Associate Professor Kelly Clemens

Associate Professor Kelly Clemens

Associate Professor
Science
School of Psychology

Kelly Clemens is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, and Associate Dean of Impact Partnerships for the Faculty of Science, UNSW.

Kelly has studied at the University of Otago and the University of Sydney, with post-doctoral experience at the University of Bordeaux, France, and Macquarie University, Sydney, before establishing her own laboratory at UNSW in 2012. Her research focuses on the causes and consequences of drug addiction, spanning basic science through to translational and industry engagement. 

 

Phone
02 9385 8250
  • Book Chapters | 2019
    Khoo S; McNally G; Clemens K, 2019, 'The orexin system and nicotine addiction: Preclinical insights', in Preedy VR (ed.), Neuroscience of Nicotine: Mechanisms and treatment, Academic Press, pp. 509 - 517, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813035-3.00061-7
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Khoo SY-S; McNally GP; Clemens KJ, 2019, 'Chapter 61 The Orexin System and Nicotine Addiction: Preclinical Insights', in Neuroscience of Nicotine, Elsevier, pp. 509 - 517, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-813035-3.00061-7
    Book Chapters | 2013
    McKetin R; Clemens KJ; Kaye SS, 2013, ', Methamphetamine addiction', in Miller PM (ed.), Principles of Addiction, Academic Press
    Book Chapters | 2013
    McKetin R; Kaye SS; Clemens KJ; Hermens D, 2013, 'Chapter 70 Methamphetamine Addiction', in Principles of Addiction, Elsevier, pp. 689 - 698, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-398336-7.00070-x
    Book Chapters | 2013
    McKetin R; Kaye SS; Clemens KJ; Hermens D, 2013, 'Methamphetamine addiction', in Miller PM (ed.), Principles of addiction: comprehensive addictive behaviors and disorders, Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp. 689 - 698
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Caille S; Clemens K; Stinus L; Cador M, 2012, 'Modeling nicotine addiction in rats', in , pp. 243 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-458-2_15
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Muenstermann C; Clemens KJ, 2024, 'Epigenetic mechanisms of nicotine dependence', Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 156, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105505
    Journal articles | 2023
    Clemens KJ; Oei JL; Jantzie LL, 2023, 'Editorial: The neurology and neurobiology of neonatal abstinence syndrome', Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1201352
    Journal articles | 2023
    Sah S; Keable R; Pfundstein G; Clemens KJ; Begg D; Schachner M; Leshchyns’ka I; Sytnyk V, 2023, 'Deficiency in the neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2) reduces axonal levels of beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), affects axonal organization in the hippocampus, and leads to behavioral deficits', Cerebral Cortex, 33, pp. 10047 - 10065, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad264
    Journal articles | 2022
    Fam J; Clemens KJ; Westbrook RF; Morris MJ; Kendig MD, 2022, 'Chronic exposure to cafeteria-style diet in rats alters sweet taste preference and reduces motivation for, but not ‘liking’ of sucrose', Appetite, 168, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105742
    Journal articles | 2022
    Geers AL; Clemens KS; Faasse K; Colagiuri B; Webster R; Vase L; Sieg M; Jason E; Colloca L, 2022, 'Psychosocial factors predict COVID-19 vaccine side effects', Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 91, pp. 136 - 138, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000519853
    Journal articles | 2022
    Holmes NM; Fam JP; Clemens KJ; Laurent V; Westbrook RF, 2022, 'The neural substrates of higher-order conditioning: A review', Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 138, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104687
    Journal articles | 2022
    Youngson NA; Castino MR; Stuart A; Kershaw KA; Holmes NM; Heffernan EC; Waters PD; Morris KV; Clemens KJ, 2022, 'A role for a novel natural antisense-BDNF in the maintenance of nicotine-seeking', Addiction Neuroscience, 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100010
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mastrogiovanni NA; Wheeler AK; Clemens KJ, 2021, 'Social isolation enhances cued-reinstatement of sucrose and nicotine seeking, but this is reversed by a return to social housing', Scientific Reports, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81966-2
    Journal articles | 2020
    Finney CA; Proschogo NW; Snepvangers A; Holmes NM; Westbrook RF; Clemens KJ, 2020, 'The effect of standard laboratory diets on estrogen signaling and spatial memory in male and female rats', Physiology and Behavior, 215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112787
    Journal articles | 2019
    Clemens KJ; Stuart A; Ferguson SG, 2019, 'Pre-quit nicotine decreases nicotine self-administration and attenuates cue- and drug-induced reinstatement', Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33, pp. 364 - 371, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881118822074
    Journal articles | 2019
    Holmes NM; Pan J; Davis A; Panayi MC; Clemens KJ, 2019, 'Rats choose high doses of nicotine in order to compensate for changes in its price and availability', Addiction Biology, 24, pp. 849 - 859, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12637
    Journal articles | 2019
    Kyme AZ; Angelis GI; Eisenhuth J; Fulton RR; Zhou V; Hart G; Popovic K; Akhtar M; Ryder WJ; Clemens KJ; Balleine BW; Parmar A; Pascali G; Perkins G; Meikle SR, 2019, 'Open-field PET: Simultaneous brain functional imaging and behavioural response measurements in freely moving small animals', NeuroImage, 188, pp. 92 - 101, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.051
    Journal articles | 2018
    Castino MR; Baker-Andresen D; Ratnu VS; Shevchenko G; Morris KV; Bredy TW; Youngson NA; Clemens KJ, 2018, 'Persistent histone modifications at the BDNF and Cdk-5 promoters following extinction of nicotine-seeking in rats', Genes, Brain and Behavior, 17, pp. 98 - 106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12421
    Journal articles | 2018
    Clemens KJ; Holmes NM, 2018, 'An extended history of drug self-administration results in multiple sources of control over drug seeking behavior', Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 87, pp. 48 - 55, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.011
    Journal articles | 2018
    Khoo SYS; Clemens KJ; McNally GP, 2018, 'Palatable food self-administration and reinstatement are not affected by dual orexin receptor antagonism', Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 87, pp. 147 - 157, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.028
    Journal articles | 2017
    Clemens KJ; Lay BPP; Holmes NM, 2017, 'Extended nicotine self-administration increases sensitivity to nicotine, motivation to seek nicotine and the reinforcing properties of nicotine-paired cues.', Addiction Biology, 22, pp. 400 - 410, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12336
    Journal articles | 2017
    Huynh C; Fam J; Ahmed SH; Clemens KJ, 2017, 'Rats quit nicotine for a sweet reward following an extensive history of nicotine use', Addiction Biology, 22, pp. 142 - 151, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12306
    Journal articles | 2017
    Khoo SY; McNally GP; Clemens KJ, 2017, 'The dual orexin receptor antagonist TCS1102 does not affect reinstatement of nicotine-seeking', PLoS One, 12, pp. e0173967 - e0173967, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173967
    Journal articles | 2016
    Macnamara CL; Holmes NM; Westbrook RF; Clemens KJ, 2016, 'Varenicline impairs extinction and enhances reinstatement across repeated cycles of nicotine self-administration in rats', Neuropharmacology, 105, pp. 463 - 470, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.02.023
    Journal articles | 2016
    Sharpe MJ; Clemens KJ; Morris MJ; Westbrook RF, 2016, 'Daily Exposure to Sucrose Impairs Subsequent Learning About Food Cues: A Role for Alterations in Ghrelin Signaling and Dopamine D2 Receptors', Neuropsychopharmacology, 41, pp. 1357 - 1365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.287
    Journal articles | 2015
    Castino MR; Cornish JL; Clemens KJ, 2015, 'Inhibition of histone deacetylases facilitates extinction and attenuates reinstatement of nicotine self-administration in rats', PLoS ONE, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124796
    Journal articles | 2014
    Clemens KJ; Castino MR; Cornish JL; Goodchild AK; Holmes NM, 2014, 'Behavioral and Neural Substrates of Habit Formation in Rats Intravenously Self-Administering Nicotine', Neuropsychopharmacology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2014.111
    Journal articles | 2014
    Clemens KJ; Castino MR; Cornish JL; Goodchild AK; Holmes NM, 2014, 'Behavioral and Neural Substrates of Habit Formation in Rats Intravenously Self-Administering Nicotine', Neuropsychopharmacology, 39, pp. 2584 - 2593, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2014.111
    Journal articles | 2013
    Castino M; Cornish J; Goodchild A; Clemens K, 2013, 'THE ROLE OF HISTONE ACETYLATION IN THE ACQUISITION, EXTINCTION AND REINSTATEMENT OF NICOTINE SELF-ADMINISTRATION IN RATS', BEHAVIOURAL PHARMACOLOGY, 24, pp. E50 - E50, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.fbp.0000434849.25290.97
    Journal articles | 2013
    Motbey CP; Clemens KJ; Apetz N; Winstock AR; Ramsey J; Li KM; Wyatt N; Callaghan PD; Bowen MT; Cornish JL; McGregor IS, 2013, 'High levels of intravenous mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) self-administration in rats: Neural consequences and comparison with methamphetamine', Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27, pp. 823 - 836, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881113490325
    Journal articles | 2012
    Pardey MC; Kumar NN; Goodchild AK; Clemens KJ; Homewood J; Cornish JL, 2012, 'Long-term effects of chronic oral ritalin administration on cognitive and neural development in adolescent Wistar Kyoto rats', Brain Sciences, 2, pp. 375 - 404, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci2030375
    Journal articles | 2011
    Holmes N; Clemens KJ, 2011, 'Multiple interpretations of cocaine-seeking behaviour after prolonged self-administration training.', Journal of Neuroscience, 31, pp. 3935 - 3936, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6354-10.2011
    Journal articles | 2010
    Clemens KJ; Caillé S; Cador M, 2010, 'The effects of response operandum and prior food training on intravenous Nicotine self-administration in rats', Psychopharmacology, 211, pp. 43 - 54, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1866-z
    Journal articles | 2010
    Vendruscolo LF; Gueye AB; Vendruscolo JCM; Clemens KJ; Mormède P; Darnaudéry M; Cador M, 2010, 'Reduced alcohol drinking in adult rats exposed to sucrose during adolescence', Neuropharmacology, 59, pp. 388 - 394, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.05.015
    Journal articles | 2009
    Clemens KJ; Caillé S; Stinus L; Cador M, 2009, 'The addition of five minor tobacco alkaloids increases nicotine-induced hyperactivity, sensitization and intravenous self-administration in rats', International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 12, pp. 1355 - 1366, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1461145709000273
    Journal articles | 2009
    Hamlin AS; Mcnally GP; Choi EA; Clemens KJ, 2009, 'Paraventricular thalamus mediates context-induced reinstatement (renewal) of extinguished reward seeking', European Journal of Neuroscience, 29, pp. 802 - 812
    Journal articles | 2008
    Clemens KJ; Vendruscolo LF, 2008, 'Anxious to drink: Gabapentin normalizes GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala and reduces symptoms of ethanol dependence', Journal of Neuroscience, 28, pp. 9087 - 9089, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2928-08.2008
    Journal articles | 2008
    Cornish JL; Clemens KJ; Thompson MR; Callaghan PD; Dawson B; McGregor IS, 2008, 'High ambient temperature increases intravenous methamphetamine self-administration on fixed and progressive ratio schedules in rats', Journal of Psychopharmacology, 22, pp. 100 - 110, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881107082286
    Journal articles | 2008
    Hamlin AS; Clemens KJ; Mcnally GP, 2008, 'Renewal of extinguished cocaine-seeking', Neuroscience, 151, pp. 659 - 670, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.11.018
    Journal articles | 2007
    Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2007, 'Repeated weekly exposure to MDMA, methamphetamine or their combination: Long-term behavioural and neurochemical effects in rats', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 86, pp. 183 - 190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.06.004
    Journal articles | 2007
    Clemens KJ; McGregor IS; Hunt GE; Cornish JL, 2007, 'MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: Possible lessons for party drug users from recent preclinical research', Drug and Alcohol Review, 26, pp. 9 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09595230601036945
    Journal articles | 2006
    Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2006, 'Intravenous methamphetamine self-administration in rats: Effects of intravenous or intraperitoneal MDMA co-administration', Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 85, pp. 454 - 463, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2006.09.015
    Journal articles | 2005
    Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Li KM; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2005, 'MDMA ('Ecstasy') and methamphetamine combined: Order of administration influences hyperthermic and long-term adverse effects in female rats', Neuropharmacology, 49, pp. 195 - 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.03.002
    Journal articles | 2005
    Cornish JL; Lontos JM; Clemens KJ; McGregor IS, 2005, 'Cocaine and heroin ('speedball') self-administration: The involvement of nucleus accumbens dopamine and μ-opiate, but not δ-opiate receptors', Psychopharmacology, 180, pp. 21 - 32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2135-9
    Journal articles | 2005
    McGregor I; Clemens K; Cornish J; Thompson M; Li K; Hunt G, 2005, 'MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: Comparison of long-term behavioural and neural effects in rats', BEHAVIOURAL PHARMACOLOGY, 16, pp. S11 - S11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00008877-200509001-00033
    Journal articles | 2004
    Clemens KJ; Van Nieuwenhuyzen PS; Li KM; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2004, 'MDMA ("ecstacy"), methamphetamine and their combination: Long-term changes in social interaction and neurochemistry in the rat', Psychopharmacology, 173, pp. 318 - 325, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1786-x
    Journal articles | 2004
    Thompson MR; Li KN; Clemens KJ; Gurtman CG; Hunt GE; Cornish JL; McGregor IS, 2004, 'Chronic fluoxetine treatment partly attenuates the long-term anxiety and depressive symptoms induced by MDMA ('Ecstasy') in rats', Neuropsychopharmacology, 29, pp. 694 - 704, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300347
    Journal articles | 2003
    McGregor IS; Clemens KJ; Van Der Plasse G; Li KM; Hunt GE; Chen F; Lawrence AJ, 2003, 'Increased anxiety 3 months after brief exposure to MDMA ('Ecstasy') in rats: Association with altered 5-HT transporter and receptor density', Neuropsychopharmacology, 28, pp. 1472 - 1484, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300185
    Journal articles | 2003
    McGregor IS; Gurtman CG; Morley KC; Clemens KJ; Blokland A; Li KM; Cornish JL; Hunt GE, 2003, 'Increased anxiety and "depressive" symptoms months after MDMA ("ecstasy") in rats: Drug-induced hyperthermia does not predict long-term outcomes', Psychopharmacology, 168, pp. 465 - 474, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1452-8
  • Working Papers | 2019
    Youngson N; Castino M; Stuart A; Kershaw K; Holmes N; Waters P; Morris K; Clemens K, 2019, A natural antisense to brain-derived neurotrophic factor impairs extinction of drug seeking, http://dx.doi.org10.1101/851949
  • Preprints | 2022
    Amanda Tan RP; Kozlova I; Su F; Sah S; Keable R; Hagan W; Bustamante S; Du X; Osborne B; Turner N; Clemens K; Begg D; Phelps E; Yang H; Leshchyns’ka I; Sytnyk V, 2022, Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) promotes synaptic targeting of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.08.479601
    Conference Abstracts | 2015
    Castino M; Youngson N; Baker-Andresen D; Ratnu V; Bredy T; Clemens K, 2015, 'Transcriptional and epigenetic factors underlying the extinction of nicotine-seeking behaviour in the rat', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, Vol. 134, pp. 349 - 349, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300896&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2015
    Clemens K; Lay B; Holmes N, 2015, 'The effect of the partial receptor agonist varenicline on responding maintained by nicotine-associated cues', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, Vol. 134, pp. 349 - 350, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300899&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2015
    Khoo SY; McNally GP; Clemens KJ, 2015, 'effect of the dual orexin receptor antagonist TCS1102 on intravenous nicotine self-administration and reinstatement in the rat', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, Vol. 134, pp. 215 - 215, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, AUSTRALIA, Cairns, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300525&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Project Grants

  • NHMRC Ideas Grant (2024-2027) Clemens K, Waters P, Jones N, Zimmermann K; Next generation biological therapeutics for the treatment of addiction.
  • NHMRC Ideas Grant (2024-2027) Clemens K, van Dorst J, Zimmermann K; Protecting the unborn: Treatments for prenatal opioid exposure and its long-term effects.
  • NHMRC Ideas Grant (2020-2022) Clemens K, Waters P; A role for long non-coding RNA in the persistence of drug seeking.
  • ARC Discovery Project (2020-2022) Clemens K; Does nicotine make memories stronger?

 

Awards, Fellowships

  • UNSW Scientia Fellowship (2018-2022)
  • Faculty of Science Research Grant (2013, 2017, 2018)
  • Faculty of Science Visiting Academic Fellowship (2013) Prof. Serge Ahmed
  • Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) (2012-2015)
  • Macquarie University Research Fellowship (2010-2012)

A/Prof Clemens has broad interests in addiction biology and this is reflected in the main research themes in her laboratory. The first focuses on the molecular, including the array of epigenomic and transcriptomic changes that occur in response to drugs of abuse. It is hypothesised that molecular changes in the brain could be the mechanism through which drug cravings can persist and instigate relapse, even after very long periods of abstinence. To pursue this possibility, A/Prof Clemens uses a range of molecular techniques and bioinformatics to assess changes in the brain that occur following drug exposure. Using identified targets (in particular non-coding RNA), she is then able to manipulate the expression of these targets in vivo and show functional changes in drug-seeking behaviour. Working with collaborators in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences as well as industry partners in Biotechnology and Gene Therapeutics, she is hoping to develop targeted gene therapies to treat addiction and other mental health disorders. 

A second major theme is using knowledge in the behavioural neuroscience of drug addiction for direct translational outcomes. Working closely with Neonatologists at the Royal Hospital for Women, A/Prof Clemens is characterising changes in the brain and behaviour of rats prenatally exposed to opioids, with a particular focus on possible preventative or treatment measures. This study encompasses a whole-body approach, with a particular focus on the gut-brain axis and how drugs that improve gut health may significantly improve long-term outcomes for infants. This work is paralleled by a human study in collaboration with outstanding clinicians across the South Western Sydney Local Health District, to accelerate the potential for rapid translational outcomes. 

Finally, A/Prof Clemens' lab has an extensive history in the basic study of behavioural neuroscience in addiction, and further research in her lab makes use of sophisticated in vivo imaging techniques (e.g. calcium imaging) as well as post-mortem approaches (RNA scope, Immunofluorescence). Together these three themes are aimed at improving our understanding of the consequences of drugs of abuse, with a clear pathway towards industry engagement and translation. 

 

My Research Supervision

Caspar Muenstermann (PhD)

Timothy Hill (PhD)

Isobel Williams (PhD)

Rinjani Soengkoeng (PhD/Clinical Masters combined)

Psychology Honours (3/year)

Neuroscience Honours (1/year)

 

My Teaching

PSYC 3051 Physiological Psychology

NEUR 4411 Neuroscience Honours: Behavioural Neuroscience (Course Convenor)