Simon Knowles

Assoc Prof Simon Knowles is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, where he has been a clinical and health academic since 2004. He is a leading expert in Psychogastroenterology, focusing on the psychological aspects of gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD, IBS, gastroparesis, and coeliac disease. He holds affiliations with major institutions including The Alfred Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, and Monash University, and serves on advisory committees for Crohn’s and Colitis Australia and the Rome Foundation.

His research interests are centered on the integration of psychological science with gastrointestinal health. Key areas include:

• Patient-centered interventions for gut-brain disorders
• Digital mental health (eHealth/mHealth) solutions
• Validation of symptom assessment tools (e.g., brain fog, PHQ-4)
• Randomized controlled trials of psychotherapies (ACT, CBT, mindfulness, hypnosis)
• Psychological comorbidities in chronic illness

Simon’s recent publications reflect a strong trajectory in validating clinical tools, evaluating digital interventions, and exploring the psychological dimensions of gastrointestinal diseases. His work frequently involves large-scale international datasets (e.g., Rome Foundation surveys) and emphasizes patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, and symptom mediation models. He has pioneered several free online resilience programs via the MindOverGut platform.

His scientific contributions have been recognized with awards including:

• 1st place, Faculty of Health Arts and Design Research Impact Awards (2019)
• Faculty of Health Arts and Design Supervision Excellence Award (2019)
• Highest Clinical Postgrad Student Unit Satisfaction Award (2019)

Simon has supervised over a dozen PhD students, with research spanning IBD, coeliac disease, bladder/bowel anxieties, and diabetes. He has secured significant competitive funding from sources such as the Department of Health, Rome Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and Australian Research Council. He leads the monthly Australian Rome Foundation Complex Psychogastroenterology case peer support group and established the Brain-Gut Psychological Service at Swinburne in 2024.