Gregory Hannon is a distinguished leader in molecular cancer biology whose pioneering work has transformed our understanding of RNA mechanisms in disease. He currently serves as Director and Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute while holding the position of Professor of Molecular Cancer Biology and Wellcome Trust Investigator at the University of Cambridge. Previously, he was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and maintains affiliations as Senior Associate Core Member and Director of Cancer Genomics at the New York Genome Center and Adjunct Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Hannon earned his B.A. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Case Western Reserve University, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking research trajectory. His leadership spans multiple prestigious institutions, reflecting his significant influence in the global scientific community.
Hannon's seminal contributions to small RNA biology have revolutionized the field, particularly through his elucidation of RNA interference mechanisms and the discovery of the piRNA pathway that protects germ cell genomes from transposon activity. His laboratory developed the first genome-wide shRNA libraries, which became indispensable tools for the cancer research community, enabling systematic functional genomic studies across thousands of laboratories worldwide. His highly cited 2001 Nature paper describing the role of Dicer in RNA interference has garnered over 7,700 citations, while his 2004 review on microRNAs in Nature Reviews Genetics has been cited more than 8,600 times, demonstrating the profound impact of his work. These innovations have provided critical insights into cancer biology and established foundational methodologies that continue to drive discovery in molecular genetics and oncology.
As a collaborative leader, Hannon has spearheaded major international initiatives including the Cancer Grand Challenge program, where his team develops cutting-edge spatial biology technologies to map tumors in three dimensions and understand tissue state transitions in breast cancer. His laboratory continues to pioneer novel approaches including dual guide CRISPR screening, clonal tracking techniques, and spatial omics methods that are reshaping how researchers study tumor heterogeneity and evolution. Hannon's mentorship has cultivated a generation of scientists who now lead research groups across prestigious institutions globally, extending his intellectual legacy throughout the field. His current Wellcome LEAP project and the newly established Spatial Profiling and Annotation Centre of Excellence demonstrate his ongoing commitment to developing transformative technologies that address fundamental questions in cancer biology and therapy response.
