Professor Ross Hannan is a NHMRC Research Fellow and head of the Oncogenic Signaling and Growth Control Program in the Division of Research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. He received his PhD from the University of Tasmania in 1994 before undertaking postdoctoral research in the USA. Since returning to Australia in 2000, he has held prominent positions at the Baker Medical Research Institute and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. His research interests include; ribosome biogenesis, the genetic and epigenetic regulation of ribosomal gene transcription during malignant transformation and nucleolar control of p53 function as a target for cancer therapy. Most recently he has collaborated with the Pharmaceutical industry to develop “first in class” small molecule inhibitors of RNA Polymerase I transcription for cancer therapy which are currently in phase 1 clinical trials. In April 2015 Professor Hannan will take up a new position as the Centenary Chair of Cancer Research head in the Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.