Dr Kevin Fenix
Externally-Funded Research Fellow
School of Medicine
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Kevin Fenix, PhD is a research fellow located at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research the research arm of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. As part of the Upper GI and ENT Surgery Departments, his current research utilises both patient samples and clinically relevant in vitro and in vivo models to find new treatment modalities for infections and cancer. Dr Fenix has successfully supervised Honours, Master and PhD students to completion and is a recipient of multiple competitive research grants to support his research.
My research interests include Cancer Immunotherapy, Cancer Biology, Immunobiology and Host/Microbe Interactions. This aligns with my affiliation with the Upper GI and ENT Surgery Departments at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research. Currently, I am identifying treatment modalities for Colorectal Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer and Chronic Rhinosinusitis.
Projects related to this work are available for HDR, Honours and Third Year Students. Potential students can apply for competitive scholarships for Honours, Masters and PhD (Top-Up) offered by the Basil Hetzel Institute.
Current projects include:
- Identifying distinct tumour-infiltrating immune cells with prognostic capacity for cancer metastasis and patient survival.
- Developing T cell-based therapies for cancer.
- Understanding and exploiting the tumour microbiome to develop new cancer treatments.
- Deciphering how the host-microbe interactions influence chronic rhinosinusitis.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | The University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fellowship | Cancer Council SA Mid-Career Research Fellowship | Cancer Council SA | Australia | - |
| 2018 | Fellowship | The Hospital Research Foundation Early Career Fellowship | The Hospital Research Foundation | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Award | Dean’s Commendation for Thesis Excellence | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Scholarship | Australian Postgraduate Award | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2010 | Research Award | Derrick Rowley Prize for Honours in Microbiology and Immunology | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Filipino; Pilipino | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2010 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | Bsc (Hons) |
| 2009 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | Bsc (Biomedical Science) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Gregor, C. E., Kara, E. E., Fenix, K. A., McKenzie, D. R., Comerford, I., & McColl, S. R. (2017). Effector T helper cell recruitment to inflammatory sites via CCR2. In SWISS MEDICAL WEEKLY Vol. 147 (pp. 64S). E M H SWISS MEDICAL PUBLISHERS LTD. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | McKenzie, D., Kara, E., Tyllis, T., Bastow, C., Fenix, K., Gregor, C., . . . McColl, S. (2016). Dynamic expression of CCR6 and CCR2 balances homeostatic and inflammatory trafficking of γδT17 cells. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2016 | Kara, E., Bastow, C., Mckenzie, D., Gregor, C., Fenix, K., Norton, T., . . . Mccoll, S. (2016). The atypical chemokine receptor ACKR4 shapes early antibody responses. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Yeo, K., Wu, F., Li, R., Smith, E., Wormald, P. -J., Valentine, R., . . . Fenix, K. (2024). Is Short-Read 16S rRNA Sequencing of Oral Microbiome Sampling a Suitable Diagnostic Tool for Head and Neck Cancer?. DOI |
| 2024 | Li, C. M. Y., Briggs, M., Lee, Y. -R., Tin, T., Young, C., Pierides, J., . . . Fenix, K. (2024). Use of tryptic peptide MALDI mass spectrometry imaging to identify the spatial proteomic landscape of colorectal cancer liver metastases. DOI |
| 2024 | Li, R., Liu, S., Yeo, K., Edwards, S., Li, M. Y., Santos, R., . . . Smith, E. (2024). Circulating SFRP5 levels are elevated in colorectal cancer and correlate with overall survival in stage II-III disease. DOI |
| 2024 | Yeo, K., Connell, J., Bouras, G., Smith, E., Murphy, W., Hodge, J. -C., . . . Fenix, K. A. (2024). A comparison between full-length 16S rRNA Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Illumina V3-V4 16S rRNA sequencing in head and neck cancer tissues. DOI Europe PMC1 |
| 2024 | Burdon, I., Bouras, G., Fenix, K., Yeo, K., Connell, J., Cooksley, C., . . . Psaltis, A. J. (2024). Metagenomics or Metataxonomics: Best Practice Methods to Uncover the Sinus Microbiome. DOI |
| 2023 | Yeo, K., Li, R., Wu, F., Bouras, G., Mai, L. T. H., Smith, E., . . . Fenix, K. (2023). Identification of consensus head and neck cancer-associated microbiota signatures: a meta-analysis of 16S rRNA and The Cancer Microbiome Atlas datasets. DOI |
| 2023 | Ying Li, C. M., Tomita, Y., Dhakal, B., Tin, T., Li, R., Wright, J. A., . . . Fenix, K. (2023). Generation and assessment of cytokine-induced killer cells for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases. DOI |
Dr Kevin Fenix is a recipient of multiple competitive research funding awards (>$2million) from Cancer Council SA, Tour de Cure, Cure Cancer Australia, the Ray and Shirl Norman Trust, and The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
A selection of competitive funding awards are listed below:
| Year | Title | Investigators | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Pre-clinical assessment of a patient-derived cellular immunotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. | Fenix K. | $50,000 |
| 2019 | Construction of the South Australian Liver Tissue-Biobank (SALT) for discovery and development of prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer liver metastasis. (Beat Cancer SA and The Hospital Research Foundation) | Maddern G., Fenix K. | $200,000 |
| 2019 | Purchase of a fluorescent and bright-field automated cell counter. (Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructure Funding Award and The Basil-Hetzel Institute Research Equipment Award) | Maddern G., Fenix K., Wormald P., Grubor-Bauk B. | $22,703 |
| 2018 | Study of bioactivity of Hengshan Astragalus Shiitake as biological response modifiers in cancer therapy ( Flinders University Innovation Patnership Seed Grant and Shanxi Yulongxiang agricultural development Co., Ltd) | Ma L., Fenix K., Hauben E., Liang Q. | $100,000 |
| 2018 | Identification of a Diagnostic Marker for Assessment and Management of Psoriasis. ( New Adventures Fund UniSA and The Hospital Research Foundation ) | Grubor-Bauk B., Wijesundara D., Fenix K., Kopecki Z. | $28,619 |
| 2018 | Using Tissue-Resident T cells to develop new prognostics and treatments against bowel cancer. ( The Hospital Research Foundation Early Career Fellowship) | Fenix K. | $240,000 |
| Year | Source | Conference | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences | Lorne Cancer Conference (2019) | $1000 |
| 2017 | Australasian Society for Immunology | 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Society for Immunology (Brisbane, Australia) | $1400 |
| 2016 | International Congress of Immunology | International Congress of Immunology 2016 (Melbourne, Australia) | $1000 |
| 2014 | School of Molecular and Biomedical Science and Australasian Society for Immunology | Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Society for Immunology (Wollongong, Australia) | $1500 |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Intra-tumoural and oral microbiome composition and oral cancer outcomes | Master of Philosophy (Surgery) | Master | Full Time | Mr Jonathan Daniel |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Intra-tumoural and oral microbiome composition and oral cancer outcomes | Master of Research | Master | Full Time | Mr Jonathan Daniel |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The development of more effective next-generation cytokine-induced killer cell therapies for the improved treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Elham Shokati |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The development of more effective next-generation cytokine-induced killer cell therapies for the improved treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Elham Shokati |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Target the tumour microbiome to improve head & neck cancer treatment outcomes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Lee Mai |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Repurposing the anti-anginal drug perhexiline for the treatment of cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Fangmeinuo Wu |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Repurposing the anti-anginal drug perhexiline for the treatment of cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Fangmeinuo Wu |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Target the tumour microbiome to improve head & neck cancer treatment outcomes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Lee Mai |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Over-expression of SFRP5 in hepatocytes: a novel treatment strategy for colorectal cancer liver metastases | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Runhao Li |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | The role of various Staphylococcus species in eliciting inflammation in Chronic rhinosinusitis | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Sintayehu Ambachew Wondemagegn |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | The role of various Staphylococcus species in eliciting inflammation in Chronic rhinosinusitis | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Sintayehu Ambachew Wondemagegn |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Over-expression of SFRP5 in hepatocytes: a novel treatment strategy for colorectal cancer liver metastases | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Runhao Li |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Characterising the Microbiome and its Diagnostic and Prognostic Value in Head and Neck Cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Kenny Ker Li Yeo |
| 2021 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Perhexiline as a Potential Treatment for Colorectal Cancer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Bimala Dhakal |
| 2020 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | INVESTIGATION OF CYTOKINE-INDUCED KILLER CELL THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF COLORECTAL CANCER LIVER METASTASIS | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Man Ying Li |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - ongoing | Member | BHI IBC Biosafety Committee | BHI | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Basil-Hetzel Institute Management Committee | Basil-Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Adelaide Immunology Retreat Organzing Committee | Australasian Soceity for Immunology | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Day of Immunology (Adelaide) Organizing Committee | Australsian Society for Immunology | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Cytometry Society | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Cancer Voices SA | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Society for Immunology | Australia |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Invited Speaker for The Longest Table Events | Public Community Engagement | The Hospital Research Foundation | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Science Alive! Booth Volunteer (BHI) | Public Community Engagement | Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Newsletter Article in The Hospital Research Foundation | Public Community Engagement | The Hospital Research Foundation | - |
| 2018 - ongoing | Radio Interview for Coast FM | Public Community Engagement | The Hospital Research Foundation | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Invited Speaker for the Day of Immunology BHI Lab Tour | Public Community Engagement | Australasian Society for Immunology | Australia |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Editor | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology | The University of Adelaide | Australia |