Brainstorm

The incredible story of 2024 Co-Australian of the Year, Richard Scolyer, as he uses his groundbreaking melanoma science to fight his own 'incurable' diagnosis with brain cancer.

A dedicated doctor. A devastating diagnosis. A chance for a medical revolution.

Skin cancer is this country's most common cancer, and melanoma the deadliest form of it. Richard Scolyer, together with his colleagues at Melanoma Institute Australia, has dedicated years to groundbreaking research and succeeded in transforming even the most advanced cases of melanoma into a largely curable disease.

Then last year, at the peak of his life, Richard was devastated when he was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer.

As a world-leading clinician and cancer researcher, Richard was never going to accept the status quo - including a medical approach unchanged in nearly two decades and an expectation of little more than a year to live. He instead chose to undertake world-first experimental treatment for his brain cancer, based on melanoma science. His brave decision could shorten or save his life-the only certainty is that it will push the brain cancer field forward and ultimately help save the lives of others.

This is his story.

Professor Richard Scolyer AO is a Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia, shared with his colleague, Professor Georgina Long AO. Together, they were named 2024 Australians of Year for their pioneering work in melanoma and for their work in applying that science to brain cancer. Richard is also a Senior Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, and Conjoint Professor at The University of Sydney. He is widely regarded as the world's leading melanoma pathologist and one of the world's top melanoma researchers.

In June 2021, Richard was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the field of melanoma and skin cancer, and for his service to national and international professional organizations. He has also received multiple awards from many prestigious medical, research and pathology organizations worldwide, and represented Australia as an age-group triathlete.

Garry Maddox is a senior writer at The Sydney Morning Herald.