We are pleased to welcome Dr Francois Rwandamuriye to NCARD (National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases) as a Research Associate. His expertise in cancer immunotherapy and drug delivery will strengthen NCARD’s research efforts, particularly in the development of innovative treatments for asbestos-related diseases.

Dr Rwandamuriye moved to Perth in 2013 to complete a Masters of Infectious Diseases at the University of Western Australia (UWA). He then worked as a research assistant at Murdoch University’s Institute of Immunology and Infectious diseases, contributing to research on immune-related drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Inspired by how carefully conducted research can impact real life, Dr Rwandamuriye pursued a PhD at UWA and The Kids Research Institute Australia (The Kids), under the supervision of Prof Joost Lesterhuis, where he focused on developing a surgically optimised hydrogel for intraoperative immunotherapy. His work was published in a high-impact journal and supported a Phase 1 veterinary clinical trial in canine patients with soft tissue sarcoma – a critical step towards human clinical trials.

After completing his PhD in 2023, Dr Rwandamuriye joined The Kids as a Senior Research Officer, working on new treatment strategies for young people with sarcoma. As a member of the Sarcoma Translational Research team, he contributed to tumour immunology research and biomaterial-based immunotherapy delivery. He has been awarded competitive funding, including the 2024 Raine Research prize and a Cancer Council WA project grant.

At NCARD, Dr. Rwandamuriye will focus on developing mRNA-based cancer vaccines for mesothelioma and other lung cancers, as part of an Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer (ACRTC) seed project. His experience in preclinical models, RNA therapeutics, and drug delivery will contribute to advancing mRNA-based therapies in WA.

“I am very excited to join the NCARD team and contribute to the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines for patients with mesothelioma and lung cancers. This research leverages emerging RNA technologies and has the potential to improve treatment options for patients.”

Francois Rwandamuriye, NCARD

Dr Rwandamuriye’s appointment strengthens NCARD’s capacity to drive innovative research in cancer immunotherapy. Please join us in welcoming him to our team.