People_
Dr Thomas Tu
Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Westmead Institute for Medical Research(WIMR)
Faculty of Medicine and Health(FMH)
Westmead Institute for Medical Research(WIMR)
Faculty of Medicine and Health(FMH)
Phone
0286273912
Email
A/Prof Thomas Tu’s research is focused on the Hepatitis B virus - an incurable disease that infects 300 million people, killing 887,000 annually through liver cancer and cirrhosis. He is particularly passionate about understanding the virus as he himself lives with chronic Hepatitis B.
show more
Molecular mechanisms of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection persistence and HBV DNA integration.
Host-virus evolution in chronic HBV infection and liver disease progression.
Pre-cancerous changes in liver cancer to develop novel diagnostics and prognostics.
The broader impacts of chronic hepatitis B from the perspective of the affected community
A/Prof Tu’s group pursues two major themes: understanding how chronic Hepatitis B causes cancer and defining exactly how the virus persists in the liver to drive liver disease.
Hepatitis B infection is the major cause of liver cancer worldwide. Liver cancers only become detectable decades after the initial infection. Our group aims to characterise what occurs during this long pre-cancerous phase to detect risk-factors before cancer forms, and so reduce mortality rates using early interventions.
Cancer risk can be lessened (but not eliminated) with current antiviral therapies. We have developed novel assays to sensitively detect the drug-resistant forms of the virus. We are now designing therapeutic approaches to disrupt these forms, cure an infection, and eliminate the risk of cancer progression.
- President of Australian Centre for Hepatitis Virology (ACHV)
- Founder and Director of HepBcommunity (HepBcommunity.org), an online support network for people living with HBV to connect with each another and with medical/scientific experts in the field (2020-Present)
- Member of the Board of Directors for Hepatitis Australia (2020-Present)
- Committee member of International Coalition to Eliminate HBV (ICE-HBV) Stakeholder Consulting Group (2020-Present)
- Member of the Western Sydney Local Health District Institutional Biosafety Committee (2020-Present)
- Consumer advocate for the Observational, Population-based Registry in Australia of Cancer of the Liver Epidemiology and Survival (HCC ORACLES) study, a national liver cancer screening program (2021-Present)
- Invited Advisory Committee member for Gilead Science’s Virtual Medical Affairs Advisory Program (2020-Present)
- Member of Westmead Institute of Medical Research Early and Mid-Career Researcher committee
- Member of Westmead Institute of Medical Research Operations committee
- Member of Westmead Institute of Medical Research Cell Culture Users committee
- Member of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)
- Member of Marie Bashir Institute
- Member of Hepatitis NSW
- Member of Australasian Virology Society (AVS)
- Member of Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV Virology (ACH2)
- Member of German Association for the Study of the Liver (GASL)
- Member of The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
- Member of Sydney Triple I Clinical Academic Group
- Member of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- Member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)
- 2022 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Awardee
- CIB– ACH2 Project Grant “Development of a diagnostic assay to measure hepatitis B virus cccDNA” 2021, AUD $88,000
- CIB– NHMRC Ideas Grant “Inhibiting host TM6SF2 to cure Hepatitis B” (Grant: GNT2002565) 2021-2023, AUD $684,841
- CIA– ACH2 Project Grant “‘Quantifying integrated and episomal HBV DNA in fine needle aspirate liver biopsies’” 2019, AUD $130,500
- CIB– ACH2 Project Grant “Transcription of integrated HBV DNA as a marker of chronic HBV treatment outcome” 2018, AUD $88,000
- Named investigator– 2016 DZIF grant TTU05.704 “Sequencing integrated Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in in vitro infection models”, €49,000
- CIA– ACH2 Project Grant “Developing a humanised mouse model for testing HBV cccDNA-targeting therapies” 2015-2016, AUD $170,000 over 1.5 years
- CIA– Sydney Medical School, Early Career Researcher Ph.D. Supervisor Award 2015-2018, AUD $92,547 over 3 years (Granted, but declined due to Ph.D. applicant postponing her studies)
- CIA– 2014 Young Centenary Foundation Postdoctoral Grant, AUD $5,000
- Best Poster at German Centre for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF) Annual Meeting 2018
- Yvonne Cossart HBV Travel Award, 2018 and 2015 Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Workshop
- Young Investigator Travel Grant Award, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2013 International Meeting for Molecular Biology of HBV
- Centenary Institute 2015 Prize for Team Excellence (CI Gender Equity Program)
- Sydney Catalyst travel award for Sydney Cancer Conference 2014
- Centenary Institute 2014 Prize for Team Excellence (CI Social Committee)
- Centenary Institute 2014 International Conference Travel Award
- Senior author on top-scoring abstract, 2014 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference
- Invited Guest Speaker Honorarium from 14th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease 2012
- Integrated Science Young Achievement award at Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Workshop 2011
- 2009, 2010 and 2011 University of Adelaide School Postgraduate Student Travel Award
- Student Travel Grant Award, 2009 and 2010 International Meeting for Molecular Biology of HBV
Cancer, Infection and Immunological Conditions
(Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology) Academic collaboration with Dr. Pietro Scaturro, an expert in advanced mass-spectrometry detecting protein-protein interactions in virus-infected cells. | |
(Technical University of Munich) Ongoing academic collaboration with Prof. Ulrike Protzer, world-leading expert in Hepatitis B virus molecular biology. | |
(University Clinic Heidelberg) Ongoing academic collaborations with: Stephan Urban - Leader in Hepatitis B virus cell culture systems and inventor of Myrcludex B/Bulvertide/Hepcludex, a first-in-class clinical drug (inhibitor of HBV and HDV entry). Ralf Bartenschlager - Lasker-award winning virologist, specialising in Hepatitis C and Dengue viruses. |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Targeting and Monitoring Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: The Path Towards a Chronic Hepatitis B Cure | Harout AJOYAN |
| Development of Diagnostic Assays to Measure Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular (ccc)DNA | Delgerbat BOLDBAATAR |
| Understanding the persistence of Hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA | Henrik ZHANG |
Publications
Expand all
Book Chapters
- Tu, T., Jilbert, A. (2017). Detection of hepatocyte clones containing integrated hepatitis B virus DNA using inverse nested PCR. In Haitao Guo and Andrea Cuconati (Eds.), Methods and Protocols: Methods and Protocols, (pp. 97-118). New York: Springer. [More Information]
Journals
- Choi, Y., Iturriaga, M., Nekouei, O., Tu, T., Van Brussel, K., Barrs, V., Beatty, J. (2024). Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus and Pathogenic Retroviruses; A Sero-Molecular Survey of Cats in Santiago, Chile. Viruses, 16(1). [More Information]
- Hbv, U., Allweiss, L., Cohen, C., Dias, J., Fumagalli, V., Guo, H., Harris, J., Hu, J., Iannacone, M., Isogawa, M., Tu, T., et al (2024). Highlights from the 2023 International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B virus. Journal of General Virology, 105(5). [More Information]
- Tu, T., Eslam, M., Berg, T., Chan, H., George, J., Douglas, M., Ajoyan, H., Nur Umami, R., Veeraraghavan, V., Boldbaatar, D., et al (2024). Inhibition of Cellular Factor TM6SF2 Suppresses Secretion Pathways of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D Viruses. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 230(4), 970-981. [More Information]
show 37 more
Expand all
2024
- Choi, Y., Iturriaga, M., Nekouei, O., Tu, T., Van Brussel, K., Barrs, V., Beatty, J. (2024). Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus and Pathogenic Retroviruses; A Sero-Molecular Survey of Cats in Santiago, Chile. Viruses, 16(1). [More Information]
- Hbv, U., Allweiss, L., Cohen, C., Dias, J., Fumagalli, V., Guo, H., Harris, J., Hu, J., Iannacone, M., Isogawa, M., Tu, T., et al (2024). Highlights from the 2023 International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B virus. Journal of General Virology, 105(5). [More Information]
- Tu, T., Eslam, M., Berg, T., Chan, H., George, J., Douglas, M., Ajoyan, H., Nur Umami, R., Veeraraghavan, V., Boldbaatar, D., et al (2024). Inhibition of Cellular Factor TM6SF2 Suppresses Secretion Pathways of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D Viruses. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 230(4), 970-981. [More Information]
show 3 more
2023
- Capozza, P., Carrai, M., Choi, Y., Tu, T., Nekouei, O., Lanave, G., Martella, V., Beatty, J., Barrs, V. (2023). Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus: Molecular Epidemiology and Phylogeny in Cats in Hong Kong. Viruses, 15(1). [More Information]
- Howell, J., Feld, J., Gane, E., Lacombe, K., Lesi, O., Mohamed, R., Silva, M., Tu, T., Revill, P., Hellard, M., et al (2023). Pathway to global elimination of hepatitis B: HBV cure is just the first step. Hepatology, 78(3), 976-990. [More Information]
- Speck, P., Mackenzie, J., Bull, R., Slobedman, B., Abendroth, A., Harman, A., Tu, T., Ashley, C., Petrone, M., Samer, C., Cunningham, A., Mahar, J., Newsome, T., Nasr, N., et al (2023). Statement in Support of: "Virology under the Microscope - a Call for Rational Discourse". mSphere, 8(3). [More Information]
show 3 more
2022
- Zhang, H., Tu, T. (2022). Approaches to quantifying hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA. Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, 28(2), 135-149. [More Information]
- Biswas, S., Rust, L., Wettengel, J., Yusova, S., Fischer, M., Carson, J., Johnson, J., Wei, L., Thode, T., Kaadige, M., Tu, T., et al (2022). Long-term hepatitis B virus infection of rhesus macaques requires suppression of host immunity. Nature Communications, 13(1), 2995. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Zehnder, B., Wettengel, J., Zhang, H., Coulter, S., Ho, V., Douglas, M., Protzer, U., George, J., Urban, S. (2022). Mitosis of hepatitis B virus-infected cells in vitro results in uninfected daughter cells. JHEP Reports, 4(9). [More Information]
show 5 more
2021
- Zhang, H., Tu, T. (2021). A River From the Liver: Detecting Hepatocyte Genomic DNA in Urine. Hepatology Communications, 5(10), 1629-1631. [More Information]
- Zehnder, B., Urban, S., Tu, T. (2021). A Sensitive and Specific PCR-based Assay to Quantify Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular (ccc) DNA while Preserving Cellular DNA. Bio-protocol, 11(8), e3986. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Zehnder, B., Qu, B., Urban, S. (2021). De novo synthesis of hepatitis B virus nucleocapsids is dispensable for the maintenance and transcriptional regulation of cccDNA. JHEP Reports, 3(1), 100195-1-100195-10. [More Information]
show 3 more
2020
- Tu, T., Zehnder, B., Qu, B., Ni, Y., Main, N., Allweiss, L., Dandri, M., Shackel, N., George, J., Urban, S. (2020). A novel method to precisely quantify hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA formation and maintenance. Antiviral Research, 181, 104865. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Douglas, M. (2020). Hepatitis B Virus Infection: From Diagnostics to Treatments. Viruses, 12(12), 1366. [More Information]
- Revill, P., Tu, T., Netter, H., Yuen, L., Locarnini, S., Littlejohn, M. (2020). The evolution and clinical impact of hepatitis B virus genome diversity. Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 17(10), 618-634. [More Information]
show 1 more
2019
- D'Avigdor, W., Budzinska, M., Lee, M., Lam, R., Kench, J., Stapelberg, M., McLennan, S., Farrell, G., George, J., McCaughan, G., Shackel, N., et al (2019). Virus Genotype-Dependent Transcriptional Alterations in Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation Pathways in the Hepatitis C Virus-infected Liver. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-12. [More Information]
2017
- Tu, T., Jilbert, A. (2017). Detection of hepatocyte clones containing integrated hepatitis B virus DNA using inverse nested PCR. In Haitao Guo and Andrea Cuconati (Eds.), Methods and Protocols: Methods and Protocols, (pp. 97-118). New York: Springer. [More Information]
2016
- Budzinska, M., Tu, T., D'Avigdor, W., McCaughan, G., Luciani, F., Shackel, N. (2016). Accumulation of deleterious passenger mutations is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. PloS One, 11(9), 1-16. [More Information]
2015
- Rahman, W., Tu, T., Budzinska, M., Huang, P., Belov, L., Chrisp, J., Christopherson, R., Warner, F., Bowden, D., Thomspon, A., Bowen, D., Strasser, S., Sharland, A., Yang, J., McCaughan, G., Shackel, N., et al (2015). Analysis of Post-Liver Transplant Hepatitis C Virus Recurrence Using Serial Cluster of differentiation Antibody Microarrays. Transplantation, 99(9), e120-e126. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Mason, W., Clouston, A., Shackel, N., McCaughan, G., Yeh, M., Schiff, E., Ruszkiewicz, A., Chen, J., Harley, H., et al (2015). Clonal expansion of hepatocytes with a selective advantage occurs during all stages of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 22(9), 737-753. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Budzinska, M., Shackel, N., Jilbert, A. (2015). Conceptual Models for the Initiation of Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver International, 35(7), 1786-1800. [More Information]
show 1 more
2014
- Cheng, R., Tu, T., Shackel, N., McCaughan, G. (2014). Advances in and the future of treatments for hepatitis C. Expert Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 8(6), 633-647. [More Information]
- Calabro, S., Maczurek, A., Morgan, A., Tu, T., Wen, V., Yee, C., Mridha, A., Lee, M., D'Avigdor, W., Locarnini, S., McCaughan, G., Warner, F., McLennan, S., Shackel, N. (2014). Hepatocyte Produced Matrix Metalloproteinases Are Regulated by CD147 in Liver Fibrogenesis. PloS One, 9(7), 1-15. [More Information]
- Tu, T., Budzinska, M., Maczurek, A., Cheng, R., Di Bartolomeo, A., Warner, F., McCaughan, G., McLennan, S., Shackel, N. (2014). Novel aspects of the liver microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 15(6), 9422-9458. [More Information]
2013
- Tu, T., Shackel, N., McCaughan, G. (2013). "Testing your methyl": DNA methylation profiling of serum DNA of HCC patients. Hepatology International, 7(3), 785-787. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2024
- Novel curative therapies targeting cells that maintain HBVcovalently closed circular DNA, Tu T, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal)/Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV Virology Research
2022
- Investigating Treatment Engagement and Monitoring in Hep B-affected communities (ITEM-B study), Tu T, Gilead Sciences Ptd Ltd/Research Support
- Building active surveillance systems to track hepatitis C virusepidemiology and antiviral resistance, Douglas M, Kok J, Eden J, Tu T, Cunningham A, George J, Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2)/Research Support
show more
In the media
- Writer and Presenter of “What do we mean by Hepatitis B cure?”, an episode of HBV Cure FAQs, a community tool empowering the community by equipping them with the knowledge needed to understand research for a Hepatitis FAQs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-AkX9PJzgY
- Interviewed by Channel 7 News and Bendigo Advertiser about childhood hepatitis of unknown aetiology (Apr 2022) – https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/a-deadly-hepatitis-outbreak-is-spreading-across-the-world-heres-what-we-know-c-6608861?fbclid=IwAR0XGYZXm_-DoxNCaRwjYvx5tcVHkSA-PqyyzzSQPz-hsIEdofecuZbXjhYandhttps://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7774974/rise-in-mysterious-childhood-illness-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/and https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7774974/rise-in-mysterious-childhood-illness-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/
- Interview subject for Career Evolution: STEM initiative, run by Western Sydney Business Connection for school students in South West Sydney to encourage careers in STEM
- Interview subject of 2 articles in Nature (Mar 2022) - https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00812-1; https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00816-x
- Invited interviewee for LiverWELL podcast (Dec 2021) -https://liverwell.org.au/podcast-an-interview-with-thomas-tu/
- Invited panel member for Meet the Researcher webinar on Personalised Medicine, WIMR (Nov 2021)
- Central subject for “Routine vaccines, Extraordinary impact: Hepatitis B” article series by Gavi, the vaccine alliance (Nov 2021) - https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/routine-vaccines/extraordinary-impact-hepatitis-b
- Invited interviewee for GAVI, the vaccine alliance (Nov 2021) -https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/whenever-i-get-pain-my-side-it-always-accompanied-anxiety-how-it-feels-live-chronic
- Invited interviewee for ShootStar HBV awareness campaign run by Hepatitis NSW (Sep 2021) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6cZ3MKdT1g
- Interview for Hope 103.2 Radio Program on HepBcommunity.org (Aug 2021) -https://hope1032.com.au/stories/culture/podcasts/2021/dr-thomas-tu-the-scientist-who-found-hope-by-researching-his-own-disease/
- Invited interviewee for The Limbic (Sep 2021) -https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/podcast-gesa-21-conference-wrap-with-dr-thomas-tu-and/id1550546090?i=1000536069732
- Organiser, host, and panel member of public event Viral Hepatitis: improving lives with medical research - a panel discussion (Jul 2021) - https://youtu.be/rVEnz4PtrEY
- Interview for B Heppy on hepBcommunity.org, Hepatitis B Foundation podcast (Jul 2021) -https://bheppy.buzzsprout.com/1729790/8875834 andhttps://bheppy.buzzsprout.com/1729790/8912845
- Interviewee for The Medical Republic (23th April 2021) - https://medicalrepublic.com.au/new-online-community-for-hep-b-patients/44153
- Interviewee for HepVoices (14th April 2021) -https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/sites/default/files/resources/documents/hepvoice_marchapril.pdf
- Lead Story in The Pulse (April 2021) -https://thepulse.org.au/2021/04/13/westmead-hepatitis-b-researcher-launches-world-first-support-forum/
- Interviewee for Eavesdrop on Experts University of Melbourne Podcast (November 2019) - https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/podcasts/exposing-the-hepatitis-b-virus
- Blog post for Hepatitis Australia (October 28th 2019) - https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/blog/thomas-story
- Central subject of ABC Health News website story on HBV research (October 2nd 2019) - https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2019-10-02/hepatitis-b-diagnosis-inspires-science-career/11566428?fbclid=IwAR0oZBiSBFVQ6GX2y56NqEl4EWabp2Aw7KUZ2sjejdTZh_cAfY6oyeKoEUU
- Central subject of Doherty Institute News website story on HBV research (October 2nd 2019) - https://www.doherty.edu.au/news-events/news/dr-thomas-tus-speech-from-the-international-hbv-meeting-2019
- Central subject of SBS News story on HBV research (October 1st 2019) - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1604591171599/sbs-world-news-1-october
- Central subject of SBS News website story on HBV research (October 1st 2019) - https://www.sbs.com.au/news/hepatitis-b-cure-will-be-found-within-10-years-pledge-international-scientists-in-australia
- Central subject of Drive (ABC Melbourne Radio program) Interview on HBV research (October 1st 2019) - https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/drive/drive/11540940
- Sydney Catalyst December newsletter Member in Focus (2013)
- Subject of Featured Article in The Australian national newspaper (May 31st 2013)
- Invited Interviewee for Triple J’s Hack radio program on cuts to NHMRC funding (2011)
- Published 5 articles for “Can you believe it?” column in The Advertiser (2009-2011)
- Science Editor for Adelaide University Student newspaper On Dit (2006)
- Contributing author of regular column in On Dit “Disease of the week” (2006)