The IMBA community remembers cancer biologist and former Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) member Gregory James Hannon, who passed away at the age of 61. Hannon’s work has had a sustained and influential impact on the fields of cancer biology, RNA research, and genomics. Over a career spanning decades, Hannon became widely recognized for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation and for developing experimental tools that reshaped modern biomedical research. 

“Greg brought to IMBA not only extraordinary scientific insight, but also a rare generosity of spirit,” said IMBA Scientific Directory Elly Tanaka. “As a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, he combined rigor with encouragement, always asking the difficult questions while making space for new ideas to grow. His influence will remain part of IMBA’s foundation for years to come.”

Hannon began his career in 1992 as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of David Beach at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), where he later advanced to the role of staff associate. In 1996, he joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to full Professor in 2002, and in 2005 became an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

In 2014, Hannon relocated to the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and was appointed Director in 2018; he was also a Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge.

Hannon was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, held membership in the United States National Academy of Sciences, and received the Academy’s distinguished Award in Molecular Biology, in addition to numerous other honors and recognitions.

Hannon is best known for his pioneering work on small RNA biology, particularly RNA interference (RNAi). His research clarified the biochemical mechanisms through which small RNAs are generated and how they repress gene expression and showed their significance in cancer. He and his colleagues developed widely used tools, including short hairpin RNA libraries, enabling systematic manipulation of gene function in mammalian systems. His laboratory also contributed to the discovery of the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway and its role in protecting the genome of germ cells against transposable elements.

In addition to his laboratory discoveries, Hannon played key roles in advancing new technological approaches, such as exome capture and large-scale functional genomics. He was involved in international collaborations, including a major initiative to create three-dimensional, interactive maps of tumors to better understand cancer biology. 

His achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, fellowship of the Royal Society, and membership in the European Molecular Biology Organization. He also received major research awards such as the AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research and the Paul Marks Prize. 

Through his research, leadership, and mentorship, Gregory Hannon helped define key areas of contemporary molecular biology. His work continues to inform approaches to understanding gene regulation and developing new strategies for the treatment of cancer. His curiosity and kind spirit will live on in the culture at IMBA that he helped shape.

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute's Obituary

https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/news/in-memoriam-professor-greg-hannon/