Rate My Professor Lois Balmer

Lois Balmer is an Associate Professor in the School of Medical and Health Sciences and the Centre for Precision Health at Edith Cowan University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Western Australia, awarded in 2005. Balmer teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students in biomedical science, molecular genetics, and medical genetics, serving as unit coordinator for several courses including Advanced Biomedical Techniques, Human Molecular Genetics, Medical Genetics, and Molecular Biology and Genomics. She also coordinates the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Bioscience), Bachelor of Medical Science, and the Human Genetics major and minor. In addition to her teaching roles, she supervises PhD students and has received multiple awards for teaching excellence, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in 2018 and the SDR Scientific Education Award from the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2021.

Balmer’s research focuses on the genetics and complications of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, glycomics, suboptimal health status, metabolic syndrome, and the health effects of compounds such as S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide. She maintains affiliations with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and has secured grants including NHMRC program grant funding and ECU Early Career Research Grants. Her professional contributions include editorial board service for Gene Protein and Disease since 2022 and invited hosting of research topics in diabetes and cardiometabolic disease. Balmer is a member of associations such as the Australian Society for Medical Research and the Australian Diabetes Society.