Lisa Nicholas
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr. Lisa Marie Nicholas leads the Epigenetics in Diabetes research group at the University of Adelaide. The broad research aim of her group is to understand how a sub-optimal maternal metabolic environment both before and during pregnancy programs disadvantage in the offspring leading to health effects that persist across the life course. Dr. Nicholas’ interest in the ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)’ i.e. how an individual’s risk of disease can be programmed by in utero/early life exposure to certain environmental influences e.g. maternal obesity, was sparked by a series of lectures during her undergraduate Biomedical Science degree at the University of Adelaide. Consequently, she pursued an Honours research year at the University of South Australia with Prof. Caroline McMillen where she investigated how exposure to maternal obesity at the time of conception led to dysfunctional hepatic gluconeogenic signalling in the offspring in a sheep model. During this time, she produced a thesis, which earned her her a First Class degree, ranked first in her year and was awarded numerous prizes including the University Medal. Dr. Nicholas continued on to doctoral studies with Prof. McMillen where her research focused on understanding how the time around conception acts as a critical developmental window where metabolic disease risk is programmed in the offspring via epigenetic mechanisms in liver and skeletal muscle.Following award of her PhD in 2013, Dr. Nicholas moved to Sweden to work with Prof. Hindrik Mulder at Lund University Diabetes Centre. During her two years in Sweden, her research identified mitochondrial transcription factor B2 as being essential for mitochondrial and cellular function in pancreatic β-cells in a mouse model. She was then awarded a C J Martin Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, which enabled her to leverage the research experience gained during post-doctoral training in Sweden with her experience in DOHaD and to apply it an area of science that fascinates her; that is how exposure to maternal obesity can program type 2 diabetes risk in the offspring through functional changes in pancreatic islets. For this, she spent four years at the University of Cambridge where she was mentored by Prof. Susan Ozanne. During this time, her research was also supported by grants from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, the Isaac Newton Trust, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, the Society for Endocrinology and Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation.Dr. Nicholas returned to Australia in 2020 to establish her own research group.
The rising rate of obesity worldwide has health implications for future generations since obesity during pregnancy increases obesity and type 2 diabetes risk in the offspring. Given that nearly half of women of child-bearing age in many populations are currently overweight/obese, it is important that we understand what factors are driving this metabolic disease risk in the child and how this occurs. Specifically, we are interested in investigating:
- The sex-specific impact of exposure to maternal and postnatal obesity and their interaction on metabolic outcomes and pancreatic β-cell function in offspring
- The epigenetic mechanisms regulating functional changes in the β-cells of offspring
- Which of these mechanisms are also implicated in β-cell function in humans
Current Student Projects
Project 1: Defining epigenetic networks in pancreatic β-cells driving sex differences in type 2 diabetes risk.
Description: This project will investigate, using a mouse model, how exposure to maternal obesity alters the relationship between the epigenome, transcriptome and cellular function in pancreatic β-cells of offspring, leading to higher risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in males compared to females. Importantly, we will also determine whether methylation and transcription of these genes are also altered in human islets from T2D donors and whether these changes are associated with particular donor characteristics including sex, body mass index and diabetic status i.e. pre-T2D vs. T2D. This will inform us about whether these same genes are also implicated in the development and progression of T2D in humans.
Skills learned during this project: Working with primary human and rodent islets, animal models of obesity and diabetes and human beta cell lines, molecular biology techniques, computational biology.
Project available for: Honours and HDR
Location: SAHMRI and Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences Building
Research Project Start: Semester 1 or Semester 2 2024
Project 2: Investigating the role of DNA methylation in mediating future type 2 diabetes risk in Aboriginal children exposed to maternal diabetes in pregnancy.
Description: This project seeks to understand the mechanisms behind the disproportionately high rates of type 2 diabetes spanning multiple generations amongst Aboriginal people with a focus on epigenetics. Using next generation sequencing and advanced computational analysis, this project will identify changes in DNA methylation in the blood of Aboriginal children exposed to maternal diabetes in the womb and how this contributes to the greater risk of type 2 diabetes in these children.
Skills learned during this project: Molecular biology techniques, computational biology.
Project available for: Honours and HDR
Location: Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences Building
Research Project Start: Semester 1 or Semester 2 2024
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Senior Research Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 2019 - 2019 | Analyst | Costello Medical Consulting (United Kingdom) |
| 2016 - 2019 | Research Fellow | University of Cambridge |
| 2014 - 2015 | Research Associate | Lund University |
| 2007 - 2007 | Business Analyst | Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Award | Danish Diabetes Academy Poster Prize Non-coding RNAs in Metabolic Disease Conference | Danish Diabetes Academy | Denmark | - |
| 2019 | Fellowship | Company of Biologists Travelling Fellowship | Company of Biologists | United Kingdom | - |
| 2018 | Award | Society for Endocrinology Travel Grant | Society for Endocrinology | United Kingdom | - |
| 2018 | Award | Disease Models and Mechanisms Conference Travel Grant | Disease Models and Mechanisms | United Kingdom | - |
| 2017 | Award | European Association for the Study of Diabetes Travel Grant | European Association for the Study of Diabetes | Germany | - |
| 2015 | Award | American Diabetes Association Young Investigator Award | American Diabetes Association | United States | - |
| 2015 | Award | Lund Physiografen Society Travel Grant | Lund Physiografen Society | Sweden | - |
| 2014 | Award | European Association for the Study of Diabetes Travel Grant | European Association for the Study of Diabetes | Germany | - |
| 2013 | Award | Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant | Healthy Development Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant | Healthy Development Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation Young Investigator Award, Runner-up | Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | University of South Australia Division of Health Sciences Three Minute Thesis 3MT™ Competition, People’s Choice Winner | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | Wellcome Trust Young Investigator Bursary | Wellcome Trust | United Kingdom | - |
| 2011 | Award | Sansom Institute for Health Research Travel Grant | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2010 | Award | Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI)/ Pfizer President's Presenter Award | Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI)/ Pfizer | United States | - |
| 2010 | Award | Sansom Institute for Health Research Travel Grant | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | Network in Genes and Environment in Development (NGED) Laboratory Interchange Award | Network in Genes and Environment in Development | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | University of South Australia Medal | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Distinction | Chancellor’s Letters of Commendation | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | John Alexander Voules Brown Prize | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | Novozymes Biopharma AU Limited Prize | University of Australia | Australia | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Malay | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2013 | University of South Australia | Australia | PhD |
| 2008 - 2008 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology |
| 2002 - 2005 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Clarke, G. S., Li, H., Heshmati, E., Nicholas, L. M., Gatford, K. L., & Page, A. J. (2025). Pregnancy and a high-fat, high-sugar diet each attenuate mechanosensitivity of murine gastric vagal afferents, with no additive effects. The Journal of Physiology, 603(6), 1461-1481. Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 2025 | Clarke, G. S., Li, H., Heshmati, E., Gembus, K. M., O'Hara, S. E., Nicholas, L. M., . . . Page, A. J. (2025). Impact of long-term maternal high-fat, high-sugar feeding on gastric vagal afferent responses and feeding behaviour in mouse offspring. Experimental Physiology, 1-10. |
| 2024 | Huang, W., O'Hara, S. E., Xie, C., Liu, N., Rayner, C. K., Nicholas, L. M., & Wu, T. (2024). Effects of a bitter substance, denatonium benzoate, on pancreatic hormone secretion. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 326(4), E537-E544. Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC2 |
| 2023 | Garrud, T. A. C., Teulings, N. E. W. D., Niu, Y., Skeffington, K. L., Beck, C., Itani, N., . . . Giussani, D. A. (2023). Molecular mechanisms underlying adverse effects of dexamethasone and betamethasone in the developing cardiovascular system.. FASEB J, 37(6), 16 pages. Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC3 |
| 2021 | Spiroski, A. M., Niu, Y., Nicholas, L. M., Austin-Williams, S., Camm, E. J., Sutherland, M. R., . . . Giussani, D. A. (2021). Mitochondria antioxidant protection against cardiovascular dysfunction programmed by early-onset gestational hypoxia. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 35(5), 1-15. Scopus30 Europe PMC25 |
| 2021 | O’Hara, S. E., Gembus, K. M., & Nicholas, L. M. (2021). Understanding the long-lasting effects of fetal nutrient restriction versus exposure to an obesogenic diet on islet-cell mass and function. Metabolites, 11(8), 1-18. Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC7 |
| 2020 | Teulings, N. E. W. D., Garrud, T. A. C., Niu, Y., Skeffington, K. L., Beck, C., Itani, N., . . . Giussani, D. A. (2020). Isolating adverse effects of glucocorticoids on the embryonic cardiovascular system.. FASEB J, 34(7), 9664-9677. Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC7 |
| 2020 | Nicholas, L. M., Nagao, M., Kusinski, L. C., Fernandez-Twinn, D. S., Eliasson, L., & Ozanne, S. E. (2020). Exposure to maternal obesity programs sex differences in pancreatic islets of the offspring in mice. Diabetologia, 63(2), 324-337. Scopus55 WoS53 Europe PMC43 |
| 2019 | Nicholas, L. M., & Ozanne, S. E. (2019). Early life programming in mice by maternal overnutrition: mechanistic insights and interventional approaches.. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 374(1770), 20180116. Scopus28 WoS25 Europe PMC26 |
| 2019 | Nicholas, L. M., Nagao, M., Kusinski, L. C., Fernandez-Twinn, D. S., Eliasson, L., & Ozanne, S. E. (2019). Exposure to maternal obesity<i>per se</i>programs sex-differences in pancreatic islets of the offspring. |
| 2018 | Fex, M., Nicholas, L. M., Vishnu, N., Medina, A., Sharoyko, V. V., Nicholls, D. G., . . . Mulder, H. (2018). The pathogenetic role of β-cell mitochondria in type 2 diabetes. Journal of Endocrinology, 236(3), 145-159. Scopus81 Europe PMC73 |
| 2017 | Ghazanfar, S., Vuocolo, T., Morrison, J. L., Nicholas, L. M., McMillen, I. C., Yang, J. Y. H., . . . Tellam, R. L. (2017). Gene expression allelic imbalance in ovine brown adipose tissue impacts energy homeostasis. PLoS ONE, 12(6), e0180378. Scopus9 Europe PMC12 |
| 2017 | Nicholas, L. M., Valtat, B., Medina, A., Andersson, L., Abels, M., Mollet, I. G., . . . Mulder, H. (2017). Mitochondrial transcription factor B2 is essential for mitochondrial and cellular function in pancreatic β-cells.. Molecular metabolism, 6(7), 651-663. Scopus40 WoS37 Europe PMC34 |
| 2016 | Andersson, L. E., Nicholas, L. M., Filipsson, K., Sun, J., Medina, A., Al-Majdoub, M., . . . Spégel, P. (2016). Glycogen metabolism in the glucose-sensing and supply-driven β-cell. FEBS Letters, 590(23), 4242-4251. Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC5 |
| 2016 | Nicholas, L., Morrison, J., Rattanatray, L., Zhang, S., Ozanne, S., & McMillen, I. (2016). The early origins of obesity and insulin resistance: Timing, programming and mechanisms. International Journal of Obesity, 40(2), 229-238. Scopus128 WoS102 Europe PMC99 |
| 2014 | Sharoyko, V. V., Abels, M., Sun, J., Nicholas, L. M., Mollet, I. G., Stamenkovic, J. A., . . . Mulder, H. (2014). Loss of TFB1M results in mitochondrial dysfunction that leads to impaired insulin secretion and diabetes. Human Molecular Genetics, 23(21), 5733-5749. Scopus49 WoS47 Europe PMC46 |
| 2014 | Rattanatray, L., Muhlhausler, B., Nicholas, L., Morrison, J., & McMillen, I. (2014). Impact of maternal overnutrition on gluconeogenic factors and methylation of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter in the fetal and postnatal liver. Pediatric Research, 75(1), 14-21. Scopus11 WoS12 Europe PMC10 |
| 2014 | Nicholas, L., Rattanatray, L., Morrison, J., Kleemann, D., Walker, S., Zhang, S., . . . McMillen, I. (2014). Maternal obesity or weight loss around conception impacts hepatic fatty acid metabolism in the offspring. Obesity, 22(7), 1685-1693. Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC20 |
| 2013 | Nicholas, L., Morrison, J., Rattanatray, L., Ozanne, S., Kleemann, D., Walker, S., . . . McMillen, I. (2013). Differential effects of exposure to maternal obesity or maternal weight loss during the periconceptional period in the sheep on insulin signalling molecules in skeletal muscle of the offspring at 4 months of age. PLoS One, 8(12), 1-11. Scopus34 WoS32 Europe PMC25 |
| 2013 | Nicholas, L., Rattanatray, L., MacLaughlin, S., Ozanne, S., Kleemann, D., Walker, S., . . . McMillen, I. (2013). Differential effects of maternal obesity and weight loss in the periconceptional period on the epigenetic regulation of hepatic insulin-signaling pathways in the offspring. The FASEB Journal, 27(9), 3786-3796. Scopus100 WoS93 Europe PMC82 |
| 2012 | McMillen, I. C., Nicholas, L. M., Rattanatray, L., Zhang, S., Lei, S., & Morrison, J. L. (2012). Perinatal nutrition and implications for lifelong health lessons from animal model studies. Australasian Medical Journal, 5(12), 649. |
| 2011 | Zhang, S., Rattanatray, L., Morrison, J., Nicholas, L., Lie, S., & McMillen, I. (2011). Maternal obesity and the early origins of childhood obesity: Weighing up the benefits and costs of maternal weight loss in the periconceptional period for the offspring. Experimental Diabetes Research, 2011, 10 pages. Scopus62 WoS57 Europe PMC40 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Sandovici, I., Nicholas, L. M., & O’Neill, L. P. (2020). Analysis of histone modifications in rodent pancreatic islets by native chromatin immunoprecipitation. In C. Stocker (Ed.), Type 2 Diabetes (Vol. 2076, pp. 199-213). New York, NY; U.S.A.: Humana Press. DOI Scopus1 |
| 2017 | Nicholas, L. M., & Ozanne, S. E. (2017). The developmental origins of health and disease—where did it all begin?. In M. S. Patel, & J. H. Nielsen (Eds.), Fetal and Early Postnatal Programming and its Influence on Adult Health (pp. 3-15). Boca Raton, FL; USA: CRC Press. DOI |
| 2016 | Nicholas, L. M., & McMillen, I. C. (2016). The impact of maternal obesity and weight loss during the periconceptional period on offspring metabolism. In L. Green, & R. Hester (Eds.), Parental Obesity: Intergenerational Programming and Consequences (pp. 133-162). New York, NY; Australia: Springer. DOI |
| 2014 | Zhang, S., Lie, S., Nicholas, L. M., Rattanatray, L., Morrison, J. L., & McMillen, I. C. (2014). Stress and programming of metabolic disease. In Stress and Developmental Programming of Health and Disease Beyond Phenomenology (pp. 87-130). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Lovell, E. A., Hosking, S. L., Fitzgerald, R. J., Nicholas, L. M., Parry, L. J., Robertson, S. A., & Care, A. S. (2023). Effect of Regulatory T Cell Depletion in Early Pregnancy on Postpartum Cardio- Metabolic Function in Mice. In REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES Vol. 30 (pp. 227A-228A). AUSTRALIA, Brisbane: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. |
Date |
Title |
Funder |
Role |
Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jan 2016 - Dec 2017, Jan 2020 - Dec 2021 |
The transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of parental obesity - C J Martin Fellowship | National Health and Medical Research Council | Principle Investigator | AUD 357,173 |
| Sep 2018 - Apr 2019 |
Exploring sex-specific programming of islet microRNAs by maternal diet-induced obesity |
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes/Lilly | Principle Investigator | EUR 50,000 |
| Jan - Aug 2018 |
Exposure to maternal obesity and epigenetic inheritance of β-cell dysfunction in offspring |
Isaac Newton Trust | Principle Investigator | GBP 27,839 |
| Oct 2017 - Sep 2018 |
Exposure to maternal obesity and epigenetic inheritance of β-cell dysfunction in the offspring |
Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation | Principle Investigator | GBP 11,000 |
| May 2017 - Apr 2018 |
The role of microRNAs in transducing the programming actions of maternal obesity on β-cell dysfunction in the offspring |
Society for Endocrinology | Principle Investigator | GBP 10,000 |
| Feb 2017 - Jan 2018 |
The role of microRNAs in transducing the programming actions of maternal obesity on β-cell dysfunction in the offspring and exploring their use as biomarkers |
Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation | Principle Investigator | GBP 20,000 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | Delineating the role of mitochondrial transcription factor Tfb2m in mitochondrial function and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells | Albert Påhlssons Foundation for Research and Charity Grant | Principle Investigator | SEK 150,000 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | Delineating the role of mitochondrial transcription factor Tfb2m in mitochondrial function and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells | Albert Påhlssons Foundation for Research and Charity Grant | Principle Investigator | SEK 100,000 |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Sex-specific epigenetic programming of offspring pancreatic beta-cells by maternal diet | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Stephanie Elise O'Hara |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2017 | Co-Supervisor | Molecular mechanisms underlying the direct adverse effects of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy on the fetal heart | University of Cambridge | British Heart Foundation PhD Programme in Cardiovascular Research | Doctorate | Full Time | Noor Teulings |
| Date | Topic | Location | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - ongoing | Navigating a career in academia, career opportunities outside of academia, networking | University of Cambridge | Grace Cooper |
| 2019 - ongoing | PhD studies, academic and non-academic career opportunities | University of Cambridge | Orla Woodward |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Board Member | Bioscientifica Trust | Bioscientifica Trust | United Kingdom |
| 2011 - 2012 | Board Member | School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences Board | University of South Australia | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | QueersInScience South Australia | QueersInScience | Australia |
| 2014 - 2014 | Chair | Lund University Women in Great Sciences Annual Meeting | Lund University | Sweden |
| 2011 - 2012 | Representative | School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences Research Management Committee | University of South Australia | Australia |
| 2011 - 2012 | Convener | Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Scientific Meeting | Australian Society for Medical Research | Australia |
| 2011 - 2012 | Co-Chair | School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences Postgraduate Forum | University of South Australia | Australia |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2019 | OUT Thinkers | Public Community Engagement | Cambridge Science Festival | United Kingdom |
| 2018 - 2019 | Meet the Scientist | Public Community Engagement | Cambridge Science Festival | United Kingdom |
| 2013 - 2013 | Volunteer, International Diabetes Federation World Diabetes Congress | Scientific Community Engagement | International Diabetes Federation | Australia |
| 2010 - 2012 | Scientists in Schools | Public Community Engagement | The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation | Australia |
| 2008 - 2011 | Science Alive! | Public Community Engagement | National Science Week | Australia |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2018 | Board Member | The Endocrinologist | Society for Endocrinology | United Kingdom |
| Date | Event Name | Event Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - 2018 | 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Physiology and Medicine | Conference | Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings | Germany |
| Date | Title | Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - ongoing | Expert reviewer | Peer Review | Journal of Molecular Endocrinology | - |
| 2019 - ongoing | Expert reviewer | Peer Review | EBioMedicine | - |
| 2014 - ongoing | Expert reviewer | Peer Review | Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology | - |
| 2014 - ongoing | Expert reviewer | Peer Review | PLoS One | - |
| 2014 - ongoing | Expert reviewer | Peer Review | British Journal of Nutrition | - |
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