School of Medical and Health Sciences

Associate Professor Lois Balmer

Lois Balmer is an Associate Professor in the School of Medical and Health Sciences and the Centre for Precision Health. A/Prof Balmer not only teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students but is instrumental in finding the nexus between teaching and research. This is seen by the supervision of over 12 PhD students and awards for teaching over the past 5 years. She is also a Research Advisor to the Nathan Centre for Rare Disease.

Current Teaching

Unit Co-ordinator, undergraduate units:

• SCH2141 Advanced Biomedical Techniques
• SCH2226 Human Molecular Genetics
• SCH3223 Medical Genetics

Unit Co-ordinator, postgraduate unit:

• SCH6234  Molecular Biology and Genomics

Course Co-ordinator:

• T89 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Bioscience)
• C32 Bachelor of Medical Science
• Human  Genetics,  Minor
• Human  Genetics, Major

Background

Dr Balmer is a researcher and Associate Professor at ECU and is also a research officer at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.  Her research focuses on the genetics and complications of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, where she has worked for the past 12 years as a Postdoc and the last 5 years as an adjunct.

Professional Associations

• Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
• Australian Diabetes Society (ADS)
• Women in Technology WA (WiTWA)
• Science Teachers Association of Western Australia (STAWA)
• Australian Society for Medical Research (ASBMB)
• Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)

Awards and Recognition

• 2023 - Athena Swan STEMM Advancement Subsidy, Edith Cowan University
• 2021 - SDR Scientific Education Award from the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• 2019 - Nominated: ECU for an Australian Award for University Teaching Awards, Granting Instituting: Australian Awards for University Teaching
• 2018 - Nominated: ECU for an Australian Award for University Teaching Awards, Granting Instituting: Australian Awards for University Teaching
• 2018 - Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
• 2016 – Minute-to-pitch-it awarded

National and International Awards

• 2021 - SDR Scientific Education Award from the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, $5000

University and National Teaching Awards

• 2023 - Athena Swan STEMM Advancement Subsidy, Edith Cowan University, $2000
• 2018 - Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Grants and Funding

• CIB Lois Balmer., et al, ECU SMHS, Heritability enrichment of IgG N-glycosylation relevant genes in specific tissue, 2021, $4,500
• CIA Lois Balmer., et al, ECU SMHS, Unravelling the health effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide on chronic disease, 2021, $5,000
• CIB Lois Balmer., et al, Learning and Teaching Grant, Transitional approaches to teaching in the Superlab environment, 2020, $5,000
• AI L. Balmer., et al, NH&MRC Program Grant, Pathogenesis-based treatment of type 1 diabetes, 2012-2017, $1,200,000/year
• CIA Lois Balmer., ECU Early Career Research Grant, Beta cell mass and Islet production in the Collaborative Cross, 2016, $30,000
• CIA Lois Balmer and Bala Krishnamurthy. NH&MRC program grant internal funding, Identification of genes protecting mice from diabetes induced by the highly pathogenic T cell, 2015, $16,667
• CIA Lois Balmer. Neurotrauma Research Program Grant, 2012, $60,000

Patent

PJ. Leedman, LA. Balmer, and AM. Thomson
mRNA Binding Motif
Lodged: 22nd December 2000 (Australian Patent Office)
Patent Number: PCT/AU00/01595
Full Patent Lodged: 22nd December 2001 (United States)
Patent Number: 10/168781

Editorial Board

• 2022 - ongoing, Editorial board appointment for Gene Protein and Disease
• 2023 - Invited host. Research Topic “Research Progress of Diabetes Mellitus” in Sri
• 2024 - Invited host. Research Topic “Screening remnant lipid markers in cardiometabolic   disease” in Frontiers in Endocrinology

Research Areas and Interests

• The genetics of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Myelitis,
• Complications from Diabetes,
• Glycomics and Suboptimal Health Status,
• Metabolic Syndrome,
• Scholarship of teaching and curriculum design,
• Rare disease and carer support.