Research focus: Epigenetics with a special focus on DNA methylation

Current research/role focus:  Epigenetic modifications provide a plausible link between environmental and lifestyle factors, altered gene expression and disease phenotypes Dr Willmer’s research focuses on dissecting the impact of epigenetics on the development of non-communicable diseases (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer) in South Africa, and the potential of these modifications to serve as candidates for the generation of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets-. She has a special interest in DNA methylation and has established a pyrosequencing facility to explore DNA methylation dynamics in health and disease. Her research also includes the use of cell culture and rodent models to explore the potential of various drugs and indigenous plant extracts in reversing pathogenic epigenetic modifications in the diseased state.

Biography: Dr Willmer received her undergraduate and MSc degrees from Rhodes University. In 2012 she registered for a PhD at the University of Cape Town as a NRF-DAAD scholar under the supervision of Prof Sharon Prince. Here she identified novel molecular mechanisms underpinning the development and progression of sarcomas, which lead to. the publication of six peer-reviewed journal articles, of which she is a first author of five. In 2016, she was awarded a Harry Crossley postdoctoral fellowship to continue with aspects of her PhD work in the Prince laboratory. During this time, she gained experience in supervising postgraduate students and became drawn to the field of epigenetics. She subsequently joined BRIP, SAMRC in 2017 as a postdoctoral fellow funded by the NRF professional development programme, to pursue research exploring the epigenetic mechanisms underlying non-communicable diseases. In 2019 she was appointed as a Senior Scientist at BRIP and in 2020, she was appointed as a Senior Extraordinary Lecturer in the Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University. She has presented her work at 14 national and 11 international conferences and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Journal of Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry and Experimental Cell Research.