Dr Kevin Ni | UNSW Research

My Expertise

My research encompasses the full translational spectrum of oncology, integrating basic science and clinical studies to drive the discovery of new knowledge for prostate, breast, and bladder cancers. With an extensive portfolio of over 40 publications and an h-index of 28 (totalling 3,100 Google citations), my work has left a substantial impact, driving precision medicine in urological and breast cancer control continuum of early detection, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance. I also have extensive experience in the preparation and review of complex human research ethics applications and in promoting good clinical practice in clinical trials across diverse health disciplines. This is complemented by my executive role on SESLHD HREC where I play a key role in safeguarding ethical compliance and advancing the integrity of research endeavours.

Keywords

translational medical research

Fields of Research (FoR)

Cancer Cell Biology, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Cancer Diagnosis, Biological and Medical Chemistry, Oncology and Carcinogenesis, Protein Targeting and Signal Transduction, Medical and Health Sciences, Cancer Diagnosis

Biography

I am a senior cancer researcher specialising in molecular biomarker discovery, liquid biopsy and extracellular vesicles, transcriptomics, chemo-/radio-resistance, radiation biology, cancer stem cell and imaging in prostate, breast and bladder cancers.

I am currently a Senior Scientific Officer leading the translational uro-oncology research portfolio in Radiation Oncology at St George Hospital and Conjoint Senior Lecturer in School of Clinical...view more

I obtained my BA and MBBS/MD degrees from China in 2011 and completed my PhD at UNSW Sydney in 2016. To date, I have authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications which have attracted more than 3,100 citations with an h-index of 29.

Selected Professional & Editorial Activities

Contracted Scientific Reviewer, Research Directorate, SESLHD (2021~)
Executive Member, Human Research Ethics Committee, SESLHD (2022~)
Foundation Member, EMPCAR Committee, UNSW Medicine & Health (2023~)
Member, ANZUP Cancer Trials Group (2023~)
Member, Work Health & Safety Committee, STGCL UNSW (2016~)
Member, Peer-Review Taskforce, Postgraduate Scholarships, NHMRC (2020~)
Steering Committee Member, Australian Association for Chinese Biomedical Scientists (2011~)
Member, American Association for Cancer Research (2013~)
Member, European Association for Cancer Research (2017~)
Member, European Society of Medical Oncology (2017~)
Associate Editor/Editorial Board Member, Board of Radiation Oncology, Frontiers in Oncology (2020~)
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (2020~)

My Grants

CIA: A novel liquid biopsy assay of blood exosomal microRNA profiles to improve prostate cancer diagnosis. St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation, A$46,000, 2021-2022;

AI: Combining nanoplasmonic profiling with machine learning for non-invasive early detection of ovarian cancer using plasma exosomes, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (GA-2019-13), A$134,026, 2020-2021.

CIC: Validation of extracellular vesicle protein biomarkers in blood for the personalised treatment decision of prostate cancer patients. SSMRF-St George Cancer Care Foundation Award, A$50,000, 2022-2023.

Co-Investigator: Assessing the diagnostic utility of multi-parametric MRI 'diffusion kurtosis imaging' in the evaluation of bladder masses: a multicentre prospective study. SSMRF Early Career Researcher Grant, A$20,000, 2023-2024.

Co-investigator: The MBC Trial - Assessment of the diagnostic utility of multi-parametric MRI Before Cystoscopy in patients presenting with a bladder mass: a multicentre prospective study. ANZUP Trial Group Below the Belt Research Fund, A$50,000, 2023.

CI: Ni J. Integrative multi-omics & machine-learning-based discovery of liquid biopsy biomarkers to improve bladder cancer treatment selection & surveillance intensity. SESLHD RES-ON Funding Program, A$10,000, 2023.

Co-Investigator: Extracellular Vesicle Informed Therapeutics in Prostate Cancer. ANZUP Trial Group Below the Belt Research Fund, A$50,000, 2024.

My Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Philosophy

My Awards

National Scholarship of Excellence, 2008;
Outstanding Graduate, 2011;
Prostate and Breast Cancer Foundation Scholarships, 2012-2015;
Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad Award of China, 2013;
Best oral presentation in Basic Science, 2nd Prize, St George and Sutherland Medical Research Symposium, 2016;
Travel grant award, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2017 Congress, 2017;
Service Excellence Award, AACBS, 2018.

My Research Activities

Dr. Ni is an independent E/MCR with extensive experience in both translational and clinical cancer research. He plays a pivotal role in spearheading and overseeing several major research projects, ensuring their successful design, execution, and performance. His collaborative efforts extend both within and beyond UNSW, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships that drive innovative cancer research forward.

Dr Ni's current research interests are

identification of biomarkers in liquid biopsy (extracellular vesicles) on early detection and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer patients;
identification of novel biomarkers to predict radio-resistance and enable personalised medicine in breast and prostate cancers;
investigation of the mechanisms of cancer progression, metastasis and therapeutic resistance associated with tumour microenvironment and cancer stem cells;
clinicopathologic and biomarker predictors for bladder cancer diagnosis, prognosis and surveillance;
novel imaging (eg mp-MRI) techniques for the diagnosis, staging and risk stratification of urological cancers.

My Research Supervision

Supervision keywords

Areas of supervision

I have supervised multiple Honours and postgraduate students to completion. I am available (upon agreement) to supervise and co-supervise PhD and ILP/Honours students in areas of liquid biopsy, tumour biology, molecular biology, biomarker discovery, radiation oncology, prostate cancer, cancer stem cells and radio-/chemo-resistance. Both lab-based and clinical studies are available in collaboration with clinicians.

Lab Alumni

Dr Xupeng Bai, PhD student, 2017-2021, with Dean's award (co-supervisor)

Dr Bairen Pang, PhD student, 2017-2022 (co-supervisor)

Evan Cheng, ILP student, 2018

Grace Tang, ILP student, 2018

Jingpu Wang, ILP student, 2019

Dylan Tsao Tsing, Honours student, 2019

Nitin Niranjan, ILP student, 2019

Nicholas Lee, Honours student, 2022, 1st class Honours

Raj Madigasekara, Honours student, 2023, 1st class Honours

Kevin Song, Honours student, 2023, 1st class Honours

Khan Linh Dao, Honours student, 2024, 1st class Honours

Currently supervising

PhD students 2x
Hons student 1x

Available & able to supervise

HDRs (PhD and MPhil/MRes)
ILP/Honours for medical and SBMS students

My Engagement

https://twitter.com/UNSWMedicine/status/1713700901171716195

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Australia, bringing the impact of breast cancer to the forefront of national conversation. Meet Dr Kevin Ni, a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at UNSW's School of Clinical Medicine & breast cancer researcher.

https://www.theleader.com.au/story/5759719/scientists-pave-the-way-forward-with-medical-research/

St George Hospital cancer researchers work to advance benefits for patients through early detection

https://www.stgeorgemrf.com.au/2021/03/04/dr-kevin-ni-2020-ssmrf-grant-recipient/

Meet Dr Kevin Ni, a Scientific Officer in Cancer Care Centre at St George Hospital and Conjoint Lecturer in St George and Sutherland Clinical School, UNSW. His project has the potential to diagnose cancer earlier, reduce unnecessary biopsies, allow treatment to be personalised, reduce clinic visits and save medical costs for prostate cancer patients from St George and Sutherland community.

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