Professor Si Ming Man
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Biography
Professor Man is internationally recognised for generating transformative knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of inflammation, which is then applied across different inflammatory diseases with impact across multiple fields. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2013. He obtained his postdoctoral training from 2014 and 2016 at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA. He then returned to Australia in 2017 to establish his independent group, first at the Australian National University (2017-2026), and then now as Chenhall Chair in Cancer Therapeutics at the Queensland University of Technology (2026-Present).
Professor Man's lab focuses on innate immune activation in cancer and infectious diseases. His research program identified the fundamental and molecular mechanisms triggering inflammation that revealed anti-pathogen and anti-cancer capabilities of the innate immune system. His work has been published in Cell, Nature, Nature Immunology, Nature Microbiology and Science Immunology. He was named a Clarivate™ Highly Cited Researcher across multiple years. His research has been recognised by 30 prizes, including the Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal in 2023, and a Prime Minister’s Prize for Science as Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year in 2022.
Awards and recognition:
- Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Shimadzu Research Medal (2025)
- Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2024)
- NHMRC Investigator Grant Level 1 (2024)
- Highly Ranked Scholar, ScholarGPS (2024)
- Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2023)
- Fellow, The Royal Society of NSW (2023)
- Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal (2023)
- UNSW Alumni Award for Research & Teaching Achievements (2023)
- ANU College of Health & Medicine Dean's Commendation for Excellence in Supervision (2023)
- Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, Prime Minister's Prizes for Science (2022)
- Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2022)
- CSL Centenary Fellowship (2021)
- Pathogens Young Investigator Award (2021)
- Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2020)
- Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Peter Doherty Leading Light Award (2020)
- Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Eppendorf Edman Early Career Award (2020)
- The Australian National University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Early Career Academic Excellence (2020)
- Commonwealth Health Minister's Medal for Excellence in Health and Medical Research (2019)
- The Royal Society of NSW Edgeworth David Medal (2019)
- NHMRC Research Excellence Award for the highest-ranked Career Development Fellowship Biomedical Level 1 (2019)
- American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Pfizer-Showell Award (2019)
- Fellow, The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) (2019)
- Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) Jim Pittard Early Career Award (2017)
- American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Thermo Fisher Trainee Achievement Award (2016)
- International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS) Milstein Young Investigator Award (2016)
- NHMRC Research Excellence Award for the highest-ranked Early Career Fellowship (2015)
Research Interests
Our lab investigates the role of inflammation in infectious diseases and cancer. Pattern-recognition receptors are innate immune sensors which detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). These receptors activate signalling pathways and mediate the production of inflammatory cytokines, type I interferons and other anti-microbial molecules. We unveil how cells recognise bacteria, viruses and parasites, and how these sensors shape the overall immune response. We investigate the role of disease-fighting immune proteins in destroying multidrug resistant pathogens or superbugs. We also study the molecular basis by which uncontrolled inflammation can lead to the development of cancer, autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases.We welcome applications from PhD students, research assistants and Postdoctoral Fellows. Fully-funded PhD scholarships are available. E-mail Si Ming (si.ming.man@qut.edu.au) for further information regarding project details and position availability.
Selected Publications
Man, S.M*., Karki, R*., Sasai, M., Place,D.E., Kesavardhana, S., Temirov, J., Frase, S., Zhu, Q., Malireddi, R.K.S., Kuriakose, T., Peters, J.L., Neale, G., Brown, S.A., Yamamoto, M., Kanneganti, T.D. (2016) IRGB10 liberates bacterial ligands for sensing by the AIM2 and caspase-11–NLRP3 inflammasomes. Cell. 167:382–396.*Co-first author.- Featured in Developmental Cell: Previews: Hoss, F. Budden, C. and Latz, E. (2016) IRGB10 exposes bacteria’s intimate secrets. Developmental Cell. 39:7–8.
- Recommended by Faculty of 1000 (F1000).
- Featured in Cell: Previews: Rommereim, L.M., Subramanian, N. (2015) AIMing 2 curtail cancer. Cell. 162:18-20.
- Featured in Science Signaling: Editor’s Choice – Our AIM is 2 prevent cancer (2015) Science Signaling. 8:EC234.
- Featured in Cancer Discovery: Research Watch: AIM2 inhibits intestinal stem cell proliferation in colorectal cancer(2015) Cancer Discovery. 5(8)
- Featured inNature Reviews Immunology: Research Highlights: Leavy, O. (2017) Tumour immunology: NLRC3 inhibits mTOR in colorectal cancer. Nature Reviews Immunology. doi: 10.1038/nri.2016.152.
- Featured in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology: News & Views: Gao, T., Evers, B.M. (2017) A new innate immune sensor – functions from inside the colonic epithelium. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2017.10
- Featured in Science Signaling: Papers of note in Nature: Gough, N.R. (2017) NLRC3 blocks PI3K signaling.Science Signaling. 10(460).
- Featured in Cancer Discovery: Research Watch: The Cytoplasmic Sensor NLRC3 Inhibits mTOR Signaling in Tumors. (2017) Cancer Discovery DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2017-001.
- Featured in Nature Immunology: News & Views: Fitzgerald, K.A. Rathinam, V.A.K. (2015) GBPs take AIM at Francisella. Nature Immunology. 16:443–444.
Mathur, A., Feng, S., Hayward, J.A., Ngo, C., Fox, D., Atmosukarto, I.I.,Price, J.D., Schauer, K., Märtlbauer E., Robertson, A.A.B., Burgio, G., Fox, E.M., Leppla, S.H., Kaakoush, N.O.,Man, S.M‡. (2019) A multi-component toxin from Bacillus cereus incites inflammation and shapes host outcome via the NLRP3 inflammasome. Nature Microbiology. 4:362–374. ‡ Senior author.
- Covered by Channel Nine 6pm News, ABC News, ABC Radio, Herald Sun, and 41 media outlets.
- Altmetric Score: 159 (98th percentile)
- Covered by Cosmos Magazine, The Epoch Times, The West Australian, AAP, and 131 media outlets across print and online.
Fox, D*., Mathur, A*., Xue, Y., Liu, Y., Tan, W.H., Feng, S., Pandey, A., Ngo, C., Hayward, J.A., Atmosukarto, I.I.,Price, J.D., Johnson, M.D., Jessberger, N., Robertson, A.A.B., Burgio, G., Tscharke, D.C., Fox, E.M., Leyton, D.L., Kaakoush, N.O.,Märtlbauer E., Leppla, S.H., Man, S.M‡. (2020) Bacillus cereus non-haemolytic enterotoxin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. Nature Communications. 11:760. *Co-first author. ‡ Senior author.
Li, L., Mao, R., Yuan, S., Xie, Q., Meng, J., Gu, Y., T, S., Xu, X., Gao, C., Liu, H., Ma, C.,Man, S.M.,‡ Meng, X.,‡ Xu, T.,‡ Qi, X.‡ (2024) NCF4 inhibits colorectal cancer by modulating inflammasome activation and immune surveillance. Nature Communications. 15:1570. ‡ Senior author.
Luu, L.,* Pandey, A.,* Paramsothy, S.,* Ngo, C., Castano-Rodriguez, N., Liu, C., Kamm, M., Borody, T., Man, S.M., Kaakoush, N.O.(2024) Profiling the colonic mucosal response to fecal microbiota transplantation identifies a role for GBP5 in colitis in humans and mice. Nature Communications. 15:2645. *Co-first author.
Jing, W., Lo Pilato, J., Kay, C., Feng, S., Enosi Tuipulotu, D., Mathur, A., Shen, C., Ngo, C., Zhao, A., Miosge, L.A., Ali, S.A., Gardiner, E.E., Awad, M.M., Lyras, D., Robertson, A.A.B., Kaakoush, N.O., Man, S.M‡. (2022) Clostridium septicum alpha-toxin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome by engaging GPI-anchored proteins. Science Immunology. 7:eabm1803. ‡ Senior author.
- Altmetric Score: 548 (99th percentile)
- Featured in Cell Host & Microbe: Previews: Clancy, D.M., Martin S.J. (2016) Getting a gRIP on Flu by Casting the DAI. Cell Host & Microbe. 20:552–554.
- Covered by the New York Post, 7 News National, 9 News National, and 170 media outlets.
- Altmetric Score: 818 (99th percentile).
Man, S.M.,Hopkins, L.J., Nugent, E., Cox, S., Gluck, I.M., Tourlomousis, P., Wright, J.A., Cicuta, P., Monie, T.P., Bryant, C.E. (2014)Inflammasome activation causes dual recruitment of NLRC4 and NLRP3 to the same macromolecular complex.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:7403-7408.
Man, S.M*., Ekpenyong, A.E*., Tourlomousis, P., Achouri, S., Cammarota, E., Hughes, K., Rizzo A., Ng, G., Wright, J.A., Cicuta, P., Guck, J., Bryant, C.E. (2014)Actin polymerization as a key innate immune effector mechanism to control Salmonella infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:17588–17593.*Co-first author.
- Featured in Nature Reviews Immunology: Research Highlights: Leavy, O. (2015) Stiffening up defences against Salmonella. Nature Reviews Immunology. 15:4.
- Recommended by Faculty of 1000 (F1000).
- Recommended by Faculty of 1000 (F1000).
Karki, R., Man. S.M., Malireddi, R.K.S., Gurung, P., Vogel, P., Lamkanfi, M., Kanneganti, T.D. (2015) Concerted activation of the AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes orchestrates host protection against Aspergillus infection.Cell Host & Microbe. 17:357-368.
- Featured in Cell Host & Microbe: Previews: Tomalka, J., Hise, A.G. (2015) Inflammasomes in aspergillosis – It takes two to tango. Cell Host & Microbe. 17:290-292.
- Recommended by Faculty of 1000 (F1000).
Mathur, A.,* Kay, C.,* Xue, Y., Pandey, A., Lee, J., Jing, W., Enosi Tuipulotu, D., Lo Pilato, J., Feng, S., Ngo, C., Zhao, A., Shen, C., Rug, M., Miosge, L.A., Atmosukarto, I.I., Price, J.D., Ali, S.A., Gardiner, E.E., Robertson, A.A.B., Awad, M.M., Lyras, D., Kaakoush, N.O.,and Man, S.M. ‡ (2023) Clostridium perfringens virulence factors are nonredundant activators of the NLRP3 inflammasome. EMBO Reports. e54600. *Co-first author. ‡ Senior author.
- Covered by The Canberra Times, West Australia, AAP and 108 media outlets across print and online.
- Featured on the journal cover
Selected Reviews
Man, S.M., Kanneganti, T.-D. (2024) Innate immune sensing of cell death in disease and therapeutics. Nature Cell Biology. 26:1420-1433. https://rdcu.be/dSHtQMan, S.M., Jenkins, B.J. (2022) Context-dependent functions of pattern recognition receptors in cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer.22:397-413.
Man, S.M.,Kanneganti, T.D. (2016) Converging roles of caspases in inflammasome activation, cell death and innate immunity. Nature Reviews Immunology. 16:7-21.
Man, S.M. (2018) Inflammasomes in the gastrointestinal tract: infection, cancer and gut microbiota homeostasis. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 15:721–737.
Man, S.M.(2011) The clinical importance of emerging Campylobacter species. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 8:669-685.
Man, S.M.,Kaakoush, N.O., Mitchell, H.M. (2011) The role of bacteria and pattern-recognition receptors in Crohn’s disease. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 8:152-168.
Kirkby, M., Enosi Tuipulotu, D., Feng, S., Lo Pilato, J., Man, S.M. (2023) Guanylate-binding proteins: mechanisms of pattern-recognition and antimicrobial functions. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 48:883-893.
- Featured article in the October 2023 issue of Trends in Biochemical Sciences.
- Featured article in the November 2021 issue of Trends in Cell Biology.
- Selected for the “Best of 2021” Collection in Trends in Cell Biology (one of 15 articles).
- Featured article in the November 2019 issue of Trends in Immunology.
Kaakoush, N.O., Castaño Rodriguez, N., Man, S.M., Mitchell, H.M. (2015) Is Campylobacter to esophageal adenocarcinoma as Helicobacter is to gastric adenocarcinoma? Trends in Microbiology. 23:455-462.
Mahajan S, Bazley H, Man S.M. (2026) ALPK1 agonists ignite innate immunity in anti-cancer therapy. Trends in Cancer. 12:209-211.
Al-Zidan R., Gautam M., Man S.M. (2026) Mitoxyperilysis: fasting-induced cell death in immunometabolism and disease. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 51:313-315.
Pandey A. Man S.M. (2026) Ku70: Molecular mechanisms in inflammation and cancer pathogenesis. Trends Open. (Accepted). https://www.cell.com/trends-open/fulltext/S3117-3470(26)00006-4
Possible projects available:
- Uncovering how host cells, such as macrophages, recognise and kill human pathogens, including bacteria (such as Salmonella, Clostridium, Listeria, Francisella, Moraxella, and Bacillus) and viruses (Influenza, MCMV, HSV).
- Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of inflammasome formation.
- Understanding the role of innate immune sensors in regulating the development of cancer, such as small intestinal cancer, colorectal (bowel) cancer, and melanoma, and the composition of the gut microbiota.
- Identifying novel activators and inhibitors of the immune system to prevent and treat infection, autoinflammatory diseases and cancer.
Current and past PhD students:
2017-2021: Dr. Anukriti Mathur, PhD thesis title: Microbial activators of the inflammasome- Awarded the Sidney & Joan Pestka Graduate Award from the International Cytokine & Interferon Society, 2019
- Awarded the Australian Society for Microbiology Nancy Millis Award NSW/ACT, 2019
- Awarded the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Fellowship, 2020
- Awarded the Cells PhD Thesis Award, 2021
- Awarded an Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Career Advancement Award (Postgraduate), 2021
- Awarded the Frank Fenner Medal for the most outstanding PhD thesis submitted in The John Curtin School of Medical Research, 2022
- Work published in Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications (x2) and EMBO Reports
- Awarded the Cold Spring Harbor Best Poster Prize, 2019
- Awarded the Australian Society for Microbiology NSW/ACT Branch Student Travel Award, 2022
- Work published in Nature Communications (x2), The EMBO Journal, Trends in Biochemical Sciences
- Awarded a Royal Society of NSW Bicentennial Early Career Research and Service, 2023
- Awarded the Dewar-Milne Prize in Immunology for the most outstanding PhD thesis in the field of Immunology submitted in JCSMR, 2023
- Awarded the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Fellowship, 2024
- Work published in Science Advances (x2), Trends in Cell Biology, and Nature Communications (x3)
- Work published in Nature Immunology, Trends in Cell Biology, Cell Research, and Yale Journal of Biology & Medicine
- Awarded the Dewar-Milne Prize in Immunology for the most outstanding PhD thesis in the field of Immunology submitted in JCSMR, 2024
- Awarded the Royal Society of NSW Scholarship, 2022
- Awarded an Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Career Advancement Award (Postgraduate), 2026
2023-2026:PhD thesis title: Guanylate-binding proteins as cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors
2023-2026:PhD thesis title: Bacterial activators of inflammasomes
2024-2027:PhD thesis title: Novel components of inflammasomes
2024-2027:PhD thesis title: Guanylate-binding proteins in tumour immunology
Past theses of Honours students:
- 2018: Molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation by enterotoxins of the foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus, Awarded First Class Honours
- 2018-2019: Transmembrane regions of the pore-forming toxin Haemolysin BL are required for inflammasome activation but not membrane binding, Awarded First Class Honours and the University Medal
- 2019: Clostridium perfringens is a novel activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome, Awarded First Class Honours and the University Medal
- 2020-2021: The molecular mechanism of alpha-toxin-induced inflammasome activation in response to Clostridium septicum infection, Awarded First Class Honours and the University Medal
- 2021: DNA sensing in Listeria infection, Awarded First Class Honours. Awarded an ANU PhD Scholarship.
- 2022: Guanylate-binding proteins as antimicrobial peptides, Awarded First Class Honours. Awarded a 2023 Rhodes Scholarship to The University of Oxford.
Past thesis of Masters students:
- 2023: Guanylate-binding proteins in tumorigenesis. Awarded First Class Honours
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Personal details
Positions
- Chenhall Chair in Cancer Therapeutics
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Qualifications
- PhD (University of Cambridge)
Publications
QUT ePrints
To find publications by Si Ming, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
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