Gregory Hannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greg Hannon
FRS FMedSci
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Gregory James Hannon
1964 (age 60–61) |
| Alma mater | Case Western Reserve University (BA, PhD) |
| Awards | EMBO Member (2018) Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2015) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Institutions | University of Cambridge New York Genome Center Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| Thesis | Trans-splicing of nematode pre-messenger RNA (1992) |
| Doctoral advisor | Timothy W. Nilsen |
| Doctoral students | Emily Bernstein |
| Other notable students | Lin He (postdoc) |
Gregory James Hannon is a leading scientist born in 1964. He is a professor of molecular cancer biology at the University of Cambridge in the UK. He also directs the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.
Professor Hannon is a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He also works as a director of cancer genomics at the New York Genome Center. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Contents
Discoveries in Biology
Professor Hannon is famous for his work on tiny RNA molecules. He also studies cancer biology and the complete set of genes in mammals, called genomics. His research has helped us understand how genes work and how they can go wrong in diseases like cancer.
Understanding Cancer Genes
Early in his career, Professor Hannon helped find oncogenes. These are genes that can cause cancer when they don't work correctly. He also linked these genes to special proteins called CDK inhibitors. These inhibitors can stop cancer cells from growing.
The Role of Small RNA
More recently, his work has focused on very small RNA molecules. These tiny molecules play a big role in how our bodies work. He helped us understand how RNA interference (RNAi) works. RNAi is a natural process where RNA molecules can turn off specific genes.
Professor Hannon has also created important tools for scientists. These tools help them control how gene expression happens in cells and animals. He made special libraries of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). These libraries are used by cancer researchers to study genes. He was also one of the first to show that microRNAs, another type of small RNA, are involved in cancer.
His lab also found the piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. This pathway helps protect our genetic material from harmful elements called transposons. These transposons can jump around in our DNA. The piRNA pathway helps keep them under control, especially in germ cells (cells that pass on genetic information).
New Ways to Study Genes
Professor Hannon has also developed new ways to study genes. One of these methods is called exome capture. This technique helps scientists focus on the most important parts of our DNA. It allows them to study specific genes more closely.
Fighting Cancer with Technology
In 2017, Professor Hannon received a large award to lead the IMAXT team. This team includes researchers from many countries. They have different skills, from cancer biology to virtual reality game design.
Creating 3D Cancer Maps
The IMAXT team's goal is to create an interactive 3D map of cancer. This map can be explored using virtual reality. This project could change how scientists study cancer. It will give them a detailed look at how individual cells are arranged. It will also show how cells interact to help a tumor grow.
New Research Center
In 2018, it was announced that Professor Hannon would help guide the Functional Genomics Centre. This center is a partnership between Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca. It is located at the Milner Therapeutics Institute.
The center aims to be a hub for important research. This includes genetic screens, cancer models, and CRISPR gene editing. CRISPR is a powerful tool for changing genes. The center also uses computer methods to analyze big data. This helps scientists understand genetic changes in cancer and find new ways to treat it.
Awards and Recognition
Professor Hannon has received many awards for his important scientific work.
- Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, 1997
- Rita Allen Scholar, 2000
- US Army Breast Cancer Research Programme Innovator Award, 2002
- AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research, 2005
- National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology, 2007
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, 2007
- National Academy of Sciences Member, 2012
- Royal Society Wolfson Professorship, 2015
- Academy of Medical Sciences member, 2017
- EMBO member, 2018
- The Royal Society Fellow, 2018
- European Academy of Cancer Sciences Fellow, 2019
- Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research Academy, 2020
