Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
Dr. Keely graduated with a Ph.D. from University College Dublin. He undertook postdoctoral research training at the Mucosal Inflammation Program in University of Colorado Denver before being promoted to junior faculty positions (Instructor and Senior Instructor) in the School of Medicine and receiving a prestigious fellowship from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Dr. Keely is chief investigator of the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Gastrointestinal Research Group. The group's current research examines molecular mechanisms of disease in the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Keely is particularly interested in how the mucosal tissues function and repair with reduced oxygen availability during inflammation. Dr. Keely is also interested in the changes that occur with microbial interactions during inflammation and how these interactions influence the progression and resolution of mucosal diseases. The ultimate goal of this research is understanding how these factors may be pharmacologically manipulated for therapeutic benefit.
Research
Research keywords
- Crohn's Disease
- Epithelial Biology
- Hypoxia
- Immunology
- Infection
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Mucosal Inflammation
- Ulcerative Colitis
Research expertise
The Gastrointestinal Research Group is focused on studying the cellular processes of digestive disease and infection.
The group is particularly interested in mucosal inflammation and how tissues adapt to conditions of oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) in inflamed tissue. This is particularly relevant to chronic inflammatory diseases such as the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); Crohn's disease & ulcerative colitis.
To achieve this, we study cellular mechanisms of inflammation and adaption to inflammation in vitro. We give our findings physiological context by applying them to in vivo models of IBD and then, through our collaborators at John Hunter Hospital, examine human context in patient samples. With this approach, we hope to identify strategies for new therapeutic approaches to treating IBD.
Our current, ongoing research:
1) Investigates how wound healing is regulated in the intestine during the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease.
2) Examines the mechanisms leading to IBD-related disease that occurs outside of the gastrointestinal tract.
3) Explores how a new experimental drug, which promotes accelerated remission, regulates the immune system in models of IBD.
4) Examines how pain is regulated in the intestines in chronic IBD.
Languages
- English
- Irish
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 060199 | Biochemistry And Cell Biology Not Elsewhere Classified | 35 |
| 110307 | Gastroenterology And Hepatology | 35 |
| 110799 | Immunology Not Elsewhere Classified | 30 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Member - Australian Society for Immunology
- Member - Gastroenterological Society of Australia
NHMRC Committee
- Member - NHMRC GRP
Appointments
| Senior Instructor University of Colorado, Denver, USA (United States) | 01/12/2009 - 01/02/2011 |
| Instructor University of Colorado, Denver, USA (United States) | 01/12/2008 - 01/12/2009 |
Awards
Research Award.
| 2009 | Research Fellowship Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (United States) Support for IBD related research |
|---|
Collaboration
Professor Phil Hansbro, University of Newcastle
Professor Alan Baird, University College Dublin, Ireland
Professor Sean Colgan, University of Colorado Denver, Colorado, USA
Professor Robert Callister, University of Newcastle
Dr. Jay Horvat, University of Newcastle
Administrative
Administrative expertise
Broad expertise and experience in administration and committee panels. Served on international conference and workshop review committees, school and faculty executives and focus group panels.
Member of Institutional Biosafety Committee
Course Co-ordinator for HUBS3204
NHMRC Grant Review Panel Member 2012
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Teaching expertise
My teaching covers topics of Immunology, Microbiology and Scientific Skills and Development across a range of degree courses and modules.
For 2012 I teach into the following Biomedical Science courses:
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HUBS1404.html HUBS1404 Biomedical Science 2
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HUBS1416.html HUBS1416 Advanced Human Bioscience
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HUBS2601.html HUBS2601 Human Infection and Immunity 1
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HUBS3602.html HUBS3602 Human Infection and Immunity 2
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HUBS3204.html HUBS3204 Advanced Professional Skills in Biomedical Science
In addition I present courses into:
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/MEDI1015.html MEDI1015 Medical Science 1
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/MEDI2014.html MEDI2014 Medical Science 2
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/MEDI3018.html MEDI3018 Medical Science 3
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 10 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $828,226 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (2 grants)
DP73 Digital colour and monochrome camera + cellSens software + Xcite120 fluorescence lamp illuminator$20,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Doctor Alan Hsu, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Katie Baines, Associate Professor Jodie Simpson, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Steven Maltby, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Gerard Kaiko, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Simon Keely, Mr Andrew Jarnicki, Doctor Michael Fricker | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201186 | ||
United European Gastroenterology Week, Berlin, 12 -16 October 2013$2,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Simon Keely | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,000 | 2013 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1300842 | ||
2012 (3 grants)
Hypoxic Regulation of Integrin Beta1 During Mucosal Wound Healing$312,726
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Simon Keely | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $312,726 | 2012 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1100095 | ||
SpectraMax M5e Multi-Mode Microplate Reader$50,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Simon Keely, Mr Andrew Jarnicki, Doctor Linda Howland, Doctor Kelly Asquith | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100975 | ||
Experimental Biology 2012, San Diego, USA, 21 - 25 April 2012$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Simon Keely | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1200426 | ||
2011 (2 grants)
SCIREQ FlexiVentFX system + FlexiVentFX extension$45,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Simon Keely, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Catherine Ptaschinski, Doctor Kelly Asquith, Doctor Gough Au, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Judith Black, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Professor Paul Hertzog | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $45,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1100037 | ||
Gastrointestinal Tract: XIV: Stems Cells, Adaptation, Inflammation and Cancer, Steamboat Sprngs, Colorado, USA, 14 - 18 August 2011$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Simon Keely | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2011 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100679 | ||
2009 (2 grants)
Influence of Hypoxia and HIF Activation on Intestinal Epithelial Restitution via Integrin Signaling$175,500
Funding Body: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Research Fellowship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $175,500 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:162014934 | ||
Microbiome adaption during intestinal fluid transport$160,000
Funding Body: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Investigator Initiated - Sponsored Research | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $160,000 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:162014922 | ||
2007 (1 grants)
Influence of intestinal fluid transport on bacterial invasion.$60,000
Funding Body: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Investigator Initiated - Sponsored Research | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $60,000 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:162014910 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 7 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 2.58 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | Improved Prevention or Treatment Strategies for Steroid-Resistant Asthma |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Principal Supervisor | Identifying the Mechanisms of Lung Inflammation Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | Mechanisms of Predisposition to Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Principal Supervisor | Hypoxia Mediated IL-12 Signalling in Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | The Role of Innate Cells in Infectious Exacerbation of COPD |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | Investigation of Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Anatomy) | Co-Supervisor | Spinal Cord Signalling in a Mouse Model of IBD |
Dr Simon Keely
| Work Phone | (02) 4042 0229 (HMRI) |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4042 0026 (HMRI) |
| SIMON.KEELY@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU | |
| Position | Lecturer Gastrointestinal Research Group School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Faculty of Health and Medicine |
| Focus Area | Immunology and Microbiology |
| Office | Rm 2413, Level 2 East Wing (HMRI) LS2-39 (Callaghan) , HMRI - Life Sciences Building (Callaghan), Hunter Medical Research Institute and Callaghan Campus University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/ |
