
Tanja Karasoulos
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Biomedicine and The Robinson Research Institute, working on the molecular mechanisms that regulate placental development and function, and how their dysregulation - due to various factors - contributes to pregnancy complications.
My current research investigates how micronutrients affect placental morphogenesis, endocrine signaling, maternal insulin resistance, and the development of gestational diabetes. I lead a collaborative research program with colleagues at Flinders University to investigate how folic acid intake during pregnancy affects placental function and maternal insulin resistance, using a combination of cohort-based observational studies and a clinical trial.
In parallel, I use various in vitro models of the human placenta to examine how micronutrients, viruses, and environmental chemicals influence placental morphogenesis and function.
Student supervision: Available Honours and PhD projects commencing in 2026, to conduct in vitro and/or in vivo studies on folic acid modulation of placental function to modify the risk of developing gestational diabetes.
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2024 Smith, M., Plasier, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Williamson, J., Leemaqz, S., Arthurs, A., . . . Pillman, K. (2024). TOWARDS ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY STANDARDS FOR BIOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN PLACENTA. In PLACENTA Vol. 154 (pp. E59). CANADA, Montreal: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2024 Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Smith, M., Leemaqz, S., Mittinity, M., Williamson, J., McCullough, D., . . . Roberts, C. (2024). MATERNAL FOLATE STATUS AND THE PREVALENCE OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS: INSIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIAN PREGNANCY COHORTS. In PLACENTA Vol. 154 (pp. E65). W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2024 Williamson, J., Arthurs, A., Smith, M., Leemaqz, S., McCullough, D., Roberts, C., & Jankovic-Karasoulos, T. (2024). EXCESS FOLIC ACID MIMICS DEFICIENCY IN HUMAN PLACENTA <i>IN VITRO</i>. In PLACENTA Vol. 154 (pp. E64-E65). W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2023 Smith, M., Pillman, K., Leemaqz, S., Arthurs, A., McCullough, D., Williamson, J., . . . Roberts, C. (2023). SEX-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS OF PLACENTAL GENE EXPRESSION IN LATE-ONSET PREECLAMPSIA. In PLACENTA Vol. 140 (pp. E16-E17). Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2023 Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Leemaqz, S., Smith, M., Williamson, J., McCullough, D., Arthurs, A., . . . Roberts, C. (2023). FOLIC ACID FOOD FORTIFICATION, MATERNAL ENDOCRINE STATUS AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS. In PLACENTA Vol. 140 (pp. E80). Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2023 Roberts, C., Leemaqz, S., Arthurs, A., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McCullough, D., Smith, M., & Dekker, G. (2023). MATERNAL DISADVANTAGE AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN TWO AUSTRALIAN PREGNANCY COHORTS. In PLACENTA Vol. 140 (pp. E9). Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2023 Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Leemaqz, S., Smith, M. D., Williamson, J., McCullough, D., Arthurs, A. L., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2023). Folic Acid Food Fortification, Placental Hormones and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. In REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES Vol. 30 (pp. 159A). AUSTRALIA, Brisbane: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2017 Wilson, R. L., Jankovic-Karasoulous, T., McAninch, D., Roberts, C. T., & Bianco-Miotto, T. (2017). IMMUNOLOCALISATION OF 5-METHYLCYTOSINE AND 5HYDROXYMETHYLCYTOSINE IN THE PLACENTA ACROSS GESTATION REVEALS DYNAMIC CO -LOCALISATION OF EXPRESSION. In PLACENTA Vol. 57 (pp. 260-261). Manchester, ENGLAND: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.
DOI2010 Bayliss, J., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Bowden, S., Glogowski, I., & McLean, C. A. (2010). Latent brain JC polyomavirus: the role of immunosuppression and site of viral latency. In BRAIN PATHOLOGY Vol. 20 (pp. 81). Salzburg, AUSTRIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC. 2010 Bayliss, J., Karasoulos, T., Bowden, S., Glogowski, I., & McLean, C. A. (2010). Immunosuppression Increases Latent Infection of Brain by JC Polyomavirus. In JOURNAL OF NEUROVIROLOGY Vol. 16 (pp. 8). ITALY, Milan: SPRINGER. 2006 Thompson, K. A., McLean, C. A., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Mankowski, J. L., & Zink, M. C. (2006). Early CNS entry by HIV-1 infected perivascular macrophages does not result in a viral reservoir in an SIV model of HIV. In BRAIN PATHOLOGY Vol. 16 (pp. S14). CA, San Francisco: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2020 Breen, J., Smith, M., McAninch, D., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McCullough, D., Pederson, S. M., . . . Roberts, C. (2020). Defining Co-expression Patterns and Molecular Pathways of the Placenta During Early Pregnancy.. Poster session presented at the meeting of REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. Vancouver, CANADA: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2020 Wan, Q., Breen, J., Leemaqz, S. Y. -L., Pederson, S. M., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McAninch, D. C., . . . Bianco-Miotto, T. (2020). Characterisation of Placental DNA Methylation Across Early Human Gestation.. Poster session presented at the meeting of REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. Vancouver, CANADA: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2020 Roberts, C. T., Leemaqz, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Grieger, J., McCullough, D., & Dekker, G. (2020). Rising Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: It's Not Just About Maternal Obesity. Poster session presented at the meeting of REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. Vancouver, CANADA: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2016 Wilson, R., Leemaqz, S., Goh, Z., McAninch, D., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Bianco-Miotto, T., & Roberts, C. (2016). ZINC DEFICIENCY ALTERS PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND MATERNAL HEMODYNAMICS CONTRIBUTING TO FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION IN MICE. Poster session presented at the meeting of PLACENTA. Portland, OR: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.
DOI2009 Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Birrell, S. N., Cops, E. J., Jindal, S., Ochnik, A., Thomas, M., . . . Hickey, T. E. (2009). Evaluation of testosterone supplementation during anastrozole therapy in a breast explant model. Poster session presented at the meeting of Cancer Research. San Antonio, Texas: American Association for Cancer Research.
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Preprint
Year Citation 2024 Arthurs, A., Dietrich, B., Knöfler, M., Lushington, C., Thomas, P., Adikusuma, F., . . . Roberts, C. (2024). Genetically edited human placental organoids cast new light on the role of ACE2 in placental development.
DOI2024 Arthurs, A., Jackson, M., McCullough, D., Scott, H., Barnett, C., Webb, S., . . . Roberts, C. (2024). Circular RNAs accumulate in ageing human placental tissue and in stillbirth, leading to DNA damage and cellular senescence.
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An NHMRC Ideas Grant (2025–2028) was awarded to Lead Investigator Dr. Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos and her colleagues at The University of Adelaide and Flinders University, to undertake the study titled ‘Too Much of a Good Thing? Examining the Impacts of Folic Acid Supplementation After the First Trimester on Placental Endocrine Function and Insulin Resistance During Pregnancy.
A Diabetes Australia General Grant (2025) was awarded to Lead Investigator Dr. Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos to investigate the molecular targets of folic acid in the placenta.
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2018 Co-Supervisor Impact of Maternal Micronutrient Deficiency on Placental Function and Pregnancy Outcome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Martha Menberu -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2018 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Micronutrients in Oxidative Stress, Proliferation and Apoptosis in Placenta Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Nahal Habibi -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2024 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Investigating the effects of high folic acid on placental folate metabolism Flinders University Medical Studies - 2 Year Research Project Other Full Time Alexander Phillips-Hughes 2022 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Folic acid regulation of placental function Flinders University - Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessica Williamson 2022 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Folic acid food fortification and pregnancy health Flinders University Medical Studies - 2 Year Research Project Other Full Time Madeleine Veitch 2021 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Investigating the role of Pregnancy Zone Protein in Preeclampsia Flinders University - Doctorate Full Time Demi Georgiou
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