Vanessa Hayes

Professor Vanessa Hayes is the Petre Chair of Prostate Cancer Research at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences. She leads the Ancestry & Health Genomics Laboratory at the Charles Perkins Centre, focusing on genomic studies to address cancer disparities, particularly in prostate cancer among African populations. Her research integrates genomic and clinical science to develop precision medicine approaches.

Education and affiliations include roles as an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria and Honorary Professor at the University of Limpopo. She directs the HEROIC Prostate Cancer Precision Health Africa1K and TARGET Africa projects, aiming to close health equity gaps through genomic research.

Research interests span human genomics, cancer disparities, and evolutionary genetics. Recent projects include mapping early human evolution via genomic diversity and identifying genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer in Africa. Over 150 publications highlight her work on genomic rearrangements, ancestral health links, and clinical applications.

Scientific achievements include election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2024) and recognition as an Eureka Prize finalist (2019). Grants exceed $15M, supporting studies on mutational signatures, genomic diversity, and precision health initiatives.

She advises Kangping ZHOU and collaborates globally through networks like the South African Prostate Cancer Study (SAPCS). Her lab's vision combines ancestral genomics with clinical science to improve cancer outcomes worldwide.