Sally Bell

Adj Assoc Prof

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

1. Digital transformation of liver and luminal GI health
2. Transformation of care of decompensated liver disease
3. Fertility in women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
4. Substance abuse and Chronic Liver disease

1996 …2025

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

I am an active translational and collaborative researcher, delivering clinical research programs, national and international research collaborations, higher degree supervision and over 10 years of clinical trial experience. I have supervised of 6 completed PhDs, and 1 postdoctoral fellow and have four current PhD students, in IBD and pregnancy, genetics of pancreatobiliary cancer, liver cancer, and decompensated cirrhosis. I am nationally recognised as a strong clinical researcher with an interest in medical education and training. I have a unique breadth and depth of clinical skill in inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and nutrition combined with experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering patient focussed, clinically relevant research.

Research interests

  • IBD and pregnancy: as PI of the Pregnancy and IBD research group, PICCOLO, I have led pivotal research to define the outcome of babies born to mothers with inflammatory bowel disease exposed to inflammation and immune suppression, establishing drug safety and clearance in neonates, along with the impact of medication and inflammation on neurocognitive and immune outcomes. 
  • Epidemiology of Liver cancer: Accurate measurement of incidence, prevalence and outcomes of liver cancer in Melbourne has improved the accuracy of measuring the incidence of primary liver cancer in Victoria, resulting in increased recognition and national funding for liver cancer research. 
  • Surevillance for liver cancer: our group is currently assessing the feasibility and acceptability of digital models of care for cancer surveillance and the health economics of biomarker screening strategies.
  • Epidemiology of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our group has previously established the incidence, prevalence and natural history of inflammatory bowel disease in Australia, and determined natural history and predictors of outcomes. Current work involves improving cancer surveillance in the IBD group and determining outcomes in patients with IBD/PSC
  • Digital transformation of healthcare: Current research involves using novel out of hospital approaches to chronic health conditions such as decompensated cirrhosis, leveraging digital solutions and new models of care to increase patient engagement, increase clinician satisfaction, and improve patient outcomes.

Clinical activities

  • Clinical gastroenterologist and hepatologist and Director of Gastroenterology at Monash Health, the largest gastroenterology service in Australia.
  • Provision of multidisciplinary quaternary referral services for inflammatory bowel disease including special needs groups such as pregnant women and fistula patients.
  • Managment of advanced liver disease

Teaching and Training

  • Fellow, Academy of clinical teachers, University of Melbourne 2015-2019
  • Educational Supervisor for basic physician trainees and mentor to multiple FRACP candidates and gastroenterology advanced trainees.
  • Past FRACP examiner 
  • Significant contribution to Australian GE training:
    • Past chair and committee member Advanced training committee in Gastroenterology, RACP
    • Key achievements include; lead author of the national GE training curriculum, introduction of more transparent selection processes in GE training via state based computer matching, and improved breadth of training by introduction of mandatory rotation between training sites

Consulting

  • Advisory expertise and research collaboration experience with international biotech and Pharma companies

Community Service

  • Representative on national specialty society (GE Society of Australia, GESA) including 5 years as head of the gastroenterology training committee (RACP), 2 years on GESA council, periods on both the liver and IBD subcommittees and liaison with government regarding introduction of biosimilar biologic medication.
  • Promotion of women in gastroenterology and medicine by attracting and mentoring female trainees, founder of the Mentoring for Medical Women program at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Education/Academic qualification

Hepatology, Doctorate of Medicine, The role of NS5A in Interferon sensitivity in hepatitis C virus infection, University of Melbourne

Award Date: 1 Jan 2000

Medicine, MB.BS, University of Melbourne

Award Date: 9 Dec 1989

Research area keywords

  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Epidemiology
  • liver cancer
  • liver disease
  • EDUCATION
  • Pancreatic Cancer

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or