Ronald Laskey is a cell biologist whose work on DNA replication has been extremely influential in the study of cancer. He has also made important contributions to the study of protein transport within the nucleus, thereby greatly improving our understanding of the cell life cycle.

Ronald’s work on DNA synthesis has led to the discovery of certain proteins that are more prevalent in cancer cells than in their healthy counterparts. Improved screening techniques that build on this research are currently under development and could allow for the diagnosis of many different cancers at an early stage in their growth.

Ronald’s pioneering contributions to the field of cancer research have been recognised by numerous awards, including the 2014 Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement Prize. One of the founders of the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, he was awarded a CBE in 2011 for his services to science.