A toast to new Cancer Research Head

A toast to new Cancer Research Head

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre announce new appointment.

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Victoria have announced Professor Ricky Johnstone, a researcher funded by The Kids’ Cancer Project, is now Executive Director, Cancer Research (EDCR).

In competition against a strong field of international applicants, Ricky’s appointment is a great acknowledgement of his scientific and leadership skills, experience and ambition.

Peter Mac Chief Executive Dale Fisher said Ricky’s deep organisational knowledge and experience will enable Peter Mac to continue to accelerate discovery and translational research.

“I congratulate Ricky on this appointment as he continues to lead our research and its contribution to Peter Mac becoming one of the world’s leading cancer centres,” Dale Fisher said. 

Through this appointment, Ricky will also be the Head of the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology at the University of Melbourne.

Ricky has been acting in the EDCR role while Peter Mac undertook a global search to fill the position and has demonstrated his ability to lead the research team to high levels of performance.

Ricky was originally recruited to Peter Mac as part of the institutions bold strategy to invest in cancer immunology research almost 18 years ago. He has held senior leadership roles within the laboratory research domain for 10 years.


Read more: In Focus: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.


As Head of the Gene Regulation Laboratory, Ricky’s scientific credentials are well known nationally and internationally. He holds a professorial appointment with the University of Melbourne and was appointed Associate Director Laboratory Research at Peter Mac in 2015.

Ricky takes over the role from Joe Trapani who held the EDCR position since 2009. Joe is continuing to lead Peter Mac’s ground-breaking immunotherapy research in his role as Head of Peter Mac's Cancer Immunology Program and Group Leader for the Cancer Cell Death Laboratory.

For more information on Ricky’s work at Peter Mac see Johnstone Laboratory.