Professor Andrew Roberts: A Leader in Blood Cancer Research
Background and Inspiration
Professor Andrew Roberts is a blood cancer researcher and haematologist affiliated with WEHI, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the University of Melbourne.
His inspiration to study hematology stemmed from his experiences as a junior doctor treating leukaemia patients, observing both recoveries and deaths due to inadequate treatments.
After completing his clinical training, Roberts began a PhD under Professor Don Metcalf. Metcalf's discovery of colony stimulating factors was a key influence that drove Roberts to pursue lab-based research.
Key Research Accomplishment: The BCL-2 Breakthrough
Roberts' most notable research accomplishment involves collaborative work on the protein BCL-2. This work directly led to the development of venetoclax, a drug now approved for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia.
Roberts led the first-in-human and first combination trials for venetoclax. The drug was co-developed by Roche, Genentech, and AbbVie.
Current Role and Personal Interests
Since 2025, Roberts has served as Editor-in-Chief of Blood. In his personal time, he enjoys reading Australian outback noir crime novels.