Professor Bryan Williams, PhD, Hon FRSNZ

Institute Director and Director, Centre for Cancer Research

Professor Bryan Williams, PhD, Hon FRSNZ, has a distinguished history in cancer research. His work focuses on the molecular biology of tumor suppression and the role tumor suppressor genes may play in regulating cell growth, maturation and apoptosis. He is internationally recognised for his contributions to research on Wilms Tumor - a cancer of the kidney that primarily affects children, and for his studies on protein kinase R, an important cellular signalling molecule. He has also gained prominence in the field of RNA interference.

Prior to joining MIMR in January 2006, Professor Williams was the Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology at the Lerner research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, USA. Other positions he has held include Associate Director of Basic Research, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Centre, Associate Director, Case Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Cleveland. He has also worked in New Zealand, England and Canada.

In addition to his research work and teaching, Professor Williams also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, Viral Immunity, Journal of Virology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnologia Applicada. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed journals.

Professor Williams was the recipient of the 2005 Maurice Saltzman Award from the Mt Sinai Health Care Foundation, for his leadership contribution to the Case Comprehensive Cancer Centre. In 1997 he was elected Honorary Fellow, Royal Society of New Zealand. He was also the recipient of the 1990 Milstein Award from the International Society for Interferon Research, in recognition for his contributions to advancing interferon research for treatment of human diseases.

Since joining MIMR, Professor Williams has been appointed to the Victorian Ministerial Taskforce for Cancer Research Working Group. He is also a member of the Southern Health Integrated Cancer Service and Chair of the Research Advisory Group.