Associate Professor Boris Novakovic, PhD

I am a molecular biologist and epigeneticist whose research explores how the immune system is shaped by environmental exposures, vaccines, and sex hormones. My career has been defined by pioneering work in trained immunity, where I helped establish the molecular and epigenetic basis of innate immune memory. Early contributions included identifying divergent epigenetic programs underlying tolerance and training, and leading international collaborations that set the foundations for this field. I have since built one of Australia’s first research programs dedicated to trained immunity, generating extensive multi-omic datasets and mentoring the next generation of scientists. More recently, I have expanded my program to investigate how sex hormones modulate immunity, with a focus on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). This work integrates clinical cohorts with systems immunology, and has resulted in one of the largest biospecimen collection worldwide from individuals undergoing GAHT. By combining clinical data with epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiling, my team is uncovering how hormone therapy reprograms immune pathways. My research has been published in leading journals including Nature Medicine, Cell, and Science Advances, and continues to shape the understanding of immune plasticity. I lead a multidisciplinary team, advancing both discovery science and translational applications.