gut sensory systems

The human body is covered by an outer layer of cells that protect us and allow us to sense and respond to our environment. This includes the billions of absorptive and mucous cells that line our gastrointestinal tract. Among these cells is a population of hormone-producing enteroendocrine cells that collectively constitutes our bodies’ largest endocrine cell reservoir.

Our research program is focused on enteroendocrine cell function and the role they play in health and disease. Our goal is to advance the field of enteroendocrine cell physiology and provide new insight into their diverse functions in metabolic, motility and mental health disorders.

OUR RESEARCH

Our research is focused on the regulation of cell communication. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how hormone and neurotransmitter release from specialised enteroendocrine cells in the gut is regulated, the physiological pathways they are involved in, and how this relates to human health disorders. These disorders include

metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity,
gut motility disorders such as constipation,
the control of higher brain function and mental health via activation of the gut brain axis.
In addition, we have made significant contributions on how the gut microbiome interacts with enteroendocrine cells to affect host physiology.

We utilise cutting edge approaches in our research and aim to provide a fun, open and accepting research environment for all group members

Research projects

How does the modulation of enteroendocrine cells impact metabolism, body mass and regulation of plasma glucose levels?
Is higher brain function regulated by enteroendocrine cells and is this relevant in mental health disorders?
Does activation of specific enteroendocrine cell types represent a new treatment approach for human gut motility disorders?

Featured publications:

Jones et al (2022) Gastroenterology
Shoubridge et al (2022) Molecular Psychiatry
Sun et al (2021) Gastroenterology, 161 (2), 536-547
Wei et al (2021) Gastroenterology, 160 (7), 2451-2466
Ye et al (2021) Cell Host & Microbe, 29 (2), 179-196
Lynn et al (2021) Cell Reports, 36 (8), 109564
Findeisen et al (2019) Nature, 574 (7776), 63-68
Martin et al (2019) PNAS, 116 (40), 19802-19804
Yabut et al (2019) Endocrine Reviews, 40 (4), 1092-1107
Bahne et al (2018) JCI Insight, 3 (23)
Peiris et al (2018) EMBO Reports, 19 (12), e44706
Spencer et al (2018) Journal of Neuroscience, 38 (24), 5507-5522
Sun et al (2017) Diabetes, 66(8):2144-2149.
Peiris et al (2016) PLoS Genet, 12(5):e1006033
Rogers et al (2016) Molecular Psychiatry, 21(6):738-48
Young et al (2015) Gastroenterology, 149(1):253-5
Jackson et al (2015) Molecular Psychiatry, 20(7):810-9
Papadopulos et al (2015) Nature Communications, 6:6297
Kumar et al (2015) Human Molecular Genetics, 4(7):2000-10
Wen et al (2011) Nature Communications, 2:491
Jentsch et al (2010) Cell Metabolism, 12(4):307-8
Keating & Spencer (2010) Gastroenterology, 138:659-70
Pfeffer et al (2009) Journal of Neuroscience, 29:3419-30
Maritzen et al (2008) Journal of Neuroscience, 28:10587-98
Yu et al (2008) Human Molecular Genetics, 17:3281-90
Keating et al (2008) Human Molecular Genetics, 17:1020-30

GROUP MEMBERS

View profile

Professor Damien Keating

I am Deputy Director of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) and Head of Gut Sensory Systems research group. I undertook a post-doc with Prof. Thomas Jentsch at the ZMNH, Hamburg, Germany and was then awarded an independent research fellowship to move to the Hudson Institute in Melbourne. I was recruited to Flinders University through a BioInnovation SA Research Fellowship in 2006. In 2010, I was awarded both a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (Level 1) and an ARC Future Fellowship and then a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (Level 2) in 2015.

My research is focused on understanding how cells send chemical signals to each other and how this is implicated in health and disease. We have published significant work in this area in leading international journals including Nature, PNAS, PLoS Genetics, Molecular Psychiatry, Gastroenterology, Human Molecular Genetics, Journal of Neuroscience, Diabetes, Nature Communications and Cell Metabolism.

Google Scholar citations

TEAM MEMBERS

Dr Dan Thorpe
Dr Lauren Jones
Caitlin Allman
Rosie Coleman

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WORK WITH US

We are excited by our research and would like to work with others who are equally excited about what we are trying to achieve. Please get in touch if you would like to have a chat