Anya Arthurs

Robinson Research Institute

Division of Research and Innovation

Dr Anya Arthurs is a Future Making Fellow in the School of Biomedicine and the Robinson Research Institute. After completing her PhD (University of Newcastle) in the field of post-transcriptional modifications in the placenta, Anya moved to Flinders University in 2019 for a postdoctoral position studying the mechanisms by which circular RNAs, as well as other non-coding RNAs, are able to facilitate the development of the placenta and contribute to pregnancy complications. Her interests include molecular and cell biology of the placenta, and the involvement of non-coding RNAs in various aspects of human development and disease, particularly in reproductive health and placental ageing. From her research, she hopes to elucidate fundamental biological mechanisms, as well as deliver diagnostic tests that will inform clinical decision-making and aid in identifying drug targets for novel therapeutics.

Dr Arthurs is available for media consultation and her work has been featured on Channel 7 News, the Conversation and LiveScience.com (https://www.livescience.com/health/fertility-pregnancy-birth/mini-placentas-in-a-dish-reveal-key-gene-for-pregnancy).

My Research
Career
Publications
Contact

I am establishing my independent research programme, and lead the Trophoblast Genomics and Molecular Biology Laboratory (TrophoGen Laboratory) whilst working closely with Professor Jose Polo.

Trophoblast Genomics and Molecular Biology Laboratory - Current Student Projects

Project 1

Title: Defining the identity of the trophoblast

Supervisors: Dr. Anya Arthurs, Professor Jose Polo, Dr German Mora

Description: The trophoblast, the main cell type of the placenta, is an understudied cell type. It undergoes a variety of changes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (like a cancer cell), or forms a multi-nucleated barrier cell to produce hormones. With such elastic properties in this cell type, it is important for us to properly define the identity of the trophoblast cell through genomics.

Skills learned during this project: Tissue culture, sequencing, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, data analysis, academic writing, data interpretation.

Project available for: Honours and HDR

Location: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, North Terrace

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Project 2

Title: Creating an in vitro model of the preeclamptic trophoblast

Supervisors: Dr. Anya Arthurs, Professor Jose Polo

Description: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder which can be life-threatening to the mother and baby. Whilst the aetiology of the disease is poorly understood, the only cure to date is removal of the placenta. Therefore, the placenta is accepted as the origin of the disease. As such, creation of a complex in vitro model of the preeclamptic placenta using genetically edited trophoblast stem cells would be of great clinical significance for therapeutic screening.

Skills learned during this project: Tissue culture, sequencing, genetic editing (CRISPR), immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, data analysis, academic writing, data interpretation.

Project available for: Honours and HDR

Location: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, North Terrace

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Appointments

Date	Position	Institution name
2025 - 2028	Future Making Fellow	University of Adelaide
2020 - 2024	Postdoctoral Research Fellow	Flinders University
2019 - 2020	Postdoctoral Researcher	Flinders University

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2016 - 2019	University of Newcastle Australia	Australia	PhD
2015 - 2016	University of Newcastle Australia	Australia	Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons)
2011 - 2014	University of Sydney	Australia	Bachelor of Science

Certifications

Date Title Institution name Country

2011 Certificate IV in Teaching and Education Hunter TAFE Australia
Research Interests

Reproduction Reproductive Biology Developmental Biology Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Date	Title	Institution name	Country
2011	Certificate IV in Teaching and Education	Hunter TAFE	Australia

Journals

Year	Citation
2025	Arthurs, A. L., Dietrich, B., Knöfler, M., Lushington, C. J., Thomas, P. Q., Adikusuma, F., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2025). Genetically edited human placental organoids cast new light on the role of ACE2. Cell Death and Disease, 16(1), 78-1-78-12. DOI
2023	Smith, M. D., Leemaqz, S. Y., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., McCullough, D., McAninch, D., Arthurs, A. L., . . . Pillman, K. A. (2023). DraculR: A Web-Based Application for In Silico Haemolysis Detection in High-Throughput microRNA Sequencing Data. Genes, 14(2), 1-10. DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC2
2023	Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Smith, M. D., Leemaqz, S., Williamson, J., McCullough, D., Arthurs, A. L., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2023). Elevated Maternal Folate Status and Changes in Maternal Prolactin, Placental Lactogen and Placental Growth Hormone Following Folic Acid Food Fortification: Evidence from Two Prospective Pregnancy Cohorts. Nutrients, 15(7), 1553. DOI Scopus3 WoS1 Europe PMC3
2023	Arthurs, A. L., McCullough, D., Williamson, J. M., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Smith, M. D., & Roberts, C. T. (2023). Factors influencing RNA yield from placenta tissue. Placenta, 140, 80-83. DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC2
2022	Arthurs, A. L., Smith, M. D., Hintural, M. D., Breen, J., McCullough, D., Thornton, F. I., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2022). Placental Inflammasome mRNA Levels Differ by Mode of Delivery and Fetal Sex. Frontiers in immunology, 13, 1-15. DOI Scopus4 WoS1 Europe PMC2
2022	Arthurs, A. L., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Smith, M. D., & Roberts, C. T. (2022). Circular RNAs in Pregnancy and the Placenta. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(9), 4551-1-4551-20. DOI Scopus8 WoS2 Europe PMC5
2022	Williamson, J. M., Arthurs, A. L., Smith, M. D., Roberts, C. T., & Jankovic-Karasoulos, T. (2022). High Folate, Perturbed One-Carbon Metabolism and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Nutrients, 14(19), 1-24. DOI Scopus20 WoS3 Europe PMC15
2021	Roberts, C. T., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., & Arthurs, A. L. (2021). Is the US failing women?. EClinicalMedicine, 31, 100701-1-100701-2. DOI Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2021	Arthurs, A. L., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., & Roberts, C. T. (2021). COVID-19 in pregnancy: What we know from the first year of the pandemic. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA): Molecular Basis of Disease, 1867(12), 166248-1-166248-8. DOI Scopus16 WoS13 Europe PMC17
2020	Arthurs, A. L., Keating, D. J., Stringer, B. W., & Conn, S. J. (2020). The suitability of glioblastoma cell lines as models for primary glioblastoma cell metabolism. Cancers, 12(12), 1-13. DOI Scopus12 Europe PMC10
2019	Lumbers, E. R., Delforce, S. J., Arthurs, A. L., & Pringle, K. G. (2019). Causes and Consequences of the Dysregulated Maternal Renin-Angiotensin System in Preeclampsia. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 13 pages. DOI Scopus77 Europe PMC49
2019	Arthurs, A. L., Lumbers, E. R., Delforce, S. J., Mathe, A., Morris, B. J., & Pringle, K. G. (2019). The role of oxygen in regulating microRNAs in control of the placental renin-Angiotensin system. Molecular Human Reproduction, 25(4), 206-217. DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC6
2019	Arthurs, A. L., Lumbers, E. R., & Pringle, K. G. (2019). MicroRNA mimics that target the placental renin-Angiotensin system inhibit trophoblast proliferation. Molecular Human Reproduction, 25(4), 218-227. DOI Scopus19 Europe PMC12
2018	Haw, T. J., Starkey, M. R., Pavlidis, S., Fricker, M., Arthurs, A. L., Nair, P. M., . . . Hansbro, P. M. (2018). Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 have opposing roles in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 314(2), L298-L317. DOI Scopus58 Europe PMC45
2018	Wang, Y., Lumbers, E. R., Arthurs, A. L., de Meaultsart, C. C., Mathe, A., Avery-Kiejda, K. A., . . . Pringle, K. G. (2018). Regulation of the human placental (pro)renin receptor-prorenin- angiotensin system by microRNAs. Molecular Human Reproduction, 24(9), 453-464. DOI Scopus29 WoS22 Europe PMC21

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	Arthurs, A., McCullough, D., Jackson, M., Scott, H., Barnett, C., Dekker, G., & Roberts, C. (2024). CIRCULAR RNAS (CIRCRNAS) CAUSE DNA DAMAGE AND CHARACTERISE ACCELERATED AGEING IN STILLBIRTH PLACENTA. In PLACENTA Vol. 154 (pp. E17). 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.
2019	Arthurs, A., Lumbers, E., de Meaultsart, C. C., Robertson, S., Schjenken, J., & Pringle, K. (2019). MIR-155 REGULATES PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND FETAL GROWTH, PROBABLY BY INHIBITING THE EXPRESSION OF ANGIOTENSIN II TYPE 1 RECEPTOR (AT(1)R). In PLACENTA Vol. 83 (pp. E98-E99). Tokyo, JAPAN: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. DOI
2018	Delforce, S., Arthurs, A., Drury, H., Quinn, R., Lumbers, E., & Pringle, K. (2018). OXYGEN-INDUCED REGULATION OF PLACENTAL MICRORNA AND RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM EXPRESSION IN FIRST TRIMESTER CHORIONIC VILLI. In PLACENTA Vol. 69 (pp. E23). JAPAN, Tokyo: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.
2018	Arthurs, A. L., Delforce, S. J., Lumbers, E. R., & Pringle, K. G. (2018). PLACENTAL MIRNAS THAT TARGET THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM, AND THEIR EFFECT ON TROPHOBLAST PROLIFERATION. In PLACENTA Vol. 69 (pp. E63). JAPAN, Tokyo: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD.

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. DOI
2024	Arthurs, A., Jackson, M., McCullough, D., Scott, H., Barnett, C., Webb, S., . . . Roberts, C. (2024). Circular RNAs correlate with DNA damage in ageing human placental tissue and in stillbirth. DOI
2020	Arthurs, A. L., Keating, D., & Conn, S. (2020). The suitability of glioblastoma cell lines as models for primary glioblastoma cell metabolism. DOI

Email: anya.arthurs@adelaide.edu.au

Anya Arthurs

Appointments

Education

Certifications

Research Interests

Journals

Conference Papers

Preprint

Connect With Me

External Profiles

Other Links