, Tria, Simon M. and Khanna, Kum Kum (2022). Understanding the role of Cep55 in initiation and progression of cancers. AACR Annual Meeting 2022, New Orleans, LA United States, 8-13 April 2022. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-6033

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Advancing Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Breast and Gynaecologic Cancers using RNA-based Therapeutics with Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Delivery System

    BACKGROUND Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death globally and Breast cancer (BC) stands as the most prevalent malignancy among women. Despite advancements in early diagnosis and personalised treatment approaches for cancer, recurrence and metastasis remain the leading causes of cancer-related mortality (~90%). Conventional chemotherapy yields limited efficacy for metastatic disease and recurrent metastatic breast cancer as well as gynecologic cancers, such as ovarian and endometrial cancer, where the 5-year survival rate remains below 20%. Our research has demonstrated that genetic inhibition of Cep55 reduces cancer progression and metastatic potential in mouse models. However, Cep55 is considered undruggable due to its coiled-coil structure. Therefore, we propose an innovative approach using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to inhibit Cep55 expression at the mRNA level. This strategy aims to provide proof-of-concept for targeting undruggable and hard-to-treat cancers, particularly invasive, aggressive, and advanced cancers, as well as metastasis, through preclinical studies both in vitro and in vivo. AIMS 1) Screening ASOs and performing functional assays across a spectrum of human and mouse metastatic breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer cell lines, tumouroids, patient-derived xenograft organoids (PDXOs), and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). 2) Evaluating preclinically whether ASO-Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) impedes cancer growth, progression, and spread and examining the efficacy, stability, specificity, and toxicity in-vivo. 3) Investigating the mechanism of action and functional role of drug in tumour-microenvironment and metastasis by spatial transcriptomics.

    OUR MISSION: We are committed to developing innovative molecular medicines and therapeutics for hard-to-treat cancers and metastasis. Our multidisciplinary team of scientists covers all aspects of drug development, ranging from target identification and validation to payload design, formulation, delivery, and drug testing using state-ofthe-art translational research experimental models. RESEARCH FOCUS: The Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Lab is dedicated to developing next-generation RNA therapeutics for oncology, focusing on cancer types with extremely poor outcomes, such as triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Currently, our efforts involve designing and developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) coupled with a lipid nanoparticle drug delivery system to target genes of interest with high specificity, aiming to inhibit cancer growth and metastasis. We aim to validate the efficacy of our novel medicines in innovative translational model systems, including patient-derived cells, tumoroids, and organoids, which can serve as personalized patient embodiments. SIGNIFICANCE To overcome the challenge of undruggable cancer targets, we will use ASOs which target mRNAs and this strategy can be expanded to other undruggable targets in cancer. We utilised the nextgeneration ASOs design which enhances the potency, stability, binding properties, reduced toxicity, pro-inflammatory and off-target effects, improved therapeutic index, and extended duration of effect. In our human cells and mouse models, we will test the efficacy of LNP-based drug delivery which shall protect ASOs from degradation and permit cellular uptake and drug release. We expect this project will generate proof-of-concept data on the effectiveness of the ASO-LNP system and provide an on-target mechanistic validation in preclinical models of breast cancer. We anticipate this strategy pave the way for a resolution to treat patients with aggressive cancers and overcome the metastatic burden.

    Dr. Ben Rashidieh: Behnam.rashidieh@mater.uq.edu.au

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ORCID: 0000-0002-9831-0319

Scopus ID: 55317892200

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