Professor Richard Scolyer: From Pioneering Melanoma Research to Groundbreaking Brain Cancer Treatment

A Legacy of Medical Innovation

Professor Richard Scolyer AO, a Senior Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Conjoint Professor at Sydney Medical School, has distinguished himself through exceptional service to medicine, particularly in melanoma and skin cancer research. His contributions were recognised with his appointment as Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in June 2021.

In a remarkable acknowledgment of his contributions to medical science, Professor Scolyer, along with his colleague Professor Georgina Long, was jointly named 2024 Australian of the Year. Their groundbreaking research and unwavering commitment have revolutionised melanoma treatment, saving thousands of lives.

Pioneering Research and Personal Battle

In June 2023, Professor Scolyer faced a personal health crisis when he was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer. Together with Professor Long, he developed a series of world-first treatments based on their melanoma breakthroughs. He became the world’s first brain cancer patient to receive pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, choosing to undertake an experimental treatment that, while risking his own life, has advanced the understanding of brain cancer for future patients.

His work with the Melanoma Institute Australia has been transformative – their research on immunotherapy, which utilizes the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, has dramatically improved outcomes for advanced melanoma patients globally. Today, half of these patients are essentially cured, up from less than 10% previously.

Current Impact and Future Legacy

The significance of Professor Scolyer’s work cannot be overstated, particularly in Australia, which has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. Currently, one Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes, and despite recent treatment breakthroughs, one Australian dies every six hours. It remains the second most common cancer in men and third most common in women.

In recognition of his continued contributions to medical science, Scolyer won the Social Impact Book of the Year at the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards for his book, ‘Brainstorm.’ However, in March 2025, he announced that his cancer had returned, with a prognosis of three months. Despite this setback, his pioneering work continues to influence cancer treatment worldwide.