Professor John Stanley Mattick is a world-renowned leader in RNA biology whose career has fundamentally transformed our understanding of genomic regulation and function. He currently serves as the SHARP Professor of RNA Biology at UNSW Sydney, building upon his distinguished leadership as Chief Executive of Genomics England from 2018 to 2019 and Director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney from 2012 to 2018. His academic foundation was established with a First Class Honors BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Sydney in 1972 followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from Monash University in 1978. Prior to his current position, he pioneered Australian genomics research as the Foundation Director of both the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Australian Genome Research Facility at the University of Queensland.
Professor Mattick revolutionized genomic science by demonstrating that the majority of the human genome previously dismissed as junk DNA actually encodes a sophisticated RNA regulatory system essential for development and cellular differentiation. His seminal research has generated over 300 publications accumulating more than 100,000 citations, establishing him as the world's number one ranked scholar in noncoding RNA and fourth in RNA research globally. His paradigm-shifting insights have received extensive coverage in Nature, Science, Scientific American, New Scientist and the New York Times, profoundly altering the trajectory of molecular biology. This groundbreaking work has catalyzed new approaches to understanding disease mechanisms and developing RNA-based therapeutic strategies targeting the genome's regulatory networks.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Professor Mattick has been honored as an Officer in the Order of Australia and received the prestigious Gutenberg Chair at the University of Strasbourg along with the Human Genome Organisation Chen Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Human Genetics and Genomic Research. He maintains distinguished fellowships in the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, reflecting his exceptional cross-disciplinary impact. As Chief Scientific Advisor at Evergreen Life, he actively translates genomic insights into healthcare applications while continuing his pioneering research program at UNSW Sydney. His ongoing work promises to further illuminate the complex regulatory landscape of the genome, potentially unlocking transformative approaches to diagnosing and treating a wide range of genetic disorders and advancing personalized medicine.
