Associate Professor in Human Nutrition
Canada Research Chair in Human Nutrition and Vitamin Metabolism (2010-2020)
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Researcher, Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s
Contact
FNH 245 – 2205 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Phone: 604-827-1776
Email: yvonne.lamers@ubc.ca
Education
University of Florida, Postdoctoral Associate, Human Nutrition
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, PhD, Human Nutrition
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Diploma, Human Nutrition
Research
My enthusiasm for human nutrition research draws from my interest in the physiology and biochemistry of nutrition-related diseases and in targeted and population-based strategies of chronic disease prevention and optimal health promotion. My research specifically focuses on B-vitamins and their kinetics and functions in human metabolism. B-vitamins are required for normal cell growth and neurological function and thus have an impact on human health from the embryo to the older adult. Low folate and/or vitamin B-12 status may yield pregnancy complications, low birth weight, cancer, and cognitive impairment.
The overarching theme of my research is nutrient adequacy. My current research projects focus on maternal-fetal nutrient dependency, periconceptional vitamin adequacy, and the role of maternal and infant nutrition on growth and development. In the UBC Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory that I established, my team has set up a wide array of externally validated analytical methods. One of our goals is to identify sensitive nutritional biomarkers for early diagnosis of micronutrient inadequacies. With the use of stable isotope tracer protocols, we are able to investigate metabolic and functional consequences of nutritional inadequacies and micronutrient interactions in various population groups. The studies will help elaborate potential underlying mechanisms responsible for linkages between B-vitamin intake and chronic diseases and in the evaluation of optimal vitamin intake to maintain biochemical functions.
I am interested in supervising graduate students with strong interests in human nutrition, biochemistry, and biomarker analysis. Ideal candidates have strong communication skills for interaction with study participants and have experience or high interest in projects with a wet lab component.
Teaching
- FNH 351: Vitamins, Minerals, and Health (2017/2018 – 2023/2024)
- FNH 350: Fundamentals of Nutrition (2011/2012 – 2016/2017)
- FNH 451: Nutrient Metabolism and Implications for Health (2022/2023; 2024/2025)
- HUNU 510: Nutrition Assessment across the Lifespan (2022/2023 – 2024/2025)
- HUNU 500: Research Methods (2024/2025)
- HUNU 531/631: Graduate Student Seminar (2012/2013 – 2018/2019)