Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am a Research Fellow (C) and Theme Leader 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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