Celebrating a giant of cancer research
3 min read 31 May 2023
After almost three decades of outstanding service to Peter Mac and cancer research, Associate Director of Laboratory Research Professor Rick Pearson is retiring.
His ground-breaking contributions and innovative approaches have significantly advanced the understanding of cancer and paved the way for improved treatments and patient outcomes.
"I've had a fantastic time since I started here and have actually spent 43% of my life working at Peter Mac," Professor Pearson told a meeting of Peter Mac's research department today.
"I'm very proud of my lab and the success we've had; the momentum in research at Peter Mac is amazing and we continue to have a great, collegial group of researchers and that's why we're successful."
Professor Pearson’s journey into cancer research began with a deep-rooted passion to unravel the mysteries of cancer biology.
He received his PhD from the University of Melbourne in 1992 and spent three years as a Human Frontiers of Science Fellow at Friedrich Miescher-Institut in Switzerland before returning to Melbourne to establish the Cancer Signalling Laboratory at Peter Mac in 1995.
In addition to his role of Associate Director Laboratory Research, Professor Pearson was also Head of the Oncogenic Signalling and Growth Control Program at Peter Mac.
“A major focus of his research is to understand the molecular basis of the regulation of ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis and cell growth,” Peter Mac’s Executive Director of Cancer Research Ricky Johnstone explains.
“His program played a pivotal role in showing that fundamental alterations in the activity of the pathways controlling ribosome synthesis and function were essential for cancer formation and progression.”
Professor Pearson’s lab reasoned that direct targeting of the ribosome would provide a new treatment paradigm for cancer and they developed the first selective inhibitor of ribosome biogenesis, CX-5461 that targets RNA Polymerase I (Pol I).
He has led a team of fundamental and clinical researchers in optimising the utility of ribosome targeted therapies in the treatment of both blood and solid cancers.
His work has been published in highly ranked journals with 140 peer reviewed articles in publications including Cancer Cell, Cancer Discovery, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Nature Communications, Clinical Cancer Research and Oncogene.
He has also actively mentored many students and young scientists, guiding them in their research endeavours and fostering a culture of scientific excellence.
“Professor Pearson's mentorship and collaborative spirit have played a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of cancer researchers,” Professor Johnstone says.
“His collaborative approach has led to many important partnerships, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and accelerating progress in cancer research globally.”
Professor Pearson will maintain an Honorary position and continue to supervise his own students and mentor other Peter Mac staff and students. He will also maintain contact with the Peter Mac Foundation working on a range of projects for them.
He is Professorial Fellow in the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Melbourne as well as Adjunct Professor (Research), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University.