Dr Simon Keely

Work Phone	(02) 4042 0229
Fax	(02) 4042 0026
Email	SIMON.KEELY@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU
Position	Lecturer School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy The University of Newcastle, Australia
Office	Rm 2413, Level 2 Eas, Life Sciences Building (callaghan) Hunter Medical Research Institute (hmri)

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.

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

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

Centres and Groups

Centre

Group

Hunter Medical Research Institute - VIVA

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

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