Professor Smyth’s work has helped build the foundations of modern cancer immunotherapy. He is one of two major contributors to the field of cancer immunoediting, which has provided a scientific basis for the current revolution in cancer immunotherapy. He has also made substantial contributions to our understanding of natural killer (NK) cell and NKT cell biology in cancer initiation and spread, inflammation and other diseases. His work has increased the translational impact of immunotherapy on cancer treatment. He has played a leading role in developing cancer immunology in Australia and in training postgraduate students and higher-level staff in this discipline.