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  • Dr Lois Balmer

    Dr Lois Balmer

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Dr Lois Balmer

Senior Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 5147
Email: l.balmer@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO21.504  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5618-0555

Dr Lois Balmer is a Senior Lecturer and Research Scholar in the School of Medical and Health Sciences in the discipline of medical sciences. She is also the Deputy Program Lead of the Suboptimal Health Stream in the Centre for Precision Health. Dr Balmer not only teaches to undergraduate and postgraduate students but is instrumental in finding the nexus between teaching and research. This is seen by the supervision of over 6 PhD students and awards for teaching over the past 5 years.

Current Teaching

Unit Co-ordinator of three undergraduate units:

  • SCH2141 Advanced Biomedical Techniques
  • SCH2226 Human Molecular Genetics
  • SCH3223 Medical Genetics

Unit Co-ordinator of one postgraduate unit:

  • SCH6234  Molecular Biology and Genomics

Course Co-ordinator of:

  • Artificial Reproductive Technology Masters

Co-Ordinator of:

  • Minor Human Genetics
  • Human  Genetics Major

Background

Dr Balmer is a researcher and lecturer at ECU; she is also a research officer at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.  Her research focus in the genetics and complications of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, where she has worked for the past 12 years.

Professional Associations

  • Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
  • Australian Diabetes Society (ADS)
  • Women in Technology WA (WiTWA)
  • Science Teachers Association of Western Australia (STAWA)
  • Australian Society for Medical Research (ASBMB)
  • Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)

Awards and Recognition

  • SDR Scientific Education Award from the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2021
  • Edith Cowan University Vice-Chancellor's Citation Award, 2018
  • Pitch-It-To-Win-It 2014 second prize
  • Bala Krishnamurthy and Lois Balmer
    Funding Body:-NH&MRC program Grant internal funding to AI’s
    Title:- Identification of genes protecting mice from diabetes induced by highly pathogenic T cell
    Amount $16,667
    Awarded 2014/2015
  • Chief Investigator A: Professor Thomas Kay
    Associate Investigators:- L. Balmer., C. Nguyen., et al   
    Funding Body:- NH&MRC Program Grant
    Title:- Pathogenesis-based treatment of type 1 diabetes
    Amount $1,200,000/year (2012 to 2017)

Grants and Funding

  1. CIA Lois Balmer and Bala Krishnamurthy. NH&MRC program Grant internal funding
    Identification of genes protecting mice from diabetes induced by highly pathogenic T cell, 2015, $16,667
  2. AI L. Balmer., C. Nguyen., et al ,  NH&MRC Program Grant
    Pathogenesis-based treatment of type 1 diabetes, 2012-2017, $1,200,000/year
  3. CIA Lois Balmer. ECU Early Career Research Grant
    Beta cell mass and Islet production in the Collaborative Cross, 2016, $30,000

Research Areas and Interests

The genetics of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Myelitis, Genetics, Complications from Diabetes, Glycomics and Sub Optimal Health
Status, Scholarship of teaching and curriculum design.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia, 2005.

Research Outputs

2024

Journal Articles

  • Zhou, C., Balmer, L., Song, M., Wu, K., Wang, W., Wang, H. (2024). CircPVT1 promotes migration and invasion by regulating miR-490-5p/HAVCR2 axis in osteosarcoma cells. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 28(8), Article number e18269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.18269.
  • Zhou, C., Balmer, L., Song, M., Mahara, G., Wu, K., Wang, W., Wang, H. (2024). Identification of circRNA biomarkers in osteosarcoma: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Non-coding RNA Research, 9(2), 341-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.01.007.
  • Obirikorang, C., Adu, E., Anto, E., Afum-Adjei Awuah, A., Fynn, A., Osei-Somuah, G., Nyarkoa-Ansong, P., Boakye, A., Ofori-Boadu, I., Obirikorang, Y., Adobasom-Anane, A., Nyarko, E., Balmer, L. (2024). Prevalence and risk factors of obesity among undergraduate student population in Ghana: an evaluation study of body composition indices. BMC Public Health, 24(1), Article number 877. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17175-5.
  • Wu, Z., Jiang, Y., Guo, Z., Li, P., Zheng, Y., Wang, Y., Zhang, H., Balmer, L., Li, X., Tao, L., Zhang, Q., Gao, B., Guo, X. (2024). Remnant cholesterol traits and risk of stroke: A multivariable Mendelian randomization study. PNAS Nexus, 3(2), Article number pgae033. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae033.
  • Wu, D., Chen, G., Lan, Y., Chen, S., Ding, X., Wei, C., Balmer, L., Wang, W., Wu, S., Xu, W. (2024). Measurement of cumulative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and monocyte to high density lipoprotein ratio in the risk prediction of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22(1), Article number 110. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-04895-4.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Tian, C., Balmer, L., Tan, X. (2023). COVID‑19 lessons to protect populations against future pandemics by implementing PPPM principles in healthcare. EPMA Journal, 14(3), 329-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13167-023-00331-7.
  • Lan, Y., Wu, D., Cai, Z., Xu, Y., Ding, X., Wu, W., Lan, S., Chen, L., Guo, Z., Balmer, L., Li, X., Song, M., Wu, S., Gao, J., Wang, W., Chen, Y. (2023). Supra-additive effect of chronic inflammation and atherogenic dyslipidemia on developing type 2 diabetes among young adults: a prospective cohort study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 22(1), Article number 181. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-023-01878-5.
  • Hill, C., Liu, A., McCahon, L., Zhong, L., Shafaei Darestani, A., Balmer, L., Lewis, J., Hodgson, J., Blekkenhorst, L. (2023). S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide and its potential role in human health: a scoping review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2023(Article in press), TBD. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2023.2267133.
  • Wu, Z., Guo, Z., Zheng, Y., Wang, Y., Zhang, H., Pan, H., Li, Z., Balmer, L., Li, X., Tao, L., Guo, X., Wang, W. (2023). IgG N-Glycosylation Cardiovascular Age Tracks Cardiovascular Risk Beyond Calendar Age. Engineering, Article in press(Article in press), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2022.12.004.
  • Lan, Y., Chen, G., Wu, D., Ding, X., Huang, Z., Wang, X., Balmer, L., Li, X., Song, M., Wang, W., Wu, S., Chen, Y. (2023). Temporal relationship between atherogenic dyslipidemia and inflammation and their joint cumulative effect on type 2 diabetes onset: a longitudinal cohort study. BMC Medicine, 21(1), Article number 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02729-6.
  • Wu, D., Lan, Y., Chen, S., Ding, X., Chen, G., Wu, C., Balmer, L., Xu, W., Wu, S., Wang, W. (2023). Combined effect of adiposity and elevated inflammation on incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 22(Article in press), Article number 351. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-023-02067-0.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Wu, D., Lan, Y., Xu, Y., Xu, S., Huang, Y., Balmer, L., Maharra, G., Xu, W., Wang, W., Wu, S. (2022). Association of cumulative monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio with the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 21(1), Article Number 268. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-022-01701-7.
  • Xu, X., Balmer, L., Chen, Z., Mahara, G., Lin, L. (2022). The role of IgG N-galactosylation in spondyloarthritis. Translational Metabolic Syndrome Research, 5(2022), 16-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmsr.2022.01.001.
  • Hill, C., Shafaei Darestani, A., Balmer, L., Lewis, J., Hodgson, J., Millar, H., Blekkenhorst, L. (2022). Sulfer compounds: From plants to humans and their role in chronic disease prevention.. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2022(article in press), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2057915.
  • Macdonald, S., Bosio, E., Nathan, S., Balmer, L., Burrows, S., Hibbs, M., Jowitt, T., Smart, L., Arendts, G., Fatovich, D. (2022). No association between intravenous fluid volume and endothelial glycocalyx shedding in patients undergoing resuscitation for sepsis in the emergency department. Scientific Reports, 12(1), article number 8733. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12752-x.
  • Guo, Z., Meng, R., Zheng, Y., Li, X., Zhon, Z., Yu, L., Tang, Q., Zhao, Y., Garcia, M., Tan, Y., Song, M., Balmer, L., Wen, J., Hou, H., Tan, X., Wang, W. (2022). Translation and cross-cultural validation of a precision health tool, the Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25, in Korean. Journal of Global Health, 12(1 October 2022), Article Number 04077. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.12.04077.

2021

Book Chapters

  • Wang, X., Zhong, Z., Balmer, L., Wang, W. (2021). Glycosylation profiling as a biomarker of Suboptimal Health Status for Chronic Disease Stratification. The Role of Glycosylation in Health and Disease (321-339). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70115-4_16.

Journal Articles

  • Obirikorang, C., Adu, EA., Anto, E., Acheampong, E., Quaye, L., Amoah, BY., Annani-Akollor, ME., Kwakye, AS., Fokuoh, F., Appiah, M., Nyarko, EN., Aidoo, F., Adua, E., Afrifa-Yamoah, E., Balmer, L., Wang, W. (2021). Association between Transcription Factor 7-like-2 Polymorphisms and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Ghanaian Population. Sci, 3(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/sci3040040.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Balmer, L., O'Leary, C., Menotti-Raymond, M., David, V., O’brien, S., Penglis, B., Hendrickson, S., Reeves-Johnson, M., Gottlieb, S., Fleeman, L., Vankan, D., Rand, J., Morahan, G. (2020). Mapping of Diabetes Susceptibility Loci in a Domestic Cat Breed with an Unusually High Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus. Genes, 11(11), Article number 1369. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11111369.
  • Jo, Y., Balmer, L., Lee, B., Shim, JA., Ali, LA., Morahan, G., Hong, C. (2020). Variants of innate CD8+ T cells are associated with Grip2 and Klf15 genes. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 17(9), 1007-1009. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-019-0357-3.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Collin, R., Balmer, L., Morahan, G., Lesage, S. (2019). Common Heritable Immunological Variations Revealed in Genetically Diverse Inbred Mouse Strains of the Collaborative Cross. Journal of Immunology, 202(3), 777-786. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1801247.
  • Balmer, L., Whiting, R., Rudnicka, C., Gallo, L., Jandeleit , K., Chow, Z., Chow, Y., Richardson, K., Forbes, J., Morahan, G. (2019). Genetic characterization of early renal changes in a novel mouse model of diabetic kidney disease. Kidney International, 96(4), 918-926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2019.04.031.
  • Ferguson, B., Handoko, HY., Mukhopadhyay, P., Chitsazan, A., Balmer, L., Morahan, G., Walker, GJ. (2019). Different genetic mechanisms mediate spontaneous versus UVR-induced malignant melanoma. eLife, 8(Jan 25, 2019), article no.e42424. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.42424.
  • Salimova, E., Nowak, K., Estrada, A., Furtado, M., McNamara, E., Nguyen, Q., Balmer, L., Preuss, C., Holmes, J., Ramialison, M., Morahan, G., Rosenthal, N. (2019). Variable outcomes of human heart attack recapitulated ingenetically diverse mice. NPJ Regenerative Medicine, 4(2019), Article Number: 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-019-0067-6.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Balmer, L., Weerasekera, L., Morahan, G. (2017). Genetic Variation in the Retinal Vasculature of the Collaborative Cross. Ophthalmology and Vision Science, 1(1), 36-45.
  • Boutilier, J., Taylor, R., Ram, R., McNamara, E., Nguyen, Q., Goullée, H., Chandler, D., Mehta, M., Balmer, L., Laing, N., Morahan, G., Nowak, K. (2017). Variable cardiac α-actin (Actc1) expression in early adult skeletal muscle correlates with promoter methylation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1860(10), 1025-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagrm.2017.08.004.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Andrikopoulos , S., Fam, B., Holdsworth, A., Visinoni, S., Ruan, Z., Stathopoulos, M., Thorburn, A., Joannides, C., Cancilla, M., Balmer, L., Proietto , J., Morahan , G. (2016). Identification of ABCC8 as a contributory gene to impaired early-phase insulin secretion in NZO mice. Journal of Endocrinology, 228(1), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-15-0290.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Weerasekera, LY., Balmer, L., Ram, R., Morahan, G. (2015). Characterization of Retinal Vascular and Neural Damage in a Novel Model of Diabetic Retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 56(6), 3721-30. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-16289.

2014

Journal Articles

2012

Journal Articles

  • Iraqi, F., Mahajne, M., Salaymah, Y., Sandovski, H., Tayem, H., Vered, K., Balmer, L., Hall, M., Manship, G., Morahan, G., Pettit, K., Scholten, J., Tweedie, K., Wallace, A., Weerasekera, L., Cleak, J., Durrant, C., Goodstadt, L., Mott, R., Yalcin, B., Aylor, D., Baric, R., Bell, T., Bendt, K., Brennan, J., Brooks, J., Buus, R., Crowley, J., Calaway, J., Calaway, M., Cholka, A., Darr, D., Didion, J., Dorman, A., Everett, E., Ferris, M., Mathes, W., Fu, C., Gooch, T., Goodson, S., Gralinski, L., Hansen, S., Heise, M., Hoel, J., Hua, K., Kapita, M., Lee, S., Lenarcic, A., Liu, E., Liu, H., McMillan, L., Magnuson, T., Manly, K., Miller, D., O'Brien, D., Odet, F., Pakatci, I., Pan, W., De Villena, F., Perou, C., Pomp, D., Quackenbush, C., Robinson, N., Sharpless, N., Shaw, G., Spence, J., Sullivan, P., Sun, W., Tarantino, L., Valdar, W., Wang, J., Wang, W., Welsh, C., Whitmore, A., Wiltshire, T., Wright, F., Xie, Y., Yun, Z., Zhabotynsky, V., Zhang, Z., Zou, F., Powell, C., Steigerwalt, J., Threadgill, D., Chesler, E., Churchill, G., Gatti, D., Korstanje, R., Svenson, K., Collins, F., Crawford, N., Hunter, K., Samir, N., Kelada, P., Peck, B., Reilly, K., Tavarez, U., Bottomly, D., Hitzeman, R., McWeeney, S., Frelinger, J., Krovi, H., Phillippi, J., Spritz, R., Aicher, L., Katze, M., Rosenzweig, E., Shusterman, A., Nashef, A., Weiss, E., Houri-Haddad, Y., Soller, M., Williams, R., Schughart, K., Yang, H., French, J., Benson, A., Kim, J., Legge, R., Low, S., Ma, F., Martinez, I., Walter, J., Broman, K., Hallgrimsson, B., Klein, O., Weinstock, G., Warren, W., Yang, Y., Schwartz, D. (2012). The Genome Architecture of the Collaborative Cross Mouse Genetic Reference Population. Genetics, 190(2), 389-401. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.111.132639.

2011

Journal Articles

  • Jacoby-Alner, T., Stephens, N., Davern, KM., Balmer, L., Brown, SG., Swindells, K. (2011). Histopathological analysis and in situ localisation of Australian tiger snake venom in two clinically envenomed domestic animals. Toxicon, 58(4), 304-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.07.008.

2008

Journal Articles

  • Shand, J., Davies, W., Thomas, N., Balmer, L., Cowing, JA., Pointer, M., Carvalho, LS., Trezise, AE., Collin, SP., Beazley, LD., Hunt, DM. (2008). The influence of ontogeny and light environment on the expression of visual pigment opsins in the retina of the black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 211(9), 1495-1503.
  • Morahan, G., Balmer, L., Monley, D. (2008). Establishment of "The Gene Mine": a resource for rapid identification of complex trait genes. Mammalian Genome, 19(6), 390-393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-008-9134-9.

Research Projects

  • Exploring the health effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, Edith Cowan University, Early-Mid Career Researcher Grant Scheme 2022 (Stream 2), 2023 ‑ 2024, $39,511.
  • Beta cell mass and Islet production in the Gene Mine mouse strains, Edith Cowan University, ECU Early Career Researcher Grant - 2016, 2016 ‑ 2017, $30,000.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Efficacy of ellagic acid and its microbial metabolites in a diet-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The dynamic change and correlation between gut microbiota and plasma metabolites during the transition from hyperthyroidism to remission in Graves' disease patients
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Horizontal QRS Axis Predicts Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Response and Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients with a Wide QRS Duration

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Published data mining for Biomarker Identification
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Roles of monocytes and macrophages in the development of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Association of Suboptimal Health Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Australian Carers.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Exploring the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Hypertension through Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 alpha-Medicated Regulation of Endothelin-1 and Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 1 in Hypoxic Leiomyoma Smooth Muscle Cells

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Inflammation, metabolic disorders and incident type 2 diabetes
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Investigating roles of IgG N-glycosylation in insulin resistance mediated by adipose tissue inflammation
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Profiling of Oxidative Stress, Angiogenic Growth Mediators, and Metabolic Measures for Early Risk Stratification of Preeclampsia: A Longitudinal Nested-Case Control Study
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Dietary S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide and human health: Mechanisms of action and cardiometabolic effects.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Development and External Validation of a Novel Prognostic Model for Aortic-related Adverse Events after Endovascular Repair in Patients with Type B Aortic Dissection

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Establishment and Characterisation of A Novel Mouse Model of Diabletic Retinopathy

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Roles of remnant cholesterol in the risk factor, occurrence and in-hospital outcomes of stroke

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, How Coxsackievirus B3 Infection Impairing Host Cells by Inducing Aberrant Autophagy
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