In order to enhance world-class cancer research at the Australian National University (ANU) and celebrate the centenary of Canberra in 2013, ANU and the ACT Government have created a new Centenary Chair in Cancer Research. The endowed Chair is a tenured position that will be associated with The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), ANU and is expected to facilitate collaboration between cancer researchers at the JCSMR and clinicians at the recently established Canberra Region Cancer Centre at The Canberra Hospital.