Kharis Burns

Dr. Kharis Burns is a clinician scientist and endocrinologist holding dual academic appointments as Adjunct Senior Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine at the University of Western Australia Medical School, and Clinical Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney. Clinically, she serves as Co-Head of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Royal Perth Hospital and Endocrinologist at the Keogh Institute for Medical Research.

Her educational background includes medical graduation with Honours from the University of Sydney (2009), Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (2017), and a PhD in polycystic ovary syndrome under Professors Bronwyn Stuckey AM and Gerald Watts.

Dr. Burns specializes in reproductive endocrinology with deep expertise in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and inborn errors of metabolism. Her research integrates clinical practice with genetic and metabolic investigations, focusing on heterogeneous endocrine disorders through large-scale international consortia and molecular mechanisms.

Her 2024 publications reveal a dual research trajectory: advanced genetic analyses of PCOS across diverse populations and critical investigations into rare metabolic disorders like fatty acid oxidation defects and hyperammonaemia, demonstrating interdisciplinary convergence of endocrinology, genetics, and metabolism.

Scientific awards include:

• Outstanding Abstract Award at Endocrine Society of Australia 2022
• Outstanding Abstract Award at Endocrine Society of Australia 2023

Dr. Burns has secured three competitive research grants and founded the International Lean PCOS Consortium (254,588 subjects across six cohorts). At Royal Perth Hospital, she leads a clinical team of nine consultants, registrars, and residents while directing the Inborn Errors of Metabolism Service.

She actively contributes to professional organizations including the Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Endocrine Society of Australia, and Endocrine Society (US), maintaining strong clinical-academic integration across multiple institutions.