Pioneering Australian researcher Professor Richard Scolyer dies aged 59

Professor Richard Scolyer, co-director of Melanoma Institute Australia in Sydney, was one of the world's leading figures in melanoma pathology. Diagnosed in 2023 with a rare and aggressive glioblastoma, Scolyer became the first person in the world to undergo a personalised combination immunotherapy regimen built on the melanoma protocols he had developed himself. The approach kept the tumour from progressing for a long period.

ABC News reports that the family announced his death in a public statement, with a funeral to be held in Sydney. The Australian Prime Minister, the Health Minister and the Chief Scientist released messages of condolence. University and hospital colleagues underlined that the pathology reporting standards Scolyer developed have extended melanoma patient survival globally.

Melanoma Institute Australia announced that a research fund has been set up in Scolyer's name, alongside a partnership consortium with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States. The combination protocol applied to Scolyer in glioblastoma is being tracked in other patients currently in clinical research to assess efficacy. The medical community says the long-term legacy of his work will continue to shape global oncology standards.