Cancer Researcher Richard Scolyer Honoured with $5.9 Million Chair as His “End Point” Nears
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the establishment of the Richard Scolyer Chair in Brain Cancer Research, backed by a $5.9 million endowment, to support pioneering work in treating brain cancer. The professorial chair is named after Professor Richard Scolyer, a renowned pathologist, melanoma specialist, and 2024 joint Australian of the Year, who is currently battling stage 4 glioblastoma.
Championing Translational Research at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
The newly created chair will be housed at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, in collaboration with the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The funding will finance research operations, support the salary of a leading academic, and provide resources for PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff, a strategic investment in life-saving innovation.
Fighting Back Against a Grim Prognosis
Diagnosed in June 2023 with grade 4 glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain cancers, Professor Scolyer has surpassed the average survival expectancy, currently in his 27th month post-diagnosis. The typical prognosis ranges between 12 and 18 months.
Scolyer reflected on his journey at the press briefing, acknowledging the difficulty of the road he continues to travel while expressing hope for future breakthroughs in brain cancer treatment. “The end point… we’re definitely getting closer,” he said, attuned to the collective urgency of his mission.
Honouring a Legacy of Humility and Innovation
The chair stands as a testament to Scolyer’s humility and groundbreaking work. Prime Minister Albanese praised him as an embodiment of Australia’s finest values, “skill, tenacity, and courage.”
Gail O’Brien, representing the research board, insisted the position bear Scolyer’s name, despite his apparent modesty about the homage.
Translating Personal Triumph into a Collective Legacy
Professor Scolyer’s strides have helped pioneer a personalized glioblastoma vaccine, an immunotherapy approach initially crafted to treat his own tumour. Researchers are now moving forward with an Australian-led international clinical trial, exploring neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, from the foundation of this personal breakthrough.