
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
2019
Journal Article
Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in youth with inflammatory bowel disease and depression
Ewais, Tatjana, Begun, Jake, Kenny, Maura, Chuang, Kai-Hsiang, Barclay, Johanna, Hay, Karen and Kisely, Steve (2019). Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in youth with inflammatory bowel disease and depression. BMJ Open, 9 (4) e025568, e025568. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025568
2019
Journal Article
Interleukin-22: friend or foe?
Hasnain, Sumaira Z. and Begun, Jakob (2019). Interleukin-22: friend or foe?. Immunology and Cell Biology, 97 (4), 355-357. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12249
2019
Journal Article
Clinical decision support improves quality of care in patients with ulcerative colitis
Jackson, Belinda, Begun, Jake, Gray, Kathleen, Churilov, Leonid, Liew, Danny, Knowles, Simon and De Cruz, Peter (2019). Clinical decision support improves quality of care in patients with ulcerative colitis. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 49 (8), 1040-1051. doi: 10.1111/apt.15209
2019
Conference Publication
Endoscopic balloon dilatation is safe and has a high success rate in patients with stricturing Crohn's disease
Lim, E., Thai, M., Hendy, P., Alchlaihawi, M., Leong, R., Connor, S., Ng, W., Gu, B., van Langenberg, D., Thin, L., Schulberg, J., Kamm, M., Gilmore, R., Taylor, K., Sallis, O., Andrews, J., Daker, C., Barclay, M., Wark, G., Ghaly, S., Begun, M., Krishnaprasad, K. and Begun, J. (2019). Endoscopic balloon dilatation is safe and has a high success rate in patients with stricturing Crohn's disease. 14th Congress of ECCO, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6-9 March 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy222.647
2019
Conference Publication
On the role of inflammation in acute paracetamol injury
Alabbas, Saleh, Movva, Ramya, Begun, Jakob, Florin, Timothy and Oancea, Iulia (2019). On the role of inflammation in acute paracetamol injury. International Liver Congress, Vienna Austria, 10-14 April 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0618-8278(19)30823-0
2019
Conference Publication
Switching Australian patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease from originator infliximab to biosimilar Inflectra: Interim results from a multicenter parallel cohort study
Haifer, C., Srinivasan, A., Menon, S., An, Y., Picardo, S., Van Langenberg, D., Begun, J., Ghaly, S. and Thin, L. (2019). Switching Australian patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease from originator infliximab to biosimilar Inflectra: Interim results from a multicenter parallel cohort study. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) “The Universe Within”, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 8–10 September 2019. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14801
2019
Conference Publication
Investigating the role of bioactives produced by gut bacteria to modulate immune response in inflammatory bowel disease
Giri, R., Cuiv, P. O. and Begun, J. (2019). Investigating the role of bioactives produced by gut bacteria to modulate immune response in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) “The Universe Within”, Adelaide, Australia, 8-10 September 2019. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14800
2019
Journal Article
A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness based interventions and yoga in inflammatory bowel disease
Ewais, Tatjana, Begun, Jake, Kenny, Maura, Rickett, Kirsty, Hay, Karen, Ajilchi, Bita and Kisely, Steve (2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness based interventions and yoga in inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 116, 44-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.11.010
2019
Conference Publication
Effectiveness of fecal calprotectin testing to identify patients with organic gastrointestinal diseases: a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis
An, Y., Prince, D., Gardiner, F., Linedale, E., Andrews, J., Connor, S. and Begun, J. (2019). Effectiveness of fecal calprotectin testing to identify patients with organic gastrointestinal diseases: a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) “The Universe Within”, Adelaide, South Australia, 8-10 September 2019. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14803
2018
Journal Article
Letter: vedolizumab drug concentrations in neonates following intrauterine exposure
Flanagan, Emma, Gibson, Peter R., Begun, Jakob, Ghaly, Simon, Garg, Mayur, Andrews, Jane M., Rosella, Ourania, Rosella, Gennaro and Bell, Sally J. (2018). Letter: vedolizumab drug concentrations in neonates following intrauterine exposure. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 48 (11-12), 1328-1330. doi: 10.1111/apt.15027
2018
Journal Article
Personalizing inflammatory bowel disease treatment symposium: Foreward
Begun, Jakob (2018). Personalizing inflammatory bowel disease treatment symposium: Foreward. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 33 (S3), 3-3. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14414
2018
Conference Publication
Predictors in inflammatory bowel disease: Looking into the magic ball: session one summary
Begun, Jakob (2018). Predictors in inflammatory bowel disease: Looking into the magic ball: session one summary. The Takeda Symposium, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 17 – 18 March 2018. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14415
2018
Conference Publication
Enteric microbiota shape the inflammatory response in mice with a Muc2 misfolding mutation
Wang, R., Giri, R., Moniruzzaman, M., Tong, H., Wong, K. Y., Begun, J., McGuckin, M. A. and Hasnain, S. Z. (2018). Enteric microbiota shape the inflammatory response in mice with a Muc2 misfolding mutation. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) “Gut Matters”, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8-10 September 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2018
Journal Article
Enterococcus faecalis AHG0090 is a genetically tractable bacterium and produces a secreted peptidic bioactive that suppresses nuclear factor Kappa B activation in human gut epithelial cells
Ó Cuív, Páraic, Giri, Rabina, Hoedt, Emily C., McGuckin, Michael A., Begun, Jakob and Morrison, Mark (2018). Enterococcus faecalis AHG0090 is a genetically tractable bacterium and produces a secreted peptidic bioactive that suppresses nuclear factor Kappa B activation in human gut epithelial cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 9 (April) 790, 790. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00790
2018
Journal Article
The role of IL-22 in the resolution of sterile and nonsterile inflammation
Alabbas, Saleh Y, Begun, Jakob, Florin, Timothy H and Oancea, Iulia (2018). The role of IL-22 in the resolution of sterile and nonsterile inflammation. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 7 (4) e1017, e1017. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1017
2018
Journal Article
Gastrointestinal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease: an underused resource with potential paradigm-changing application
Bryant, Robert Venning, Friedman, Antony, Wright, Emily Kate, Taylor, Kirstin, Begun, Jakob, Maconi, Giovanni, Maaser, Christian, Novak, Kerri L., Kucharzik, Torsten, Atkinson, Nathan S. S., Asthana, Anil and Gibson, Peter R. (2018). Gastrointestinal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease: an underused resource with potential paradigm-changing application. Gut, 67 (5), 973-985. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315655
2018
Conference Publication
Crohn's colitis care (CCCare): development and testing of a bespoke cloud-based clinical management system for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Krishnaprasad, K., Walsh, A., Begun, J., Bell, S., Carter, D., Grafton, R., Sechi, A., Sewell, K., McMahon, A., Connor, S., Radford-Smith, G. and Andrews, J. (2018). Crohn's colitis care (CCCare): development and testing of a bespoke cloud-based clinical management system for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 13th Congress of ECCO, Vienna, Austria, 14-17 February 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
2018
Conference Publication
Selectively targeting the gut in inflammatory bowel disease: session four summary
Begun, Jakob (2018). Selectively targeting the gut in inflammatory bowel disease: session four summary. Personalizing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment, Melbourne, Australia, 17-18 March 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14430
2018
Conference Publication
Positioning biologics-A case-based discussion: Ustekinumab
Begun, Jakob (2018). Positioning biologics-A case-based discussion: Ustekinumab. Personalizing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment, Melbourne, Australia, 17-18 March 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14423
2017
Journal Article
Review article: consensus statements on therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases
Mitrev, N., Vande Casteele, N., Seow, C. H., Andrews, J. M., Connor, S. J., Moore, G. T., Barclay, M., Begun, J., Bryant, R., Chan, W., Corte, C., Ghaly, S., Lemberg, D. A., Kariyawasam, V., Lewindon, P., Martin, J., Mountifield, R., Radford-Smith, G., Slobodian, P., Sparrow, M., Toong, C., van Langenberg, D., Ward, M. G. and Leong, R. W. (2017). Review article: consensus statements on therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 46 (11-12), 1037-1053. doi: 10.1111/apt.14368
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Jakob Begun is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel and real-world use of Janus Kinase inhibitors for the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Principal Advisor
-
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, Dr Rabina Giri
-
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, Professor Rob Capon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Metal-organic frameworks as oral delivery carriers for management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rabina Giri, Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Professor Amirali Popat
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating immunomodulatory function of gut microbiome and FXR pathway in IBD
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rabina Giri
-
Doctor Philosophy
Disrupting Immune Responses to Reverse Fibrosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rabina Giri, Dr Sumaira Hasnain
Completed supervision
-
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
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Australia Ustekinumab Real-world Observational Research (AURORA)
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Master Philosophy
Delivery of Interleukin-22 using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Murine Colitis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Amirali Popat
-
2024
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
-
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
-
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
-
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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