Professor Bryan Williams, PhD, Hon FRSNZ

Institute Director and Director, Centre for Cancer Research

Professor Bryan Williams has a distinguished history in cancer research. His work focuses on the molecular biology of tumour suppression and the role tumour suppressor genes may play in regulating cell growth, maturation and apoptosis. He is internationally recognised for his contributions to research on Wilms tumour - 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 Taussig Cancer Centre, and Associate Director for the Lerner Research Institute, 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 & Cytokine Research, Viral Immunology, Journal of Virology, Biotechnologia Applicada, Faculty of 1000 and Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. He has published over 300 research papers, review articles and book chapters.

Professor Williams shared 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 of his contributions to advancing interferon research for treatment of human diseases.

Professor Williams is a member of the Victorian Cancer Agency Consultative Council. He is also a member of the Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (SMICS) Reference Advisory Group and Chair of the SMICS Research Advisory Group.