Dr Amanda Khoury

Dr Amanda Khoury is a Research Officer in the Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. She joined the lab in January 2013, bringing her passion for studying how the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the genome influences cell function and disease.

Dr Khoury first completed her bachelor’s degree in Medical Science at the University of Sydney. She then earned First Class Honours in Infectious Diseases and Immunology from the Centenary Institute’s Vascular Biology Laboratory in 2010. In 2017, Dr Khoury obtained her PhD, examining the function of CTCF, a mediator of 3D genome architecture.

Dr Khoury’s current research focuses on elucidating how our DNA is organised in 3D space within cells, a process known as genome folding. This 3D architecture plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and cell function. Her work shows how alterations to the ‘origami’ of DNA folding may be a key driver of cancer. By pinpointing the specific epigenetic changes that contribute to tumour formation, these findings may ultimately guide the development of new cancer therapies targeting the 3D genome.

Her work has been recognised through her selection as a Superstar of STEM by Science and Technology Australia for 2023–2024. She is also a Chief Investigator on an NHMRC Ideas Grant (2023–2025), focusing on the functional impact of CTCF binding site mutations in 3D cancer genome regulation.

In addition to her research, Dr Khoury engages in science communication, presenting seminars on epigenetics and genomics to various audiences, including daycare children and primary school students. Her public seminars at the Garvan Institute have highlighted the importance of DNA folding and the implications of 3D genome organisation in health and disease.