Dr Kate Hedley
Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
- Email:kate.hedley@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:0240420956
Career Summary
Biography
My Research:
I am a neuroimmunologist with expertise in the peripheral to central neuroimmune connection. My research focuses on the bi-directional relationship between pathophysiology in the body, such as infection and altered microbiome, and disrupted neuronal signalling in the central nervous system. My research focuses on discovery science, with a strong emphasis on unravelling the mechanisms that explain our observations.
Education and Expertise:
My academic foundation includes a BBiomed Sci Hons I (2018) and a PhD in Human Physiology (2024), both from the University of Newcastle, Australia. During my PhD I studied how neonatal respiratory bacterial infections affect the brainstem centres that control respiration. This work showed lifelong neuroinflammation and dysfunctional signalling within the brainstem. I also have a special interest in sex as a biological variable, with my work identifying sex-specific differences between the responses generated to the neonatal infection.
Gut-brain axis:
My current work as a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Gastrointestinal Research Group, focuses on the gut-microbiome-brain axis in relation the cognitive performance and mental resilience. The overall aims are to modulate the microbiome to a composition that is functionally associated with improved mental resilience. I specifically look at the mechanisms and signalling pathways between the changes seen in the microbiome and the behavioural and biological changes in the brain.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Human Physiology, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Hons), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Behavioural neuroscience
- Brainstem
- Developmental neurobiology
- Early-life events
- Immunology
- Neuroinflammation
- Neuroscience
- Peripheral to central communication
- Physiology
Languages
- English (Mother)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 320903 | Central nervous system | 40 |
| 320901 | Autonomic nervous system | 40 |
| 520202 | Behavioural neuroscience | 20 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Researcher | University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Australia |
| Casual Academic | University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Australia |
Awards
Award
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
The Lung-Brain Axis in Health and Disease Travel Award Volkswagenstiftung (Volkswagen Foundation) |
| 2018 |
Dunkley Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy | University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (3 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Hedley KE, Cuskelly A, Callister RJ, Horvat JC, Hodgson DM, Tadros MA, 'The medulla oblongata shows a sex-specific inflammatory response to systemic neonatal lipopolysaccharide', JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY, 389 (2024) [C1]
Early life inflammation has been linked to long-term modulation of behavioural outcomes due to the central nervous system, but it is now becoming apparent it is also li... [more] Early life inflammation has been linked to long-term modulation of behavioural outcomes due to the central nervous system, but it is now becoming apparent it is also linked to dysfunction of visceral physiology. The medulla oblongata contains a number of nuclei critical for homeostasis, therefore we utilised the well-established model of neonatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure to examine the immediate and long-term impacts of systemic inflammation on the medulla oblongata. Wistar rats were injected with LPS or saline on postnatal days 3 and 5, with tissues collected on postnatal days 7 or 90 in order to assess expression of inflammatory mediators and microglial morphology in autonomic regions of the medulla oblongata. We observed a distinct sex-specific response of all measured inflammatory mediators at both ages, as well as significant neonatal sex differences in inflammatory mediators within saline groups. At both ages, microglial morphology had significant changes in branch length and soma size in a sex-specific manner in response to LPS exposure. This data not only highlights the strong sex-specific response of neonates to LPS administration, but also the significant life-long impact on the medulla oblongata and the potential altered control of visceral organs.
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2024 |
Hedley KE, Gomez HM, Kecelioglu E, Carroll OR, Jobling P, Horvat JC, Tadros MA, 'Neonatal Chlamydia muridarum respiratory infection causes neuroinflammation within the brainstem during the early postnatal period', JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION, 21 (2024) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Hedley KE, Callister RJ, Callister R, Horvat JC, Tadros MA, 'Alterations in brainstem respiratory centers following peripheral inflammation: A systematic review', JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY, 369 (2022) [C1]
|
Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $3,793,806 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20251 grants / $290,606
Oral GLP-1 agonists for weight management$290,606
Funding body: Anatara Lifesciences Limited
| Funding body | Anatara Lifesciences Limited |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Professor Simon Keely, Doctor Kate Hedley |
| Scheme | Research Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2025 |
| Funding Finish | 2025 |
| GNo | G2500072 |
| Type Of Funding | C3100 – Aust For Profit |
| Category | 3100 |
| UON | Y |
20211 grants / $3,503,200
Optimising the Warfighter cognobiome: novel microbiome interventions to improve the cognitive performance of Warfighters$3,503,200
Funding body: Department of Defence
| Funding body | Department of Defence |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Laureate Professor Nick Talley, Professor Simon Keely, Doctor Emily Hoedt, Doctor Grace Burns, Professor Ami Eidels, Doctor Kerith Duncanson, Professor Scott Brown, Gene Tyson, Professor Gene Tyson, Professor Mark Morrison, Professor Gerald Holtmann, Robert Speight, Professor Robert Speight, Tony Kenna, Lutz Krause, Ottmar Lipp, Yi-Chin Toh, Paraic O Cuiv, Professor Ottmar Lipp, Associate Professor Tony Kenna, Associate Professor Yi-Chin Toh, Dr James Behrendorff, Dr Alex Chklovski, Miss Sophie Fowler, Doctor Kate Hedley, Ms Nicole Simm |
| Scheme | Breakthrough Human Performance Research Call |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2024 |
| GNo | G2100173 |
| Type Of Funding | C1500 - Aust Competitive - Commonwealth Other |
| Category | 1500 |
| UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PhD | Targeting Mucosal Healing Pathways for the Prevention of Anastomotic Leaks. | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2023 | PhD | Role of HIF response in Colorectal Cancer Progression and treatment | PhD (Medical Biochemistry), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2023 | PhD | Investigating The Gut - Lung Axis In Respiratory Infections In Inflammatory Bowel Disease | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Dr Kate Hedley
Positions
Postdoctoral Researcher
Gastrointestinal Research Group
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Casual Academic
Gastrointestinal Research Group
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| kate.hedley@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | 0240420956 |
Connect with me
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