Professor Jyotsna Batra
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Biography
I have more than 10 years of research experience analysing genetic variations for their association with complex human health disorders and dissecting their functional roles with a view to identifying new diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic modalities. During my PhD (awarded 2010, Human Genetics), I published extensively demonstrating positive association of alleles of several genetic variations with complex genetic disorders (27 publications and 2 patent applications at the time of my PhD graduation). In addition, I contributed to large-scale genetic studies including the Indian Genome Variation Consortium, which led to my authorship on an additional 20 publications in esteemed journals, including Science and PNAS. I won three best poster prizes, three travel awards and a Young Investigator Award from the highly prestigious Society of Biochemists of India. This high productivity from my PhD reflects my focused and highly industrious approach to my PhD, and laid the foundation for my future performance and recognition in this exciting and important field. My current research activity reflects an interdisciplinary perspective on understanding the genetic complexity of prostate cancer. Prior to formally obtaining my PhD degree in India in 2010, I was awarded an Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) post-doctoral fellowship at QUT and was recruited to work with Dr Mary-Anne Kedda, who subsequently moved her research interests to Switzerland, which slightly hampered my productivity at the start of my first post-doctoral position at IHBI. This was a defining moment in terms of my research development, as I emerged with enhanced leadership qualities as a result of having to take charge of the research work initiated by Dr Kedda. In 2010, I was awarded two highly prestigious and competitive NHMRC Fellowships - a Peter Doherty Fellowship (accepted) and an NHMRC Overseas Biomedical Fellowship (offer not accepted), which further accelerated my career. Studying genetic variation in the family of Kallikrein protease genes (the KLK3 protein, more commonly known as prostate specific antigen/PSA is the sentinel prostate cancer clinical biomarker,) and their functional role in prostate cancer has been a major focus for my current NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (CDF 2015-18). This project is now being expanded to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and strategic large candidate gene studies incorporating high-end bioinformatics analysis in order to more broadly define genes that define prostate cancer risk. I have published an additional 79 papers post-PhD (Total 107). They are of high quality and in highly ranked journals in this field and I am the first/last author on 45% of them. This not only speaks to my industrious nature but my highly focused strategic and collaborative approach. A key part of my current activities involves being the Co-Principal Investigator of the Brisbane arm of PRACTICAL (the largest international prostate cancer consortium), which has rewarded me with four Nature Genetics publications (the top ranked journal of the field) and several additional publications in highly regarded journals including Cancer Discovery, Journal of Human Genetics, PloS Genetics, and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. I have established several national and international collaborations to undertake high-impact research. I have been successful in obtaining fellowships (noted above) and funding from various internal, national and international agencies and am now leading my own research group in molecular genetics, supervising 1 research associate, 8 PhD students and 1 post-doctoral fellow at the new state-of-the-art Translational Research Institute (TRI). I have attracted more than $4 M in funding (94% category 1 funding) including fellowships and an ongoing role as CIC on NHMRC grant 1109286 (2016-2018), and currently funded CIA grants from Cancer Council Queensland grant APP1121136 (2016-2017), TRI SPORE grant (2017) and Cancer Australia grants (PdCCRS, APP1086830, 2015-2017; APP1124950, 2016-2017). Importantly, I have provided the financial support for my salary throughout my post-PhD career in addition to supporting the salaries of 4 personnel working with me for the past 5 years.Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Keywords
Genetics, SNP, RNAseq, Mutataion, Cancer Metabolism, PSA, Mice Model,, Haplotype, Linkage Disequilibrium, therapeutics, microRNA, Incucyte, qPCR, Western Blot,, Kallikreins, Proteomics, miPEPs, Androgen Receptor,, Prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, bioinformatics, cancer biology,, Single nucleotide polymorphisms,, LncRNA, CRISPR, Homeobox famiy members, diagnostic, prognostic biomarker, theranostics,, miRNA, DNA, RNA, GWAS, genotyping, Sanger sequencing, Association studies,, transdisciplinary research, PRACTICAL consortium, gene therapy
Research field
Genetics, Biochemistry and cell biology
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- PhD (Savitribai Phule Pune University (Uni, of Pune))
Professional memberships and associations
My current research activity reflects an interdisciplinary perspective on understanding the genetic complexity of prostate cancer.
Experience
I have received several awards, prizes and distinctions throughout my career, Evidence of my increasing national and international profile in the genetics of complex disorders is demonstrated by my receipt of the prestigious 2014 Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award by the NRI Welfare Society of India, This is a very prestigious award where 20 non-resident Indians world-wide are recognised for excellence in their field and enhancing the impact of Indian accomplishments. I have also been a finalist for the QLD Women in Technology (WiT) Rising Star and ASMR Postdoctoral awards. I was an international Semi-finalist for the Trainee Research Award at the prestigious International Congress of Human Genetics. My research excellence was acknowledged by QUT by the awarding of VC Excellence and Performance Awards consecutively in 2015 and 2016 and a fellowship to attend the QUT Accelerated Leadership Pathways program 2017.
#
Year
Description of Award
1
1999
“All Rounder of the Year” award for the year, MDU, India
2
2000
“Best student of the Year” award for the year, MDU, India
3
2000
Winner of the All India Inter-University Yoga Championship Tournament held at G.B. Pant University
4
2000
Haryana State Government fellowship for the year 1997-1998 and 1999-2000 during the BSc degree at Hindu Girls College, MDU, India
5
2002
Awarded post-graduate student fellowship for MSc degree at Kurukshetra University
6
2002
Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test (GATE) with a percentile score of 99.47 and obtained the 14th rank at all India level.
7
2002
Qualified all India CSIR-UGC Junior Research Fellowship Examination (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India)
8
2007
Travel Grant by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (Govt of India) and Indian National Academy of science (INSA) to attend AAAI Annual Meeting, San Diego, USA
9
2007
Travel Award for an oral presentation at 4th Indo Australian Conference on Biotechnology, Brisbane, Australia
10
2007
Travel Award by IIS to attend 34th Indian Immunological Society Conference, India
11
2008
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship
12
2010
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Travel Grant
13
2011
NHMRC Training Fellowship (Peter Doherty)
14
2011
NHMRC Biomedical Overseas Fellowship (Offer not accepted)
15
2011
The Cancer Council Queensland Travel Award
16
2011
Finalist, QLD Women in Technology (WiT) Rising Star Award
17
2012
C&T Tissue Domain (IHBI, QUT) travel award to attend the prostate cancer consortium (PRACTICAL) meeting in Quebec, Canada
18
2012
IHBI Carla Patterson Early Career Researcher Award for the best publication
19
2013
Runner-up, ASMR post-doctoral award
20
2013
Finalist, QLD Women in Technology (WiT) Rising Star Award
21
2013
IHBI Cancer Program travel award to attend the 5th International Symposium on Kallikrein, Toronto, Sept 2013.
22
2013
Cure Cancer and Cancer Australia Young Investigator PdCCRS Grant
23
2013
John Williams IHBI Cancer Research Travel Fellowship 2013 to travel to India and London in 2014
24
2014
Mahatma Gandhi Parvasi Samman (Overseas Indian Award) 7th May 2014.
25
2014
Cure Cancer and Cancer Australia Young Investigator PdCCRS Grant
26
2015
QUT Vice Chancellor Award for Excellence in Research and Leadership
27
2015
QUT Vice Chancellor Fellowship to attend BIO conference in Philadelphia
28
2015
CASS Travel award to attend the ASHG and PRACTICAL meeting in USA
29
2015
The 10th International Conference on Genomics (ICG-10) Women Travel Award
30
2015
Finalist, Advanced Qld Johnson and Johnson Quick Fire Challenge
31
2016
Cure Cancer and Cancer Australia Young Investigator PdCCRS Grant
32
2016
QUT Vice Chancellor Performance Award for Supervisory Excellence
33
2016
Translational Research Institute SPORE Grant and named on the Board of Honor
34
2017
Nominated for the Prime Minister Frank Fenner Award
35
2017
Runner up, ASMR Senior Researcher Award
My work has been presented on 114 occasions at over 50 scientific meetings, including >30 presentations at international conferences. I have received 26 invited addresses, chaired conference sessions and have been a poster/oral presentation judge on several occasions. All first author presentations were presented by myself. I have won eight best presentation awards as a student or ECR and now my students are continuing the heritage of winning awards at conferences. I have also received seven travel awards (six of which were to attend international conferences) and was an international Semi-finalist for the Trainee Research Award at the prestigious International Congress of Human Genetics.
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Year
Major National and International Invited Presentations
1
2010
IHBI Early Career Researcher Forum, Brisbane, Australia (17-11-10)
2
2010
International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer (ICSCC), Pune, India (22-11-10) – Accommodation and local travel provided by the organisers.
3
2012
4th Prostate cancer consortium (PRACTICAL) meeting at Paris, UK Accommodation covered by the organisers.
4
2012
Australian Canadian Research Alliance annual meeting, Port Douglas, Australia All expenses were covered by the Alliance.
5
2012
Informed Friday Seminar conducted by IHBI, QLD (11-06-12)
6
2012
Biomedical Showcase, IHBI, QLD
7
2012
5th Prostate cancer consortium (PRACTICAL) meeting at Quebec, Canada
8
2013
6th Annual meeting of the PRACTICAL consortium, London, UK
9
2013
Australian Canadian Research Alliance annual meeting, Port Douglas, Australia All expenses were covered by the Alliance.
10
2014
2014 Cure Cancer Australia Researcher Symposium All expenses were covered by Cancer Australia
11
2014
7th Annual meeting of the PRACTICAL consortium, London, UK Travel funding supported by IHBI John Williams Cancer Travel Award
12
2015
2015 Cure Cancer Australia Researcher Symposium All expenses covered by Cancer Australia
13
2015
The PacRim Prostate and Breast Cancer Research Alliance, Stevenson, Washington
14
2015
8th Annual meeting of the PRACTICAL consortium, New York Travel funding supported by CASS Travel Award
15
2015
Prostate Cancer Collaborative Research Alliance, Brisbane
16
2015
Asia-Pacific Prostate Cancer Conference, APCC, Cairns
17
2016
2016 Cure Cancer Australia Researcher Symposium, Sydney All expenses covered by Cancer Australia
18
2016
ComBio2016, Brisbane, 3-7 October
19
2016
Asia-Pacific Prostate Cancer Conference, APCC, Melbourne Registration fee covered by the conference organisers
20
2016
12th Indo-Australian Biotechnology Conference, Bhubaneshwar, India All expenses covered through Conference organisers or IHBI support
21
2016
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) workshop, Brisbane
22
2017
10th Annual meeting of the PRACTICAL consortium, London UK.
23
2017
Bart’s Cancer Research Institute, London, UK
24
2017
2017 Cure Cancer Australia Researcher Symposium, Sydney All expenses covered by Cancer Australia
25
2017
Cancer Council Queensland – Accountant Ball Gala Dinner (13th May)
26
2017
The Australian Society of Diagnostic Genomics (ASDG) Annual meeting, Brisbane
Poster/ oral presentation Awards
1
2006
Best Poster Award, International Symposium on Human Genomics and Public Health and XXXI Annual Conference of ISHG, India
2
2006
Dr. C. Sita Devi Young Scientist Award from the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India in 33rd Annual Conference, India
3
2007
Best Oral presentation Award by Indian Immunological Society Conference, India
4
2007
Best Poster Award by ISHG XXXII Annual Conference of ISHG, India
5
2010
Finalist for INSA Young Scientist Award
6
2011
Semi-finalist for the Trainee Research Award, American Society of Human Genetics for abstract submission to the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics
7
2013
3rd Prize TRI inaugural poster competition
8
2014
Best Poster Award at 10th Indo-Australian Biotechnology conference
9
2014
2nd best oral presentation award at TRI Poster Symposium
10
2014
Finalist, ASMR Postdoctoral Award
11
2015
PA Foundation Young Investigator of the Year Award
12
2015
Best Oral presentation Award to my PhD student Ms Panchadsaram at the TRI Poster Symposium
13
2015
3rd Oral presentation Prize to my PhD student Ms Matin - TRI Poster Symposium
14
2016
Judges Choice Runner Up Best Oral awarded to my PhD student Ms Matin - IHBI Inspires Postgraduate Student Conference
15
2016
Judges Choice Runner Up Science to Business Category awarded to my PhD student Ms Matin - TRI Poster Symposium
16
2016
First Place awarded to my PhD student Ms Matin at the Three Minute Thesis Competition (School Level), and runner up (Faculty Level).
17
2016
People’s choice award to my PhD student Ms Srinivasan - TRI Poster Symposium
18
2016
People’s choice award to my PhD student Ms Subramaniam - PAH Symposium
19
2016
Judges Choice award to my PhD student Ms Subramaniam - TRI Poster Symposium
Publications
- Matin, F., Jeet, V., Moya, L., Selth, L., Chambers, S., Clements, J., Batra, J. & other, a. (2018). A plasma biomarker panel of four microRNAs for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Scientific Reports, 8, 1–15. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/121173
- Matin, F. & Batra, J. (2017). A microRNA molecular signature of aggressive prostate cancer. Translational Cancer Research, 6.
- Stegeman, S., Moya, L., Selth, L., Spurdle, A., Clements, J. & Batra, J. (2015). A genetic variant of MDM4 influences regulation by multiple microRNAs in prostate cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer, 22(2), 265–276. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/90529
- Stegeman, S., Amankwah, E., Klein, K., O'Mara, T., Kim, D., Lin, H., Permuth Wey, J., Sellers, T., Srinivasan, S., Eeles, R., Clements, J., Batra, J. & other, a. (2015). A large-scale analysis of genetic variants within putative miRNA binding sites in prostate cancer. Cancer Discovery, 5(4), 368–379. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/90527
- Olama, A., Kote-Jarai, Z., Berndt, S., Contini, D., Schumacher, F., Han, Y., Benlloch, S., Hazelett, D., Wang, Z., Saunders, E., Batra, J., Clements, J. & other, a. (2014). A meta-analysis of 87,040 individuals identifies 23 new susceptibility loci for prostate cancer. Nature Genetics, 46(10), 1103–1109. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/84359
- Patnala, R., Clements, J. & Batra, J. (2013). Candidate gene association studies: a comprehensive guide to useful in silico tools. BMC Genetics, 14, 1–11. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/63899
- Ghoussaini, M., Luccarini, C., Dennis, J., Jugurnauth-Little, S., Batra, J., Clements, J., Srinivasan, S., other, a., Eeles, R., Olama, A., Benlloch, S., Saunders, E., Leongamornlert, D. & Tymrakiewicz, M. (2013). Identification of 23 new prostate cancer susceptibility loci using the iCOGS custom genotyping array. Nature Genetics, 45(4), 385–391. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/57027
- Kote-Jarai, Z., Olama, A., Leongamornlert, D., Tymrakiewicz, M., Saunders, E., Guy, M., Giles, G., Severi, G., Southey, M., Hopper, J., Sit, K., Harris, J., Batra, J., Spurdle, A., Clements, J., Hamdy, F., Neal, D., Donovan, J., Muir, K., Pharoah, P., Chanock, S., Brown, N., Benlloch, S., Castro, E., Mahmud, N., O'Brien, L., Hall, A., Sawyer, E., Wilkinson, R., Easton, D. & Eeles, R. (2011). Identification of a novel prostate cancer susceptibility variant in the KLK3 gene transcript. Human Genetics, 129(6), 687–694. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/52174
- Kote-Jarai, Z., Olama, A., Giles, G., Severi, G., Schleutker, J., Weischer, M., Campa, D., Riboli, E., Key, T., Gronberg, H., Hunter, D., Kraft, P., Thun, M., Ingles, S., Chanock, S., Albanes, D., Hayes, R., Neal, D., Hamdy, F., Donovan, J., Pharoah, P., Schumacher, F., Henderson, B., Stanford, J., Ostrander, E., Clements, J., Batra, J., Nelson, C., Hinze, K., Vanden Bergh, P., Newman, B. & other, a. (2011). Seven prostate cancer susceptibility loci identified by a multi-stage genome-wide association study. Nature Genetics, 43(8), 785–791. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/52241
- Eeles, R., Kote-Jarai, Z., Olama, A., Giles, G., Guy, M., Severi, G., Muir, K., Hopper, J., Henderson, B., Haiman, C., Clements, J., Batra, J., Kedda, M., Lose, F., Nelson, C., Hinze, K., Vanden Bergh, P., Newman, B. & other, a. (2009). Identification of seven new prostate cancer susceptibility loci through a genome-wide association study. Nature Genetics, 41(10), 1116–1121. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/44268
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Jyotsna, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Recipient of project grant from TCCQ.
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Recipient of Cancer Australia PdCCRS project grant
- Type
- Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Recipient of NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- Recipient of NHMRC Project grant (CIA)
- Type
- Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2011
- Details
- Fellowship Type: NHMRC Principal Research FellowshipProject Title: Kallikrein gene variants in prostate cancer: in-depth association and functional studiesExternal Reference :1013693Years Awarded: 2011-2014Total Funding Awarded: $300,914
Selected research projects
- Title
- Alternative Splicing of Iroquois Homeobox-4 (IRX4) as a Mediator of Androgen Signalling in Aggressive Prostate Cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2011118
- Start year
- 2023
- Keywords
- prostate cancer; transcription factor; isoforms; androgen; alternative splicing
- Title
- Centre for Personalised Analysis of Cancers (CPAC): Clinician Researcher Training at the Translational Interface
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- MRF9100000
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Title
- Deciphering the biological impact of prostate cancer risk associated PSA coding variant
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- YI 1017
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Mutation; Glycosylation; Prostate-specific antigen; Prognosis
- Title
- Functional and mechanistic characterisation of a novel LncRNA at chromosomal locus 5p15 in prostate cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CA-APP1124950
- Start year
- 2017
- Keywords
- Prostate Cancer; Rna Interference; Gene Function; Gene Regulation; Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (snp)
- Title
- Exploring the role of miRSNPs in diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1090505
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP); Microrna; Prostate Cancer; RNA; Biomarkers
- Title
- Identification of HNF1B downstream targets as novel cancer therapeutic targets and biomarkers
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CA-APP1086830
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- transcription factor; single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); cancer; prostate cancer; endometrial
- Title
- miRSNPs as Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CA-APP1068321
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Microrna; Polymorphism; Prostate Cancer; Cancer Genetics; Biomarkers; Gene Polymorphisms
- Title
- Identification and characterisation of a novel genetic signature at the 5p15 region associated with risk of prostate cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1050742
- Start year
- 2013
- Keywords
- gene function; polymorphism; prostate cancer; cancer genetics; molecular genetics
- Title
- In-depth association and functional studies assessing the role of novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in PSA and other Kallikrein genes in prostate cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1009458
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Prostate Cancer; Kalilikrein; SNP; PSA
- Title
- Kallikrein Gene Variants In Prostate Cancer: In-depth Association and Functional Studies
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1013693
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Prostate Cancer; Kallikreins; Polymorphism; Gene Polymorphisms; Cancer Biology
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Current supervisions
- Integrated Multi-Omics analysis to Uncover Molecular Heterogeneity in prostate cancer
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Indira Prasadam - Multiplex staining technology for tissue cytometry and its application to cancer
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Sri Srinivasan - The long and short of GWAS identified lncRNA in prostate cancer
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Distinguished Professor Judith Clements, Dr Sri Srinivasan - The Biomarker and Therapeutic Potential of Micrornas in Prostate Cancer
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Distinguished Professor Judith Clements, Dr Varinder Jeet
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Computational and Statistical Analyses of Omics Data to Advance Understanding of Hormone-Dependent Cancers (2023)
- Impact of genetic polymorphisms on the cancer risk, alternative splicing, and miRNA expression (2023)
- Role of Iroquois homeobox 4 (IRX4) isoforms in prostate cancer (2023)
- Genetic Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer (2021)
- Identification and Characterisation of Prostate Cancer-Associated Genetic Variations Modulating the MIRNA Regulome (2021)
Completed supervisions (Masters by Research)
Supervision topics
- Identification and characterisation of IRX4 isoforms as novel targets in prostate cancer
- Therapeutic opportunities targeting epigenetic-metabolism crosswalks in cancer
- Epigenetic regulation of non-coding RNAs in hypoxic tumours
- PSA splice variant in prostate cancer diagnosis and pathogenesis
- Determining the theapeutic efficiency of epigenetic drugs in ovarian cancer
- Unravelling the function of PSA variants in prostate cancer
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.