Overview
Background
Associate Professor Jakob Begun is the IBD Group leader in the Immunity, Infection, and Inflammation Program at Mater Research University of Queensalnd, and has a basic and translational laboratory at the Translational Research Institute in Brisbane. He is an Associate Professor in the University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine. After completing his Bachelor of Science at Cornell University Jakob attended Cambridge University where he completed an MPhil in Biochemistry. He then moved on to Harvard Medical School where he completed his MD and PhD in genetics studying the host pathogen interaction using C. elegans as a model system. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s hospital and went on to complete general gastroenterology training at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as well as advanced training in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Dr Begun first joined Mater Research - University of Queensland in 2014, and at the same time received a clinical staff appointment in Gastroenterology at the Mater Hospital Brisbane. His clinical activities are focussed on the treatment and mangement of patients with IBD. He is the director of the IBD unit at the Mater Hospital Brisbane and at the Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane .In January 2015 he was awarded the University of Queensland Reginald Ferguson Fellowship in Gastroenterology to support his research activity. He leads a basic and translational laboratory at the Translational Research Institute investigating the interaction between the innate immune system and the gut microbiome, as well as genetic contributions to disease. He also performs clinical research examining predictors of response to therapy, minimising barriers of care for adolescents and young adults with IBD, improving outcomes in pregnancy and IBD, and the use of intestinal ultrasound in IBD. He is the chair of the Gastroenterology Society of Australia-IBD Faculty and of the president of the Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS).
Availability
- Associate Professor Jakob Begun is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Biology, Cornell University
- Doctoral Diploma of Medicine, Harvard University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Genetics, Harvard University
- Member, Gastroenterological Society of Australia, Gastroenterological Society of Australia
- Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Research impacts
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is a complex disease with genetic and environmental triggers. The microbiota is one of the biggest environmental contributors and interest in its impact on human health and disease is a growing. Studies in IBD have led the way in identifying disease associated microbial signals, but has not yet led to any new therapies.
As a clinician-scientist I am driven by my patients’ needs to address all aspects of their disease: including genetic and environmental risk factors, disease monitoring, and developing novel therapeutics. My tranlsational research program contributes to KNOWLEDGE IMPACT by discovering the function of IBD-susceptibility genes and anti-inflammatory bio-actives produced by the gut microbiota. My clinical research program advances HEALTH IMPACT by optimizing patient monitoring through evidence-based use of biochemical tests and imaging technology.
-Knowledge Impact. My research into the interaction between IBD susceptibility genes and bacterial handling has been highly cited, and led to an NHMRC collaborative project grant.
-Health Impact. My research program into advances in patient monitoring has led to the application for faecal calprotectin testing to be covered by the Medicare Benefit Scheme – which will have a direct impact on patient monitoring in the clinic. Additionally my monitoring research into the use of intestinal ultrasound has led to the formation of the Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound and the increase in ultrasound use in IBD patients in Australia.
Works
Search Professor Jakob Begun’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Cannabidiol - help and hype in targeting mucosal diseases
Moniruzzaman, Md, Janjua, Taskeen Iqbal, Martin, Jennifer H., Begun, Jakob and Popat, Amirali (2024). Cannabidiol - help and hype in targeting mucosal diseases. Journal of Controlled Release, 365, 530-543. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.11.010
2024
Conference Publication
Tofacitinib demonstrates preliminary efficacy in induction of remission in chronic pouchitis
Khoo, E., Amiss, A., Ding, J. N., Bryant, R., Mohsen, W., Connor, S., Leung, R., Croft, A., Lynch, K., Sparrow, M., De Cruz, P., An, Y. K., Holtmann, G. and Begun, J. (2024). Tofacitinib demonstrates preliminary efficacy in induction of remission in chronic pouchitis. 19th Congress of ECCO, Stockholm, Sweden, 21-24 February 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad212.0984
2024
Conference Publication
Upadacitinib is safe and effective in Ulcerative Colitis patients with prior exposure to Tofacitinib
Gilmore, R., Fernandes, R., Hartley, I., Arzivian, A., Leong, R., Andrew, B., Vasudevan, A., Greeve, T., Moore, G., Kim, S., Lightowler, D., Singh, A., Mahy, G., Mithanthaya, A., Venugpal, K., Han, S., Bryant, R., West, J., Segal, J., Christensen, B., Ding, N. J., An, Y. K. and Begun, J. (2024). Upadacitinib is safe and effective in Ulcerative Colitis patients with prior exposure to Tofacitinib. 19th Congress of ECCO, Stockholm, Sweden, 21-24 February 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (OUP). doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad212.1194
2024
Conference Publication
Tofacitinib demonstrates preliminary efficacy in induction of remission in chronic pouchitis
Khoo, E., Amiss, A., Ding, J. N., Bryant, R., Mohsen, W., Connor, S., Leung, R., Croft, A., Lynch, K., Sparrow, M., De Cruz, P., An, Y. K., Holtmann, G. and Begun, J. (2024). Tofacitinib demonstrates preliminary efficacy in induction of remission in chronic pouchitis. 19th Congress of ECCO, Stockholm, Sweden, 21-24 February 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad212.0984
2024
Conference Publication
Risk of infection after acute severe ulcerative colitis in East Asia and Australia/New Zealand: AOCC and ANZIBDC collaboration study
Kim, S. J., Kim, D. H., Park, S. H., Kim, K. O., Lee, Y. J., Song, E. M., Kim, E. S., Lee, H. S., An, Y. K., Begun, J., Ruddick-Collins, L., Fernandes, R., Liu, J., Cao, Q., Kobayashi, T. and Wei, S. C. (2024). Risk of infection after acute severe ulcerative colitis in East Asia and Australia/New Zealand: AOCC and ANZIBDC collaboration study. 19th Congress of ECCO, Stockholm, Sweden, 21-24 February 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad212.0892
2023
Journal Article
Comprehensive systematic review and pooled analysis of real‐world studies evaluating immunomodulator and biologic therapies for chronic pouchitis treatment
Khoo, Emi, Lee, Andrew, Neeman, Teresa, An, Yoon‐Kyo and Begun, Jakob (2023). Comprehensive systematic review and pooled analysis of real‐world studies evaluating immunomodulator and biologic therapies for chronic pouchitis treatment. JGH Open, 7 (12), 899-907. doi: 10.1002/jgh3.13000
2023
Journal Article
Guselkumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis: QUASAR phase 2b induction study
Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent, Allegretti, Jessica R., Rubin, David T., Bressler, Brian, Germinaro, Matthew, Huang, Kuan-Hsiang (Gary), Shipitofsky, Nicole, Zhang, Hongyan, Wilson, Rebbecca, Han, Chenglong, Feagan, Brian G., Sandborn, William J., Panés, Julian, Hisamatsu, Tadakazu, Lichtenstein, Gary R., Sands, Bruce E., Dignass, Axel, Abrahamovych, Orest, Afanasieva, Halyna, Aitova, Lilia, Altintas, Engin, Altwegg, Romain, Andreev, Pavel, Aomatsu, Kazuki, Augustyn, Monika, Balestrieri, Paola, Begun, Jakob, Brunatto, Luciana, Bulgheroni, Diego ... QUASAR Study Group (2023). Guselkumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis: QUASAR phase 2b induction study. Gastroenterology, 165 (6), 1443-1457. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.08.038
2023
Journal Article
Pre-existing tissue mechanical hypertension at adherens junctions disrupts apoptotic extrusion in epithelia
Mann, Zoya, Lim, Fayth, Verma, Suzie, Nanavati, Bageshri N., Davies, Julie M., Begun, Jakob, Hardeman, Edna C., Gunning, Peter W., Subramanyam, Deepa, Yap, Alpha S. and Duszyc, Kinga (2023). Pre-existing tissue mechanical hypertension at adherens junctions disrupts apoptotic extrusion in epithelia. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 35 (1) br3, 1-12. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e23-08-0337
2023
Conference Publication
Durability of escalated anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in Crohn's disease is similar between TNF-naive and TNF-experienced patients and may be improved with proactive drug monitoring: An Australian multicenter experience
Gilmore, R., Fernandes, R., Schildkraut, T., Joshi, R., Lin, L., Etchegaray, A., Anandan, A. Shanmuga, Begun, J., An, Y-K and Wright, E. (2023). Durability of escalated anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in Crohn's disease is similar between TNF-naive and TNF-experienced patients and may be improved with proactive drug monitoring: An Australian multicenter experience. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Fistulizing Crohn's disease in a large real-world cohort: Crohn's Colitis Cure data insights program
Mcnamara, J., Wilson, W., Pipicella, J., Ghaly, S., Gearry, R., Forbes, A., Begun, J., Ng, W., Lynch, K., Lawrence, I., Schultz, M., Walker, G., Radford-Smith, G., Britt, L., Verdon, C., Andrews, J. and Connor, S. (2023). Fistulizing Crohn's disease in a large real-world cohort: Crohn's Colitis Cure data insights program. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Journal Article
MUC13 cell surface mucin limits Salmonella Typhimurium infection by protecting the mucosal epithelial barrier
McGuckin, Michael A., Davies, Julie M., Felgner, Pascal, Wong, Kuan Yau, Giri, Rabina, He, Yaowu, Moniruzzaman, Md., Kryza, Thomas, Sajiir, Haressh, Hooper, John D., Florin, Timothy H., Begun, Jakob, Oussalah, Abderrahim, Hasnain, Sumaira Z., Hensel, Michael and Sheng, Yong H. (2023). MUC13 cell surface mucin limits Salmonella Typhimurium infection by protecting the mucosal epithelial barrier. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 16 (6), 985-1009. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.08.011
2023
Conference Publication
Upadacitinib for rescue therapy in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis: An Australian real-world experience
Tan, W. L., Gilmore, R., Huang, A., Fernandes, R., An, Y-K and Begun, J. (2023). Upadacitinib for rescue therapy in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis: An Australian real-world experience. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Variation of outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease at 10 Australian and New Zealand centers: Crohn's Colitis Cure data insights program
Mcnamara, J., Ghaly, S., Pipicella, J., Wilson, W., Goodfellow, T., Cheema, M., Lynch, K., Williams, A., Begun, J., Gearry, R., Kim, A., Haifer, C., Forbes, A., Lawrence, I., Schultz, M., Walker, G., Radford-Smith, G., Andrews, J. and Connor, S. (2023). Variation of outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease at 10 Australian and New Zealand centers: Crohn's Colitis Cure data insights program. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Delayed flexible sigmoidoscopy remains a challenge in tertiary care of acute severe colitis
Rice, K., Fernandes, R., Hendy, P., Khoo, E., Walker, N., Howlett, M., An, Y-K and Begun, J. (2023). Delayed flexible sigmoidoscopy remains a challenge in tertiary care of acute severe colitis. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
From enemies to friends: Exploring the capacity of novel compounds secreted by "pathobiont" gut bacteria to attenuate inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease
Reed, H., Sehgal, A., Morrison, M. and Begun, J. (2023). From enemies to friends: Exploring the capacity of novel compounds secreted by "pathobiont" gut bacteria to attenuate inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) 2023, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2—5 September 2023. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2023
Conference Publication
Australian consensus on ustekinumab in Crohn's disease
Begun, J., An, Y-K, Bryant, R., Christensen, B., Leong, R., Studd, C. and Thin, L. (2023). Australian consensus on ustekinumab in Crohn's disease. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Withdrawal vs continuation of thiopurine in vedolizumab-treated patients with ulcerative colitis (VIEWS): A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Pudipeddi, A., Paramsothy, S., Kariyawasam, V., Paramsothy, R., Ghaly, S., Haifer, C., An, Y-K, Begun, J., Connor, S., Corte, C., Ward, M., De Cruz, P., Fung, C., Redmond, D., Chan, W., Mourad, F. and Leong, R. (2023). Withdrawal vs continuation of thiopurine in vedolizumab-treated patients with ulcerative colitis (VIEWS): A multicenter randomized controlled trial. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Cessation of corticosteroids after acute severe ulcerative colitis may be associated with increased colectomy risk: Results of the ANZ-ASUC study in collaboration with the ANZIBDC
Fernandes, R., Gilmore, R., Ruddick-Collins, L., Rice, K., Moore, G., Gazelakis, K., Vasudevan, A., Zhang, J., Wright, E., Schildkraut, T., Clark, N., Schultz, M., Brownson, A., Haifer, C., Bracken, L. M. L., Mahy, G., Swe, E., Judge, C., Ngoi, B., Lynch, K., Begun, J. and An, Y-K (2023). Cessation of corticosteroids after acute severe ulcerative colitis may be associated with increased colectomy risk: Results of the ANZ-ASUC study in collaboration with the ANZIBDC. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Upadacitinib and vedolizumab combination therapy for recalcitrant, steroid-refractory Crohn's disease: A case report
Etchegaray, A., Gilmore, R., An, Y-K and Begun, J. (2023). Upadacitinib and vedolizumab combination therapy for recalcitrant, steroid-refractory Crohn's disease: A case report. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2023
Conference Publication
Patients from East Asia with acute severe ulcerative colitis have worse endoscopic severity but are more responsive to intravenous steroids than patients from Australasia: Preliminary results of the APAC-ASUC study in collaboration with the ANZIBDC and AOCC
Fernandes, R., Gilmore, R., Ruddick-Collins, L., Rice, K., Gazelakis, K., Moore, G., Vasudevan, A., Zhang, J., Wright, E., Schildkraut, T., Clark, N., Schultz, M., Brownson, A., Haifer, C., Bracken, L. M. L., Mahy, G., Swe, E., Lynch, K., Ngoi, B., Judge, C., Kim, D. H., Kim, H. S., Lee, H. S., Kim, K. O., Lee, Y. J., Kim, S-J, Lee, J., Song, E. M., Park, S. H. ... An, Y-K (2023). Patients from East Asia with acute severe ulcerative colitis have worse endoscopic severity but are more responsive to intravenous steroids than patients from Australasia: Preliminary results of the APAC-ASUC study in collaboration with the ANZIBDC and AOCC. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Jakob Begun is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
A randomised, open-label, non-inferiority study of upadacitinib compared with oral prednisolone
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Clark
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Regulation of Host Inflammatory Pathways in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Anuj Sehgal
-
Doctor Philosophy
Study of TOfacitinib for the treatment of chronic Pouchitis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerald Holtmann
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing post-operative Crohn's disease recurrence
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Clark
-
Doctor Philosophy
Defining the Role of the Mucosa-Associated Microbiota in Digestive Health and Disease Using Novel ex-vivo Combinations of Microbe Culture with Metagenomics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
-
Doctor Philosophy
Bacteria x Archaea Interactions in Crohn's disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
-
Doctor Philosophy
Medicinal chemistry of new Nature-inspired treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Dr Zeinab Khalil, Professor Rob Capon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Designer Nanoparticles for Oral and Targeted Delivery of Protein Therapeutics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Associate Professor Amirali Popat
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Australia Ustekinumab Real-world Observational Research (AURORA)
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Drugs from Bugs: Harnessing the host-microbe interactions that modulate the immune responses in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Professor Mark Morrison
-
2017
Master Philosophy
Delivery of Interleukin-22 using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Murine Colitis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Amirali Popat
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Structure-function relationships of the mucosa-associated microbiota in Crohn's disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerald Holtmann, Professor Mark Morrison
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Depression: Understanding Mindfulness in the Context of Depression and Inflammation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Kisely
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2022
Master Philosophy
Targeting Intestinal Epithelial Cell-Derived Interleukin-23 (p19) To Improve Intestinal Barrier Integrity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ran Wang, Dr Sumaira Hasnain
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the gut-liver axis and immunity in paracetamol-induced toxicity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ran Wang
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of Wnt pathway inhibition on host cell control of Listeria monocytogenes infection
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Antje Blumenthal
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Jakob Begun directly for media enquiries about:
- adolescent
- autophagy
- Crohn's disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- ulcerative colitis
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