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Pioneering Researcher Richard Scolyer Dies After Brain Cancer Battle
His experimental immunotherapy helped spur early clinical trials in the United States and new funding for brain cancer research, his family said.
- On Sunday, Professor Richard Scolyer, a world-renowned melanoma pathologist and former Australian of the Year, died at age 59. Scolyer gained global attention for undergoing experimental immunotherapy for his aggressive glioblastoma.
- Alongside colleague Professor Georgina Long, Scolyer became the first glioblastoma patient to receive pre-surgery combination immunotherapy. The pair applied successful skin cancer protocols to his brain tumour, hoping to defy the 14-month median survival rate.
- Recognized as a national treasure, Scolyer and Long were named joint 2024 Australians of the Year for revolutionizing melanoma treatment. Their work spurred a $5.9 million federal commitment to establish the Richard Scolyer Chair in Brain Cancer Research.
- Throughout his illness, Scolyer maintained courageous advocacy, completing 250 Parkruns and cycling the Tour de Cure. He documented his journey to provide transparency and hope, amassing thousands of followers while pushing for clinical trials.
- In a final farewell, Scolyer expressed hope his participation would benefit future patients, stating he wanted to be remembered as an Australian who "gave it a crack." He is survived by his wife, Katie, and three children.
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Renowned cancer researcher Richard Scolyer dies at 59 after testing experimental brain tumour therapy on himself
The Australian pathologist and 2024 Australian of the Year pioneered a world-first treatment for his own glioblastoma, helping launch new clinical trials before his death
·Mumbai, India
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The Morning NewsReposted by 
KahawaTungu
KahawaTunguAustralian Doctor Who Underwent World-First Brain Tumour Treatment Dies
What do you do when you’re told you have one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer? For Australian cancer expert Richard Scolyer, the answer was simple: fight back — and help science along the way.Scolyer, who has died at 59, became known around the world after volunteering as the first patient to receive an experimental treatment for glioblastoma. It was based on his own groundbreaking cancer research.Diagnosed in 2023, he refused to accept wh…
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