Dr Christine Keenan is a Laboratory Head at the Bio21 Institute of Molecular Sciences and Biotechnology and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne. Her lab investigates epigenetic mechanisms that cause or contribute to diseases of the immune system. The ultimate goal of this research program is to therapeutically harness the epigenome to treat immune diseases, without compromising a healthy state of immune protection.

Christine completed her PhD exploring molecular mechanisms of steroid resistance in respiratory disease, which sparked an interest in all things epigenetic. She secured an NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellowship to pursue postdoctoral training in the laboratory of A/Prof Rhys Allan at WEHI focused on understanding epigenetic silencing mechanisms in overactive (asthmatic) and underperforming (age-related) immune systems. She established her independent group in the Bio21 Institute in 2024.