Dr Fatwa Adikusuma
Externally-Funded Research Fellow (B)
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr. Fatwa Adikusuma is the Group Leader of the Gene Editing Technology and Therapeutics Laboratory at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), supported by an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Level 2 Investigator Grant.
Dr. Adikusuma completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide under the supervision of Prof. Paul Thomas and is currently an ARC DECRA Fellow (2023–2025). He was previously a CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Fellow (2018–2021). His research focuses on developing CRISPR gene editing techniques and strategies to enhance gene editing efficiency and precision. He is also dedicated to translating CRISPR technologies into therapeutic applications for genetic diseases, including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Retinitis Pigmentosa, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and Cystic Fibrosis.
Beyond academia, Dr. Adikusuma is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Gene Editing Therapeutics Pty Ltd (GETx), a biotech startup spun out from the University of Adelaide, with a mission to bring CRISPR-based gene therapies to patients in need.
He has received numerous accolades, including the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Award from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide (2022), and the ECR Award from SAHMRI (twice in 2018 and 2022). He was also a finalist for the University of Adelaide ECR Award, recognizing his contributions to the field of gene editing and therapeutic innovation.
My research program is focused on developing CRISPR genome editing technology particularly for its use in mammalian cells and in mice. I explore CRISPR strategies that promote predictable and efficient DNA editing outcomes. For example, I invented the strategies to eliminate an entire chromosome using CRISPR genome editing (Adikusuma et al Molecular Therapy 2017). I also discovered an easy way to generate precise gene-edited mouse embryos using the Nuclease Prime Editor. My research also studies how we can efficiently and effectively create genomic mutations using CRISPR technology and develop the CRISPR tools (constructs) to achieve the goal. Additionally, I study the repair outcomes (mutations) generated after DNA breaks induced by CRISPR endonuclease. For example, we found that CRISPR-Cas9 cleavage often induces large deletions (Adikusuma et al Nature 2018). The main goal of my research is to create knowledge and technology on genome editing that is widely used for vast applications such as basic research and therapeutics. My research projects also focus on developing highly effective CRISPR therapy for genetic diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Cystic Fibrosis. We use mammalian cells and animal preclinical models to test our CRISPR techniques in order to find the perfect formula that can effectively cure genetic diseases. Ultimately, the research is expected to develop CRISPR therapies for use in humans to provide treatments for patients.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2018 - ongoing Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2017 - 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide, Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2024 Research Award Faculty Early Grant Award University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Science Australia $25,000 2023 Award ARC DECRA 2023 (Discovery Early Career Research Award) Australian Research Council (ARC) Australia - 2022 Award SAHMRI 2022 Early Career Researcher Award South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Australia - 2022 Award 2022 Faculty Emerging Leader Development Award University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Australia - 2022 Award Early Career Researcher Executive Dean Award (2022) Faculty of Health and Medical Science Australia - 2021 Award Faculty Emerging Leader Development Award Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide Australia - 2018 Award Early Career Researcher Award SAHMRI Australia - 2018 Fellowship CSIRO SynBio Fellowship CSIRO, University of Adelaide and SAHMRI Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia PhD (awarded in Jan 2018) -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2025 Arthurs, A. L., Dietrich, B., Knöfler, M., Lushington, C. J., Thomas, P. Q., Adikusuma, F., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2025). Genetically edited human placental organoids cast new light on the role of ACE2. Cell Death and Disease, 16(1), 78-1-78-12.
2025 Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J. C., B. Geiger, A., Staker, L. G., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2025). Optimal SpCas9- and SaCas9-mediated gene editing by enhancing gRNA transcript levels through scaffold poly-T tract reduction. BMC Genomics, 26(1), 12 pages.
Scopus22024 Chey, Y. C. J., Corbett, M. A., Arudkumar, J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). CRISPR-mediated megabase-scale transgene de-duplication to generate a functional single-copy full-length humanized DMD mouse model.. BMC Biol, 22(1), 214.
Scopus1 Europe PMC12023 Chey, Y. C. J., Arudkumar, J., Aartsma‐Rus, A., Adikusuma, F., & Thomas, P. Q. (2023). CRISPR applications for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: From animal models to potential therapies. WIREs Mechanisms of Disease, 15(1), e1580-1-e1580-26.
Scopus11 WoS4 Europe PMC122022 Burbano, L. E., Li, M., Jancovski, N., Jafar-Nejad, P., Richards, K., Sedo, A., . . . Petrou, S. (2022). Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for KCNT1 encephalopathy. JCI insight, 7(23), 1-20.
Scopus27 WoS5 Europe PMC322021 Adikusuma, F., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Godahewa, G. I., Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2021). Optimized nickase- and nuclease-based prime editing in human and mouse cells. Nucleic Acids Research, 49(18), 10785-10795.
Scopus56 WoS26 Europe PMC392021 Thomson, E., Dawson, R., H'ng, C. H., Adikusuma, F., Piltz, S., & Thomas, P. Q. (2021). The Nestin neural enhancer is essential for normal levels of endogenous Nestin in neuroprogenitors but is not required for embryo development. PLoS One, 16(11), e0258538-1-e0258538-16.
Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC22020 Pfitzner, C., White, M. A., Piltz, S. G., Scherer, M., Adikusuma, F., Hughes, J. N., & Thomas, P. Q. (2020). Progress Toward Zygotic and Germline Gene Drives in Mice.. CRISPR J, 3(5), 388-397.
Scopus24 WoS14 Europe PMC232019 Prowse, T. A., Adikusuma, F., Cassey, P., Thomas, P., & Ross, J. V. (2019). A Y-chromosome shredding gene drive for controlling pest vertebrate populations. eLife, 8, e41873-1-e41873-19.
Scopus35 WoS24 Europe PMC262018 Robertson, L., Pederick, D., Piltz, S., White, M., Nieto, A., Ahladas, M., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2018). Expanding the RNA-Guided Endonuclease Toolkit for Mouse Genome Editing.. The CRISPR journal, 1(6), 431-439.
WoS4 Europe PMC42018 Adikusuma, F., Piltz, S., Corbett, M. A., Turvey, M., McColl, S. R., Helbig, K. J., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2018). Large deletions induced by Cas9 cleavage. Nature, 560(7717), E8-E9.
Scopus255 WoS188 Europe PMC2372017 Adikusuma, F., Pederick, D., McAninch, D., Hughes, J., & Thomas, P. (2017). Functional equivalence of the SOX2 and SOX3 transcription factors in the developing mouse brain and testes. Genetics, 206(3), 1495-1503.
Scopus19 WoS16 Europe PMC192017 Adikusuma, F., Williams, N., Grutzner, F., Hughes, J., & Thomas, P. (2017). Targeted Deletion of an Entire Chromosome Using CRISPR/Cas9. Molecular Therapy, 25(8), 1736-1738.
Scopus68 WoS58 Europe PMC622017 Van Der Hoek, K., Eyre, N., Shue, B., Khantisitthiporn, O., Glab-Ampi, K., Carr, J., . . . Beard, M. (2017). Viperin is an important host restriction factor in control of Zika virus infection. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 4475 -1-4475-14.
Scopus93 WoS87 Europe PMC752017 Adikusuma, F., Pfitzner, C., & Thomas, P. (2017). Versatile single-step-assembly CRISPR/Cas9 vectors for dual gRNA expression. PloS one, 12(12), 1-11.
Scopus38 WoS21 Europe PMC472014 Piltz, S., Adikusuma, F., Hughes, J., & Thomas, P. (2014). Rapid generation of mutant mice using CRISPR-mediated genome editing (tips and tricks). TRANSGENIC RESEARCH, 23(5), 867. - Arudkumar, J., Chey, Y. C. J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (n.d.). CRISPR-mediated generation and comprehensive phenotyping of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy mouse models. BMC Methods, 1(1).
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2020 Pfitzner, C., Prowse, T., Adikusuma, F., Piltz, S., Cassey, P., Ross, J., & Thomas, P. (2020). Safe development of CRISPR gene drives for invasive rodent population suppression. Poster session presented at the meeting of TRANSGENIC RESEARCH. SPRINGER. 2014 Piltz, S. G. (2014). Rapid generation of mutant mice using CRISPR mediated genome editing (tips and tricks). Poster session presented at the meeting of Transgenic Research. Ediburgh, UK: Springer. -
Patents
Year Citation 2025 Geiger, A., Thomas, P., & Adikusuma, F. (2025). 2023326046, AGENT FOR TREATING OR PREVENTING A DOMINANTLY-INHERITED DISEASE. Australia. 2024 Geiger, A., Thomas, P., Adikusuma, F., & Staker, L. (2024). 2024902054, AGENT FOR TREATING OR PREVENTING A GENETIC DISEASE. Australia. -
Preprint
Year Citation 2024 Chey, Y., Corbett, M., Arudkumar, J., Piltz, S., Thomas, P., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). Megabase-Scale Transgene De-Duplication to Generate a Functional Single-Copy Full-Length Human DMD Transgenic Mouse Model.
DOI2024 Arthurs, A., Dietrich, B., Knöfler, M., Lushington, C., Thomas, P., Adikusuma, F., . . . Roberts, C. (2024). Genetically edited human placental organoids cast new light on the role of ACE2 in placental development.
DOI2024 Chey, Y., Gierus, L., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Geiger, A., Staker, L., . . . Adikusuma, F. (2024). Enhancing gRNA Transcript levels by Reducing the Scaffold Poly-T Tract for Optimal SpCas9- and SaCas9-mediated Gene Editing.
DOI2024 Arudkumar, J., Chey, Y. C. J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). Generation and characterisation of mouse models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
DOI2021 Adikusuma, F., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Godahewa, G., Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., . . . Thomas, P. (2021). Optimized nickase- and nuclease-based prime editing in human and mouse cells.
DOI
- NHMRC EL2 Investigator Grant (2026-2030): $1,623,700
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Researcher Career Award (DECRA, 2023-2025): $458,238
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Fellowship (2018-2021): $489,768
- 2022 University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health & Medical Science Emerging Leaders Development (FHMS ELD) Award ($38,974).
- 2021 University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health & Medical Science Emerging Leaders Development (FHMS ELD) Award ($39,800).
- Advanced Research Platforms, Masters of Biotechnology
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Principal Supervisor Developing highly efficient CRISPR-therapeutic strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Primary Myoblast and Humanised mice models Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mr Ryan Hao Bing Lee 2023 Co-Supervisor Designing novel, mutant-specific Prime Editing therapeutic strategies towards treating autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Lachlan Graham Staker 2023 Co-Supervisor Reincarnating the Retina: A Cutting-Edge Mutant Independent CRISPR Therapy for Genetic Eye Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jesse Georgina Kennedy 2021 Principal Supervisor Improving Disease Therapy with the Application of Prime Editing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Caleb James Lushington 2021 Co-Supervisor Development of novel CRISPR/Cas9 therapies for genetic eye disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ashleigh Geiger -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Development of CRISPR Therapies Targeting DMD Exon 51 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Yu Chinn Joshua Chey
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