Jason Steel

Dr. Jason Steel is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology at CQUniversity's School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, where he has been employed since September 2018. His academic career includes previous positions at the University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute in the USA. He co-founded Ocugene, a startup developing molecular therapies for ocular diseases.

Dr. Steel's research focuses on:

• Molecular gene therapy platforms including AAV vectors for ocular diseases
• Cancer immunology and immunotherapy approaches
• Tumour microenvironment and metastasis mechanisms
• Development of cancer vaccines and targeted therapies
• Ocular disease modeling and treatment innovation

His recent publications (2020-2024) demonstrate strong emphasis on:

• AAV-mediated gene therapies for retinal and choroidal diseases
• Molecular mechanisms in uveal melanoma pathogenesis
• MicroRNA regulation in cancer metastasis
• Novel therapeutic approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma
• Ocular drug delivery challenges and solutions

Honors include:

• NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) - Awarded three times
• 2017 University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine: Leader of the Future (Academic)

Dr. Steel maintains an active research supervision portfolio with accreditation in six fields: Biochemistry/Cell Biology, Medical Biotechnology, Immunology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Pharmacology. He coordinates multiple courses including Applied Immunology, Molecular Targeted Therapies, and Drug Discovery & Clinical Trials.