Paulo Martins
Dr | Research Officer
+61 7 3845 3056paulo.martins@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Martins studied Biochemistry and Biotechnology and worked in the field of cell therapies in the biotechnology industry. His work contributed to the validation of a stem cell therapy product, and pre-clinical work using these cells. He later continued his studies and obtained his doctorate degree from the University of Queensland. His PhD work laid the groundwork for the development of novel antibody-based immunotherapeutics for viral infections following transplantation. Dr Martins is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) where he continues to develop novel immunotherapies for the treatment of virus-related cancers.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
Since 2018: Research Officer, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
Since 2020: ITAS TT tutor, Oodgeroo Unit, Queensland University of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2017 – 2018: Research Assistant and Research Officer, Bone Marrow Transplantation Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2014 – 2017: PhD scholar, Bone Marrow Transplantation Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2006 – 2014: Research Scientist and Laboratory Manager, ECBio S.A., The Medinfar Group, Portugal
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
PUBLICATIONS
To view Google Scholar list of publications, click here
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Dr Martins’s main research interest is cellular immunotherapy. His primary focus is to translate research towards the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of virus-associated cancers.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
2020: Co-authored a study demonstrating that cytomegalovirus – specific adoptive cell therapy can be safely used as an adjuvant therapy, and may improve the overall survival of glioblastoma patients (PMID: 32750039)
2019: Identified that strain-specific serotherapy prevents cytomegalovirus reactivation after transplantation (PMID: 30655443).
2016: Patented an optimised and defined method for isolation and preservation of precursor cells from human umbilical cord (WO2009044379A2)
2014: Adapted a method to isolate, expand and cryopreserve a well-characterized population of human umbilical cord tissue-derived MSCs (PMID: 24438697)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Australasian Society of Immunology (ASI)
- International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT)
- Portuguese Society for Immunology (SPI)
AWARDS RECOGNITION
2019: UNSW Eureka prize for Scientific Research, Australian Museum
2019: Prize for Cancer Research Excellence, Australian Cancer Research Foundation
2016: Young Investigator Award, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
2013: International Postgraduate scholarship, QIMR Berghofer
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2018: Doctorate (PhD) in Transplantation Immunology and Virology, QIMR Berghofer, University of Queensland
2012: Master (MSc) in Biotechnology, University of Lisbon, Portugal
2005: Licentiate in Biochemistry, University of Lisbon, Portugal