Qi Cao

Associate Professor

MD/ PhD

qi.cao@wimr.org.au

Centre for Transplant and Renal Research

Renal Inflammation and immunology Group

Currently open to PHD and Honours students in the topic areas of:

Developing novel therapeutic approaches by using innate lymphoid cells in chronic kidney disease

Qi Cao

Biography

Dr Qi Cao received his PhD in 2016 through the University of Sydney in Professor David Harris’ Renal Failure Laboratory in Westmead Institute for Medical Research. In 2019, he was appointed as Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow by the University of Sydney to lead the lab of the Renal Inflammation & Immunology within WIMR. Dr Cao has longstanding research interests and extensive expertise in renal disease and immunotherapy, with a particular focus on the role of regulatory immune cells and their therapeutic potential in kidney disease. His research is highly regarded and well-funded with NHMRC project grants and industry supported projects.

Research interests

Chronic kidney disease, Acute kidney injury, Macrophage and Dendritic cell therapy, Innate lymphoid cell biology, Diabetes and islet transplantation

Current grants

NHMRC 2022-2026 Developing novel therapeutic approaches by using innate lymphoid cells in chronic kidney disease
NHMRC 2022-2025 Exploring the therapeutic potential of genetically engineering macrophages with a Chimeric Signaling Switch Receptor in kidney diseases

Affiliations

Australian and New Zealand Society for Nephrology (ANZSN), The Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology (APSN), International Society of Nephrology (ISN), Australian Chinese Association for Biomedical Sciences (ACABS), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Grant Review Committee

Professional Associations and Organisations

2019 The University of Sydney A/Professor
2018 National Health and Medical Research Council Grant Review Committee member
2020 Australian Chinese Association for Biomedical Sciences Committee member

Awards and recognition

2021 International Society of Nephrology Early Career Researcher Award
2020 Westmead Institute for Medical Research Science Award
2019 Westmead Institute for Medical Research Science Award
2016 Westmead Institute for Medical Research Science Award
2016 ANZSN Travel Grant
2015 Westmead Institute for Medical Research Science Award
2015 ANZSN Travel Grant
2015 Westmead Association Research Travel Grant
2014 ANZSN Travel Grant
2013 Westmead Association Research Travel Grant
2012 Kidney Health Australia Postgraduate Scholarship
2011 Westmead Millennium Institute Science Award
2010 Finalist of Young Investigator Award of The 46th ANZSN Congress
2007 Outstanding graduates of Shanghai Jiaotong University