About
Dr Mathias Seviiri completed his MD from Makerere University, Uganda, a Master of Public Health (epidemiology and biostatistics) from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a PhD in Statistical Genetics and Bioinformatics from the Queensland University of Technology in 2022. He has varied research and professional work experience as a clinician, epidemiologist, public health leader and statistical geneticist.
His research focuses on identifying novel genetic discoveries for complex traits; especially skin and gastrointestinal cancers (e.g. colorectal cancer), and translating them into clinical care tools using genetics-based approaches for precision medicine. Dr Mathias is a member of large international consortia including the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative consortium - where he is leading a skin cancer project/working group.
He has been awarded competitive research funding as a Principal investigator including a five-year Next Generation Cancer Research Fellowship in 2024. He has also received multiple awards/prizes including from American Association for Cancer Research in 2025, QIMR Berghofer Postdoctoral Prize 2025, and QIMR Berghofer - Australian Cancer Research Foundation Prize for Cancer Research Excellence 2023. He has been a Co-Convener for the Australasian Epidemiological Association (in Queensland) and he is a member for the American Association for Cancer Research - Associate Member Council.
Research Skills
Dr Seviiri has invaluable skills and knowledge in applying statistical genetics and bioinformatics approaches including; gene mapping, causal inference analysis and genetic risk score modelling. He has used such approaches and large genetics data to help understand the molecular aetiology of skin and colorectal cancers, and improve prediction of the skin cancer risk in ultra-high risk organ transplant recipients, survival in melanoma patients, and colorectal cancer risk prediction. Given his clinical background, he has research translation skills e.g. he has developed DNA tests or polygenic risk scores and returned them to organ transplant recipients with a future aim of triaging them for personalised treatment. He also has experience in participant recruitment and data collection for cohort studies.
Area of Interest
- Genetics of treatment response and outcomes for melanoma.
- Genetics of skin and gastro-intestinal cancers risk, and progression.
- Multi-omics integration (genetics, microbiome, proteomics etc) to accelerate and enhance genetics-based precision medicine for cancers.
- Genetics-informed screening for colorectal and skin cancers.
- Cancer epidemiology (“traditional”).
- Translation of genetic discoveries into DNA tests and therapeutic targets.
Professional Associations
- American Association for Cancer Research - served as a leader on the Associated Member Council for > 30,000 early career researchers
- The Australasian Epidemiological Association - served as a convenor for the QLD Chapter Gastroenterological Society of Australia - member
- American Society for Human Genetics - member
- Transplant Australia - member
Funding
- Next Generation Cancer Research Fellowship (EL1) by Cancer Council Queensland
- Tour de Cure Grant Early Career Grant
- QIMR Berghofer Seed Grant
- The Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre grant
Research Projects
Current Research Projects
Genetics of gastro-intestinal cancers.
Genetics-informed screening for colorectal cancer.
Genetic basis of the treatment response and outcomes in patients with advanced melanoma.