Dr Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos
NHMRC Externally-Funded Research Fellow
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Head: One-Carbon Metabolism in Pregnancy and Disease
Investigating how nutrient-driven one-carbon metabolism shapes pregnancy physiology and long-term disease risk.
I lead a translational research program within the Robinson Research Institute and College of Health, investigating how nutrient exposures during pregnancy regulate one-carbon metabolism and, in turn, shape placental function, maternal metabolic adaptation, pregnancy outcomes and the long-term health of mothers and their children. Within this broader program, my group focuses on establishing the biological and health consequences of excessive exposure to folic acid, the synthetic form of folate.
By integrating mechanistic laboratory models with human cohort and interventional studies, we define how population-level folic acid exposures, including dietary supplementation and national food fortification, modify disease risk during pregnancy (particularly gestational diabetes), influence fetal programming, and contribute to long-term cardiometabolic risk in mothers and broader disease susceptibility in offspring. Through identifying biologically meaningful exposure thresholds and critical windows of vulnerability, our research aims to inform precision nutrition strategies and evidence-based public health policy in populations with widespread folic acid exposure.
Alongside our work in nutrient signalling, we collaborate across Adelaide University to investigate how viral infections, including Zika virus, disrupt placental morphology, immune responses and developmental outcomes in early- to mid-gestation.
Student Opportunities
A funded PhD scholarship is available to commence in 2026 and will investigate how folate and folic acid exposures alter placental function and maternal metabolic regulation in the context of gestational diabetes. Projects may incorporate mechanistic laboratory studies, clinical cohort analyses, or integrated translational approaches.
Additional Honours and PhD opportunities are available across our program in one-carbon metabolism, pregnancy and disease. Projects are flexible and can be tailored to align with candidates’ interests and methodological strengths within the broader scope of our research.
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Roberts, C., Leemaqz, S., Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Mccullough, D., Williamson, J., Arthurs, A., . . . Mittinty, M. (2025). EARLY PREGNANCY METABOLIC SYNDROME, FOLATE AND VITAMIN D STATUS, PLACENTAL HORMONES AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES.. In PLACENTA Vol. 171 (pp. 1 page). W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. |
| 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). ENGLAND, Manchester: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. DOI |
| 2010 | 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. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Williamson, J., Arthurs, A., Smith, M., Merriman, A., Leemaqz, S., McCullough, D., . . . Jankovic-Karasoulos, T. (2025). The parallel relationship between folic acid deficiency and excess in human placental endocrine function: understanding the role of folate metabolism. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstacts of the Annual Conference of the International Federation of Placenta Associations, as published in Placenta. United Kingdom: Elsevier. DOI |
| 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. DOI |
| 2009 | 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. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Jankovic-Karasoulos, T., Smith, M., Leemaqz, S., Mittinty, M., Williamson, J., McCullough, D., . . . Roberts, C. (2025). Folate Overload and the Placental Hormone Axis: A Hidden Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. DOI |
| 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 Europe PMC1 |
| 2024 | 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. DOI |
An NHMRC Ideas Grant (2025–2029) was awarded to CIA Dr. Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos and her colleagues at Adelaide University 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. $1,173,927
A Diabetes Australia General Grant (2025) was awarded to CIA Dr. Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos to investigate the molecular targets of folic acid in the placenta. $60,000
MRFF 2024 TTRA - Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mechanisms (2024-2026; CIB). Impact of excess folic acid on the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes. $1,033,299
Flinders Foundation (2024-2025; CIA). Decoding folic acid impact on gestational diabetes risk in Australia. $24,816
Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation (2024; CIC). Circular RNAs indicate placental ageing, signalling stillbirth risk and infant morbidity in survivors. $40,000
NHMRC Synergy (2023-2027; AI). Using complex models of human trophoblast to study placental biology and disease. $5,000,000
Hospital Research Foundation (2022-2023; CIB). Characterising the role of pregnancy zone protein in the clearance of preeclampsia-associated misfolded protein. $141,126
Flinders Foundation (2022; CIC). Characterising the relationship between pregnancy zone protein and preeclampsia. $25,000
Flinders Foundation (2022; CIA). Human placental endocrine response to folic acid. $25,000
Flinders Foundation (2020; CIB). Assessment of PFAS toxicity in human placenta. $24,940
Flinders Foundation (2020; CIC). How do circular RNAs in the placenta contribute to pregnancy complications. $24,960
2020-2025 The University of Adelaide. Guest lectures and tutorials in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 3001: Reproductive Biology.
2021-2022 Flinders University. Guest lectures in MMED2931/MMED8931: Reproductive Physiology
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Principal Supervisor | Mechanistic Insights into Folic Acid Effects on Placental Function and Gestational Diabetes Risk: Integrating In Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical Studies | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Miranda Shoubridge |
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Maternal Micronutrient Deficiency on Placental Function and Pregnancy Outcome | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mrs Martha Menberu |
| 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 |
| 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 |