Dayna Challis
South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Dr Dayna Challis is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the 3D Chromatin Organisation Laboratory, headed by Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka, at the South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI).
Dayna completed her PhD in the Taberlay Lab at the University of Tasmania in 2024. Here, she profiled the molecular response of medulloblastoma cells to radiotherapy using multi-omics techniques (transcriptomics, proteomics, 3D genomics). During her PhD, she developed a particular interest in the 3D genome and how changes in 3D chromatin organisation may facilitate treatment resistance.
In 2025, Dayna commenced postdoctoral training in the 3D Chromatin Organisation Laboratory, headed by Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka, at the South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI). Her current research focusses on understanding the role of 3D chromatin alterations in driving the development, progression, and treatment resistance of hormone-dependent cancers using a range of cutting-edge methods (multi-omics, single-cell, genome editing, and various pre-clinical model systems). Dayna is currently leading the following research project:
Elucidating the role of 3D genome structure in lineage plasticity in cancer
Cell lineage plasticity is recognised as a novel mechanism of tumour progression and treatment resistance in cancer. It is mainly driven by dynamic transcriptional and epigenetic changes; however, the role of 3D genome structure alterations in driving lineage plasticity is not yet fully understood. Understanding the key 3D genome structure, epigenetic, and transcriptional regulators of cancer cell plasticity can yield new avenues for therapy.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - 2024 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Menzies Institute for Medical Research 2024 - 2024 Associate Lecturer in Biomedicine University of Tasmania 2023 - 2024 Technical Officer (Biochemistry) University of Tasmania 2022 - 2024 Practical Demonstrator University of Tasmania 2019 - 2020 Research Assistant (Cancer Epigenetics) University of Tasmania -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2020 - 2024 University of Tasmania Australia Graduate Certificate in Research 2020 - 2024 University of Tasmania Australia Doctor of Philosophy 2019 - 2019 University of Tasmania Australia Bachelor of Biotechnology and Medical Research with Honours (First Class) 2016 - 2018 University of Tasmania Australia Bachelor of Biotechnology and Medical Research (Pathology) -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2023 Challis, D., Lippis, T., Wilson, R., Wilkinson, E., Dickinson, J., Black, A., . . . Brettingham-Moore, K. (2023). Multiomics analysis of adaptation to repeated DNA damage in prostate cancer cells. Epigenetics, 18(1).
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2022 Challis, D., & Brettingham-Moore, K. H. (2022). The interplay between DNA damage and epigenetics in cancer. In Epigenetics and DNA Damage (pp. 167-189). Elsevier.
DOI
Millennium Science - 10x Genomics Single Cell Fellowship (2025)
Lecturer (University of Tasmania)
2024 - Biomolecular Approaches to Medical Research
Practical Demonstrator (University of Tasmania)
2023 - Systems-based Approaches to Medical Research
2023- Biomolecular Approaches to Medical Research
2023 - Molecular Biology in Health and Disease
2023 - Biochemistry: Metabolism and Nutrition
2022-2023 - Introduction to Medical Laboratory Sciences
2022 - Techniques in Molecular Biology and Protein Biochemistry
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2022 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia 2021 - ongoing Member Australasian Epigenetics Alliance (AEpiA) Australia -
Presentation
Date Topic Presented at Institution Country 2024 - 2024 Genome Organisation Australia Young TAD Award - Finalist - Genome Organisation Australia - 2024 - 2024 Dovetail Genomics Inspired Science Webinar - Invited Speaker - Dovetail Genomics - 2023 - 2023 Dovetail Genomics Epigenetics Summit - Invited Speaker - Dovetail Genomics - 2022 - 2022 Australasian Epigenetics Alliance Conference - Young Investigator Award - Australasian Epigenetics Alliance Australia 2022 - 2022 ASMR Student Award Finalist - Australian Society for Medical Research Australia
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