# Frazer Institute Winter Research projects -2026

**Source**: https://frazer.uq.edu.au/frazer-institute-winter-research-projects-2026
**Parent**: https://employability.uq.edu.au/summer-winter-research/find-project

### Spatially-resolved ligand-receptor co-expression in melanoma-prone skin

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| Hours of engagement & delivery mode | For the Winter program, students will be engaged **for 4 weeks only.**  Hours of engagement must be between 20 and 36 hours per week and must fall within the official program dates (Winter: 29 June – 24 July 2026).  Project will be offered on-site, Dutton Park/Translational Research Institute (TRI) |
| Project description | This project will characterise ligand-receptor (L-R) co-expression in melanoma-prone skin compared to healthy sun-damaged skin, using a pre-existing spatial transcriptomics dataset. Melanoma frequently appears on normal-appearing skin with no visible precursor lesion, and healthy skin is heavily mutated, including many cancer-driving mutations. We have limited knowledge about what allows a tumour-competent, mutated melanocyte to transform into melanoma, but we hypothesise that the skin microenvironment suppresses or promotes malignant transformation. L-R expression will reveal differences in how the cellular community communicates with melanocytes in melanoma-prone skin compared to healthy skin |
| Expected outcomes and deliverables | Deliverables: A short report outlining L-R expression between melanocytes and other skin cell types biopsy. Learning outcomes: Basic python programming for bioinformatics and visualisation and report-writing. |
| Suitable for | Students with a background or strong interest in cancer biology and bioinformatics |
| Primary Supervisor | Dr Katie Lee [k.lee5@uq.edu.au](mailto:k.lee5@uq.edu.au?subject=UQ%20Winter%20Research%20Program%202026%20-enquiry) |
| Instructions to applicants | The supervisor wishes to be contacted by students prior to submitting an application. |

### Development of novel immunotherapies for hard-to-cure solid cancer

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| Hours of engagement & delivery mode | For the Winter program, students will be engaged **for 4 weeks only.**  Hours of engagement must be between 20 and 36 hours per week and must fall within the official program dates (Winter: 29 June – 24 July 2026).  Project will be offered on-site, Dutton Park/Translational Research Institute (TRI) |
| Project description | This project focuses on developing next-generation NK cell immunotherapies targeting cancers that remain resistant to current treatments. Students will investigate mechanisms of immune evasion, optimise NK cell activation and persistence, and evaluate engineered NK cell platforms using cutting-edge in vitro and ex vivo models. The project integrates cellular immunology and translational research. Working within the Frazer Institute’s Translational Innate Immunotherapy Group, students will contribute to ongoing efforts to advance NK cell–based therapies toward clinical application. |
| Expected outcomes and deliverables | •             Understanding of NK cell biology and tumour–immune interactions  •             Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, cytotoxicity assays, and immunophenotyping  •             Training in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication |
| Suitable for | Students with a background or strong interest in immunology, cancer biology, cell biology, or biotechnology. Basic laboratory experience is beneficial but not essential. |
| Primary Supervisor | Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes  [f.guimaraes@uq.edu.au](mailto:f.guimaraes@uq.edu.au?subject=UQ%20Winter%20Research%20Program%202026%20-enquiry)  [Guimaraes Group - Translational innate immunotherapy](https://frazer.uq.edu.au/research/guimaraes-group) |
| Instructions to applicants | The supervisor wishes to be contacted by students prior to submitting an application. |