Professor Dawson is a Physician-Scientist and an Associate Director of Research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He is an internationally recognised leader in the field of cancer biology and his research has helped lead to the development of several first-in-class epigenetic therapies that have been translated into various clinical trials across the world. In recognition of his research achievements, he has been awarded several awards and prizes including the Prime Ministers Prize for Science as Life Scientist of the Year 2020. He has also been elected to the Australian Academy of Science and Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.