Emeritus Professor
Citation delivered by Professor Adam Trevitt, Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, at the University of Wollongong on the occasion of the admission of Marie Ranson as an Emeritus Professor on 21 April 2026.
Deputy Chancellor, I present to you Senior Professor Marie Ranson.
The enduring strength of a university is shaped not only by the knowledge it generates, but by the people who translate discovery into impact, who educate with purpose, and who build institutions that enable others to thrive. Through a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, Senior Professor Marie Ranson has exemplified these ideals through sustained leadership and service to the University of Wollongong.
Marie began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours from the University of New South Wales in 1984, followed by a PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Sydney in 1990. After postdoctoral research at the United States National Institutes of Health, she joined UOW in 1998 as a Lecturer. Over the next 27 years, she built a prominent and influential career at the University, progressing to Associate Professor in 2006, Professor in 2014 and Senior Professor in 2022, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to both the institution and her field.
An internationally recognised cancer researcher, Marie is a leading authority on the urokinase plasminogen activation system, a biological process that helps cancer grow and spread in the body.
Her foundational research has advanced the understanding of cancer cell migration and informed the development of innovative targeted therapies. Her scholarly output includes 143 peer-reviewed publications, more than 200 conference presentations, and an invited article in the journal Nature Reviews Cancer. Supported by competitive national and international funding totalling over $20 million, her work has deeply strengthened the University’s research profile and capacity.
Equally significant is Marie’s commitment to education and mentorship. Since 1998, she has supervised 33 PhD candidates, four Masters students, and more than 40 Honours students, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, research and industry. Her excellence in supervision was recognised with the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Supervisor of the Year in 2007.
Marie has chaired and served on major governance committees, led research assessment efforts, and held senior leadership roles, including Foundation Scientific Director of the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and Deputy Director for Clinical Partnerships in Molecular Horizons. Through these roles, she has built enduring partnerships between researchers, clinicians and the community.
Marie’s career embodies UOW’s commitment to research excellence, educational leadership and service with purpose. Her legacy will continue through the people she has mentored, the programs she has shaped and the translational research she continues to advance.
Deputy Chancellor, it is my privilege to present Senior Professor Marie Ranson for admission as an Emeritus Professor.