Dr Sj Shen
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr Sj Shen

2019 - Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine). Monash University / Monash Medical Centre

2014 - Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Honours). Monash University / Immunology

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

I am a postdoctoral fellow in A/Prof Amany Zekry's group, based at Microbiome Research Centre, St George Clinical School, Kogarah NSW. My research investigates the intricate interactions between host immunity and gut microbiota, and how alterations in the gut contributes and modulates inflammation in the liver. By better understanding the mechanisms that underlie how this "gut-liver axis" impacts liver inflammation and disease, I hope to find how modifying the gut microbiota can prevent or halt the progression of liver cancer.

I am a researcher in respiratory and gastrointestinal tract diseases, with a major focus on the interaction between host immunity and microbiota. I have a special interest in the role that diet plays in immune responses and disease progression and modification. Prior to my current role, I trained as a postdoctoral fellow at UTS / Centenary Institute investigating the importance of microbiota in respiratory diseases.

I completed my PhD at Monash University (2019) examining the interplay between the gut microbiota and neutrophils in a mouse model of colitis. My research topic during his 3rd year research project and Honours (Monash University) was examining the role of dietary fibre and short-chain fatty acids in a mouse models of lung inflammation (allergic airways disease and aspergillosis) and oesophagitis.

Phone
+61-2-9113 1387
Location
Microbiome Research Centre St George Hospital, Kogarah
  • Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'COVID-19 and Gut Injury', Nutrients, 14, pp. 4409 - 4409, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu14204409
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Modulation of the Gut Microbiome to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma', Cancers, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers14092099
    Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Refining a Protocol for Faecal Microbiota Engraftment in Animal Models After Successful Antibiotic-Induced Gut Decontamination', Frontiers in Medicine, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.770017
    Journal articles | 2021
    2021, 'Deficiency of Dietary Fiber Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition, Neutrophil Recruitment and Worsens Experimental Colitis', FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.619366
    Journal articles | 2021
    2021, 'Human β-defensin-2 suppresses key features of asthma in murine models of allergic airways disease', Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 51, pp. 120 - 131, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cea.13766
    Journal articles | 2021
    2021, 'Role of Atypical Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors Pathways in the Pathogenesis of COPD', CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 28, pp. 2577 - 2653, http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867327999200819145327
    Journal articles | 2020
    2020, 'Emerging therapeutic targets and preclinical models for severe asthma', Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 24, pp. 845 - 857, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14728222.2020.1786535
    Journal articles | 2020
    2020, 'Role of Lung Microbiome in Innate Immune Response Associated With Chronic Lung Diseases', Frontiers in Medicine, 7, pp. 554, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.00554
    Journal articles | 2020
    2020, 'The role of the microbiome and the NLRP3 inflammasome in the gut and lung', Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 108, pp. 925 - 935, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/JLB.3MR0720-472RR
    Journal articles | 2019
    2019, 'Advanced age promotes colonic dysfunction and gut-derived lung infection after stroke', Aging Cell, 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acel.12980
    Journal articles | 2018
    2018, 'Invariant natural killer T cells shape the gut microbiota and regulate neutrophil recruitment and function during intestinal inflammation', Frontiers in Immunology, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00999
    Journal articles | 2016
    2016, 'Bugging inflammation: role of the gut microbiota', Clinical and Translational Immunology, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/cti.2016.12
    Journal articles | 2015
    2015, 'Evidence that asthma is a developmental origin disease influenced by maternal diet and bacterial metabolites', Nature Communications, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8320

I am currently investigating the role of the gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. By utilising mouse models, immune phenotyping techniques, molecular analysis and advanced imaging techniques, in addition to in vitro and ex vivo assays, I hope to elucidate the mechanisms of how changes in the gut microbiota affects the progression of liver cancer.