Professor Goodnow

One of Australia’s leading genomics experts, Professor Chris Goodnow, is to become the new head of Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research in June, replacing current Executive Director Professor John Mattick.

An immunologist, Professor Goodnow has pioneered the use of DNA technology and genome sequencing.

He is currently Deputy Director of the Garvan, and Head of the Immunogenomics Laboratory in Garvan’s Immunology Division.

Professor Goodnow trained in immunology at the University of Sydney and in DNA technology at Stanford University. There he established the concept of multiple immune tolerance checkpoints, now widely used in cancer treatment with “checkpoint inhibitors”.

Prior to joining the Garvan he was founding Director of the Medical Genome Centre at the Australian National University.

He will take over from Professor Mattick, who has transformed the Garvan into one of the world’s leading clinical genomics centres during his six years as Executive Director.

Professor Mattick is moving to the UK to become the inaugural CEO of Genomics England, the world’s largest clinical genomics initiative.

The Garvan has more than 600 scientists working in areas such as bone and osteoporosis, diabetes and metabolism, cancer, immunology and neuroscience.