Rodrigo Carlessi

Research Fellow | Liver Disease and Regeneration Group
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI)

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@davidasinclair @grok debunk spermidine stabilizes the epigenome

[Bench Side Story @BenchSideStory]

LIVER CANCER BIOMARKERS, RISK PREDICTION & PROGRESSION
With
Dr Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi, Senior Research Fellow & Lead of Cancer Genomics Group, Curtin Medical Research Institute @CurtinMRI, Curtin University @CurtinUni, Perth, Western Australia

RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Perth, Australia | August 2025

Dr. Rodrigo Carlessi is an expert in Cancer Genomics and Molecular Biology, with an extensive track record in liver cancer research. He leads the Cancer Genomics Group within the Liver Disease and Regeneration Laboratory at the Curtin Medical Research Institute. He has an impressive publication record, with 43 manuscripts that have collectively garnered over 2,680 citations. His research leverages cutting-edge genomics and transcriptomics technologies, as well as long-read DNA sequencing, to explore mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and develop therapeutic targets in liver disease and cancer.

Dr Carlessi graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) @ufrgsnoticias , Brazil, with a BSc. in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2007, then joined the Weizmann Institute of Science @weizmannscience, Israel, where he obtained a MSc. from the Department of Molecular Genetics in 2011. He further obtained a PhD in Molecular Endocrinology from UFRGS in 2016, prior to joining Curtin University in Western Australia as a postdoc in 2016. He undertook postdoctoral training in pancreatic beta cell biology and received awards from the Australian Diabetes Society and the Heart Foundation. In 2019 he was recruited to start and lead the Cancer Genomics group in the Liver Disease & Regeneration Laboratory. With nine years of postdoctoral experience, Dr Carlessi has held a prestigious Cancer Council of Western Australia Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from 2021 to 2024.

His recent work led to a groundbreaking discovery in liver cancer risk prediction, earning him national and international recognition, following publications in top tier journals including Cell Genomics, Science Advances and Nature between 2023-2025. This achievement has been highlighted by invitations to present at prominent events, including Oz Single Cell, the Australian Liver Cancer Experts Gallipoli Meeting, WYMM Melbourne 2025, the First International Conference of Liver Pathobiology: From Bench to Bedside in Crete (2023), and the Thomas Ashworth Symposium 2025. His work has also catalysed collaborations with prestigious global institutions, such as The University of Edinburgh, the University of California San Diego, Monash University, and the University of New South Wales.

Currently, Dr. Carlessi focuses on discovering novel biomarkers and developing innovative approaches to assess risk and monitor disease progression in liver cancer patients. Additionally, he is pioneering RNA therapy technologies to target oncogenic pathways, paving the way for the next generation of liver cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Source: Supplied

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[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@BenchSideStory @CurtinMRI @CurtinUni Big thanks to @BenchSideStory for their fantastic work showcasing researchers. Grateful for the opportunity to share my story.

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@bluesocks81 Beyond well-deserved, congratulations Matt!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@LJoJn146 @mavisclare @erturklab @cellhostmicrobe The experiments in fig 7 don't have a control vaccinated group that did not also receive covid infection.

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@mavisclare @LJoJn146 @erturklab @cellhostmicrobe Any reason for omitting a vaxxed only mice group from that same experiment?

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@erturklab Are you serious? Where is the vaccine only group? The Pfizer vaccine expresses the full length spike protein. It could conceivably lead to similar toxicity. Absence of this experimental group is not acceptable, and shouldn't have passed peer review.

[Organoid News @organoidscience]

A review that is not to be missed! ✨

Dr. @BenjaminDwyer4 and @NinaTParker discuss state-of-the-art patient-derived liver #organoid models, recent technological advancements, and strategies to enhance their clinical impact. @CurtinUni

@Trends_Endo_Met | https://t.co/gfdRFDsm6W

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

Cancer Council WA's Daffodil Day is on Thursday 22 August! You can support ground-breaking cancer research projects like my own and help us unlock the answers to a cancer free future…Donate at https://t.co/AkAyjVQHNC @CancerCouncilWA

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@bluesocks81 Oh man, how good was the food!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@bluesocks81 Another sauce maniac in the making!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@derekamann1 Strength for a speedy recovery Derek 💪

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@BenjaminDwyer4 @SaraPasic96 @SaguaroBio Beautiful staining, looking forward to hearing about it on Monday!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@bluesocks81 @Endymiomatic Lucky Kieren to have a legend as his mentor!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

Looking forward to presenting our work at the Perth Nanopore Day today! #WYMM #LiverCancerCollaborative @NinaTParker @BenjaminDwyer4 @Anjali_Ghimire

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@nadia_davidson Thank you Nadia, yes that makes sense. I will send you an email with access to some data. It would be an interesting use case, as quite a bit of data is often lost in these barcoded runs due to unassignment.

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@NinaTParker @CHIRI_curtin @CurtinUni Time for greatness!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@BenjaminDwyer4 @SaraPasic96 @GayatriShirolk1 Exciting guys, can't wait to see the results!

[Rodrigo Carlessi @rodcarlessi]

@derekamann1 @NinaTParker @FibroFind Thanks Derek, it was great meeting you!