Cancer cell biologist Dr Roger Reddel, the director of Sydney's Children's Medical Research Institute, has won the 2007 Ramaciotti Medal for excellence in biomedical research.

Reddel's research is focused on the molecular genetics of immortalisation and his group is best known for discovering the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism.

He heads the CMRI's cancer research unit and is a senior principal research fellow of the NHMRC and of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney.

"I feel very honoured to receive the Ramaciotti Medal and to have the research recognised by this national award," Reddel said in a statement.

"Cancer continues to be a major health concern and our goal is to understand how it operates at the most fundamental level.

"It is this kind of understanding that offers the greatest likelihood of developing improved treatments and cures."

ANU's John Curtin School of Medical Research was awarded the bi-annual $1 million Ramaciotti Research Award, one of Australia's largest private research grants.

The school will use the money to establish the Ramaciotti Immunisation Genomics Laboratory, to be headed by Dr Anselm Enders.

The laboratory will research genetic issues associated with vaccines for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria, as well as cancer and auto-immune diseases.

Professor Christopher Goodnow, head of immunology and genetics at the John Curtin School said he was delighted to accept the prestigious Ramaciotti Research Award on behalf of the facility.

"The Ramaciotti Laboratory will enable major landmark discoveries by providing an unprecedented Australian opportunity to uncover the genes, cells and biological mechanisms governing immunisation responses," the head of immunology and genetics at the John Curtin School, Professor Christopher Goodnow, said.

"Needless to say, the human impact of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer and heart disease is immense. We aim to understand the underlying immunological principles which will help us develop vaccines for such illnesses, as well as auto-immune diseases.

"There was a time when smallpox and polio plagued the world. Biomedical research has practically eradicated both. Imagine a future when the same has been achieved for cancer."