Dr Ralph Rapley completed a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Molecular Immunology at Birmingham University before undertaking various research positions including at the Scripps Research Institute in California and MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas. His research initially focused on the design and production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and protein display systems. Latterly, his research has concentrated on bioinformatic identification of genetic changes in oncology for improving diagnostics. He has written and edited 18 textbooks in molecular biology, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Higher Education Academy and recently was made a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London.