Elizabeth Beckett

Research Interests

Nutrition and Metabolic Health Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health Immunology and Infection

Prof Elizabeth Beckett

Professor

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science

College of Health

Elizabeth is an education specialist within the College of Health at Adelaide University. Elizabeth has curriculum leadership experience across undergraduate biomedical science and medical programs and teaches widely across biomedical science, medicine and dentistry programs.
Elizabeth is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

As an Education Specialist, Elizabeth is interested in investigating the efficacy of various teaching approaches, including discovery learning, and the use of digital interactive resources within health science undergraduate programs. 

Date Position Institution name
2015 - ongoing Senior Lecturer Level C University of Adelaide
2008 - 2014 Lecturer Level B University of Adelaide

Date Institution name Country Title
2000 - 2004 University of Nevada, Reno United States PhD (Cellular & Molecular Physiology & Pharmacology)
1996 - 2000 Queen's University Belfast United Kingdom BSc Hons (Physiology)

Date Title Institution name Country
2014 Graduate Certificate of Education (Higher Education) University of Adelaide Australia

Year Citation
2025 Kwon, J. G., Hwang, S. J., Beckett, E. A. H., Sanders, K. M., & Ward, S. (2025). DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES TO PROSTAGLANDINS IN THE CIRCULAR AND LONGITUDINAL MUSCLE LAYERS OF THE MURINE ILEUM.. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 329(1), G29-G44.
DOI
2025 Hwang, S. J., Kwon, J. G., Beckett, E. A. H., Kim, M., Herbert, T., Sanders, K. M., & Ward, S. M. (2025). Functional roles of interstitial cells of Cajal in the GI tract of rats.. American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, 328(6), G677-G695.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2023 Tangalakis, K., Lexis, L., Hryciw, D. H., Towstoless, M., Bakker, A. J., Beckett, E., . . . Hayes, A. (2023). ESTABLISHING CONSENSUS FOR THE CORE CONCEPTS OF PHYSIOLOGY IN THE AUSTRALIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXT USING THE DELPHI METHOD.. Advances in physiology education, 47(3), 419-426.
DOI Scopus22 WoS14 Europe PMC13
2023 Beckett, E., Gaganis, V., Bakker, A. J., Towstoless, M., Hayes, A., Hryciw, D. H., . . . Task Force. (2023). Unpacking the Homeostasis Core Concept in Physiology: An Australian Perspective.. Advances in physiology education, 47(3), 427-435.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2023 Moro, C., Douglas, T., Phillips, R., Towstoless, M., Hayes, A., Hryciw, D. H., . . . Perry, B. (2023). Unpacking and validating the “integration” core concept of physiology by an Australian team. Advances in Physiology Education, 47(3), 436-442.
DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC7
2023 Perry, B., Cameron, M., Cooke, M. B., Towstoless, M., Hryciw, D. H., Hayes, A., . . . Todd, G. (2023). Unpacking the renal system component of the 'structure and function' core concept of physiology by an Australian team. Advances in Physiology Education, 47(3), 453-460.
DOI Scopus2 Europe PMC1
2023 Brown, D., Uebergang, T., Masters, N., Towstoless, M., Hayes, A., Hryciw, D. H., . . . Douglas, T. (2023). Unpacking the “movement of substances” core concept of physiology by an Australian team. Advances in Physiology Education, 47(3), 514-520.
DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC3
2021 Dodds, K. N., Kyloh, M. A., Travis, L., Beckett, E., & Spencer, N. J. (2021). Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 529(8), 2029-2041.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC8
2021 Choate, J., Aguilar-Roca, N., Beckett, E., Etherington, S., French, M., Gaganis, V., . . . Zubek, J. (2021). International educators' attitudes, experiences, and recommendations after an abrupt transition to remote physiology laboratories. Advances in physiology education, 45(2), 310-321.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12 Europe PMC8
2021 Dodds, K. N., Travis, L., Beckett, E. A., & Spencer, N. J. (2021). Identification of a novel distension-evoked motility pattern in the mouse uterus. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 321(3), R317-R327.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2021 Gaganis, V., Beckett, E., Choate, J., Aguilar-Roca, N., Etherington, S., Haigh, C., . . . French, M. (2021). Virtual delivery: a panacea for the financial and ethical challenges associated with physiology laboratory classes?. Adv Physiol Educ, 45(4), 744-748.
DOI Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2019 Dodds, K., Beckett, E., Evans, S., & Hutchinson, M. (2019). Spinal glial adaptations occur in a minimally invasive mouse model of endometriosis: potential implications for lesion etiology and persistent pelvic pain. Reproductive Sciences, 26(3), 1-13.
DOI Scopus22 WoS20 Europe PMC18
2018 Hofma, B., Wardill, H., Mavrangelos, C., Campaniello, M., Dimasi, D., Bowen, J., . . . Hughes, P. (2018). Colonic migrating motor complexes are inhibited in acute tri-nitro benzene sulphonic acid colitis. PLoS ONE, 13(6), e0199394-1-e0199394-15.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC12
2018 Spencer, N., Greenheigh, S., Kyloh, M., Hibberd, T., Sharma, H., Grundy, L., . . . Zagorodnyuk, V. (2018). Identifying unique subtypes of spinal afferent nerve endings within the urinary bladder of mice. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 526(4), 707-720.
DOI Scopus40 WoS37 Europe PMC30
2018 Beckett, E., Staikopoulos, V., & Hutchinson, M. (2018). Differential effect of morphine on gastrointestinal transit, colonic contractions and nerve-evoked relaxations in Toll-Like Receptor deficient mice. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 5923-1-5923-13.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC15
2017 Beckett, E., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2017). Inhibitory responses mediated by vagal nerve stimulation are diminished in stomachs of mice with reduced intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 1-11.
DOI Scopus19 WoS13 Europe PMC17
2017 Dodds, K. N., Beckett, E. A., Evans, S. F., & Hutchinson, M. R. (2017). Lesion development is modulated by the natural estrous cycle and mouse strain in a minimally invasive model of endometriosis. Biology of Reproduction, 97(6), 810-821.
DOI Scopus26 WoS23 Europe PMC21
2016 Spencer, N. J., Kyloh, M., Beckett, E. A., Brookes, S., & Hibberd, T. (2016). Different types of spinal afferent nerve endings in stomach and esophagus identified by anterograde tracing from dorsal root ganglia. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524(15), 3064-3083.
DOI Scopus44 WoS41 Europe PMC40
2016 Dodds, K., Beckett, E., Evans, S., Grace, P., Watkins, L., & Hutchinson, M. (2016). Glial contributions to visceral pain : implications for disease etiology and the female predominance of persistent pain. Translational Psychiatry, 6(9), e888-1-e888-13.
DOI Scopus52 WoS51 Europe PMC44
2015 Dodds, K., Staikopoulos, V., & Beckett, E. (2015). Uterine contractility in the nonpregnant mouse: changes during the estrous cycle and effects of chloride channel blockade. Biology of Reproduction, 92(6), 141-1-141-15.
DOI Scopus33 WoS28 Europe PMC28
2014 Barnes, K., Beckett, E., Brookes, S., Sia, T., & Spencer, N. (2014). Control of intrinsic pacemaker frequency and velocity of colonic migrating motor complexes in mouse. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 8(May), 96-1-96-8.
DOI Scopus35 WoS33 Europe PMC30
2014 Herweijer, G., Kyloh, M., Dodds, K. N., Spencer, N. J., & Spencer, E. (2014). Characterization of primary afferent spinal innervation of mouse uterus. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 8(Jul), 202-1-202-6.
DOI Scopus18 WoS18 Europe PMC18
2013 Yool, A., Morelle, J., Cnops, Y., Verbavatz, J., Campbell, E., Spencer, E., . . . Devuyst, O. (2013). AqF026 is a pharmacologic agonist of the water channel aquaporin-1. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 24(7), 1045-1052.
DOI Scopus59 WoS53 Europe PMC48
2013 Spencer, N., Nicholas, S., Sia, T., Staikopoulos, V., Kyloh, M., & Spencer, E. (2013). By what mechanism does ondansetron inhibit colonic migrating motor complexes: does it require endogenous serotonin in the gut wall?. Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 25(8), 677-685.
DOI Scopus32 WoS29 Europe PMC28
2010 Roberts, R., Ellis, M., Gwynne, R., Bergner, A., Lewis, M., Spencer, E., . . . Young, H. (2010). The first intestinal motility patterns in fetal mice are not mediated by neurons or interstitial cells of Cajal. Journal of Physiology-London, 588(7), 1153-1169.
DOI Scopus82 WoS70 Europe PMC63
2009 Migliati, E., Meurice, N., Dubois, P., Fang, J., Somasekharan, S., Spencer, E., . . . Yool, A. (2009). Inhibition of aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-4 water permeability by a derivative of the loop diuretic bumetanide acting at an internal pore-occluding binding site. Molecular Pharmacology, 76(1), 105-112.
DOI Scopus150 WoS140 Europe PMC124
2008 Spencer, E., Han, I., Baker, S., Han, J., Britton, F., & Koh, S. (2008). Functional and molecular identification of pH-sensitive K+ channels in murine urinary bladder smooth muscle. BJU International, 102(1), 113-124.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC9
2007 Spencer, E., Ro, S., Bayguinov, Y., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2007). Kit signaling is essential for development and maintenance of interstitial cells of Cajal and electrical rhythmicity in the embryonic gastrointestinal tract. Developmental Dynamics, 236(1), 60-72.
DOI Scopus82 WoS78 Europe PMC70
2007 Spencer, E., Hollywood, M., Thornbury, K., & McHale, N. (2007). Spontaneous electrical activity in sheep mesenteric lymphatics. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 5(1), 29-44.
DOI Scopus42 Europe PMC39
2006 Spencer, E., McCloskey, C., O'Kane, N., Sanders, K., & Koh, S. (2006). Effects of female steroid hormones on A-type K⁺ currents in murine colon. Journal of Physiology-London, 573(2), 453-468.
DOI Scopus26 WoS21 Europe PMC21
2005 Cho, S., Spencer, E., Baker, S., Han, I., Park, K., Monaghan, K., . . . Koh, S. (2005). A pH-sensitive potassium conductance (TASK) and its function in the murine gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Physiology-London, 565(1), 243-259.
DOI Scopus26 WoS24 Europe PMC21
2005 Spencer, E., Takeda, Y., Yanase, H., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2005). Synaptic specializations exist between enteric motor nerves and interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine stomach. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 493(2), 193-206.
DOI Scopus85 WoS79 Europe PMC73
2004 Spencer, E., Bayguinov, Y., Sanders, K., Ward, S., & Hirst, D. (2004). Properties of unitary potentials generated by intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine and guinea-pig gastric fundus. Journal of Physiology-London, 559(1), 259-269.
DOI Scopus53 WoS47 Europe PMC45
2003 Spencer, E., McGeough, C., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2003). Pacing of interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine gastric antrum: neurally mediated and direct stimulation. Journal of Physiology-London, 553(2), 545-559.
DOI Scopus78 WoS67 Europe PMC62
2002 Kim, T., Spencer, E., Hanna, R., Koh, S., Ordog, T., Ward, S., & Sanders, K. (2002). Regulation of pacemaker frequency in the murine gastric antrum. Journal of Physiology-London, 538(1), 145-157.
DOI Scopus43 WoS36 Europe PMC30
2002 Hirst, D., Spencer, E., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2002). Regional variation in contribution of myenteric and intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal to generation of slow waves in mouse gastric antrum. Journal of Physiology-London, 3(3), 1003-1012.
DOI Scopus93 WoS81 Europe PMC86
2002 Spencer, E., Horiguchi, K., Khoyi, M., Sanders, K., & Ward, S. (2002). Loss of enteric motor neurotransmission in the gastric fundus of Sl/Sld mice. Journal of Physiology-London, 543(3), 871-887.
DOI Scopus129 WoS113 Europe PMC117
2002 Sergeant, G., Large, R., Spencer, E., McGeough, C., Ward, S., & Horowitz, B. (2002). Microarray comparison of normal and W/Wv mice in the gastric fundus indicates a supersensitive phenotype. Physiological Genomics, 11(1), 1-9.
DOI Scopus33 WoS33 Europe PMC32
2002 Lorenz, J., Riddervold, M., Spencer, E., Baker, S., & Perrino, B. (2002). Differential autophosphorylation of CaM kinase II from phasic and tonic smooth muscle tissues. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 283(5), C1399-C1413.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC14
2000 Ward, S. M., Beckett, E. A. H., Wang, X. Y., Baker, F., Khoyi, M., & Sanders, K. M. (2000). Interstitial cells of Cajal mediate cholinergic neurotransmission from enteric motor neurons. Journal of Neuroscience, 20(4), 1393-1403.
DOI Scopus426 WoS393 Europe PMC322

Year Citation
2017 Beckett, E. A., Young, H. M., Bornstein, J. C., & Jadcherla, S. R. (2017). Development of Gut Motility. In C. Faure, N. Thapar, & C. Di Lorenzo (Eds.), Pediatric Neurogastroenterology
Gastrointestinal Motility and Functional Disorders in Children (2nd ed., pp. 21-37). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI
2016 Beckett, E., Young, H., Bornstein, J., & Jadcherla, S. (2016). Development of gut motility. In Pediatric Neurogastroenterology: Gastrointestinal Motility and Functional Disorders in Children: Second Edition (pp. 21-37). Springer International Publishing.
DOI Scopus1
2013 Young, H., Spencer, E., Bornstein, J., & Jadcherla, S. (2013). Development of gut motility. In C. Faure, C. Di Lorenzo, & N. Thapar (Eds.), Pediatric Neurogastroenterology: Gastrointestinal Motility and Functional Disorders in Children (1 ed., pp. 23-35). United States: Springer.
DOI Scopus2

Year Citation
2025 Canny, B., Kenyon, G., Phillips, O., Arnold, M., Sage-Jacobson, S., Ghannam, S., . . . Sharpe, C. (2025). What do they need to know? Developing a curriculum on artificial intelligence for medical students.. In ANZAHPE 2025. Perth.
2024 Dillon, A., Billington, A., Beckett, E., Mingorance, C., Stojanovic, M., Katharesan, V., . . . Canny, B. (2024). A tale of two partners: working with students during implementation of a new medical curriculum to enhance student experience. In ANZAHPE. Adelaide.
2023 Arnold, M., Dillon, A., Mingorance, C., Beckett, E., & Canny, B. (2023). Scenario-Based Learning (SBL) - evolving inquiry-based learning strategies for a new MD program. In .. Gold Coast.
2015 Dodds, K., Beckett, E., Staikopoulos, V., Evans, S., & Hutchinson, M. (2015). Novel mouse model of endometriosis permits identification of spinal glia and nociception characteristics involved in pelvic pain. In JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY Vol. 134 (pp. 267). Cairns, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2005 Beckett, E., Troung, H., McCloskey, C., Takeda, Y., Sanders, K. M., & Koh, S. D. (2005). Effects of female steroid hormoneS on the expression of potassium currents in murine colonic myocytes. In BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL Vol. 88 (pp. 630A). Long Beach, CA: BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY.
2002 Beckett, E. A. H., Bayginov, J., Hanna, R., McGeough, C. M., Sanders, K. M., & Ward, S. M. (2002). Developmental plasticity of ICC networks and pacemaker activity in intestinal tissues.. In GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 122 (pp. A37). W B SAUNDERS CO.
WoS1

Year Citation
2024 Beckett, E., Stojanovic, M., Haberberger, R., & Katharesan, V. (2024). Revitalising biomedical practicals by cultivating curiosity to enhance the experience and engagement of medical students. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE). Adelaide, Australia.
2020 Dodds, K. N., Beckett, E. A. H., & Spencer, N. J. (2020). Coordination of spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity in the isolated non-pregnant mouse uterus. Poster session presented at the meeting of NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY. WILEY.
2016 Campaniello, M., Mavrangelos, C., Dimasi, D., Hofma, B., Eade, S., Smid, S., . . . Hughes, P. A. (2016). Innate cell infiltration during acute TNBS colitis alters enteric nerve activity. Poster session presented at the meeting of Gastroenterology. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Inc..
DOI

Elizabeth plays a key role in curriculum development and implementation of the Bachelor of Medical Studies undergraduate medical program and teaches widely across the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences educational programs including the Bachelor of Health Science and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The Role of Nitroxyl in the Development of Neuropathic Pain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Vicky Staikopoulos
2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Role of Spinal Glia and Toll-Like Receptor 4 in the Development of Endometriosis and Neuroimmune-Associated Pain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Kelsi Nicole Dodds

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2018 - ongoing Co-Chair Faculty Learning Quality Innovation Committee University of Adelaide Australia

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