Renowned cancer researcher Richard Scolyer dies at 59 after testing experimental brain tumour therapy on himself

Professor Richard Scolyer, the celebrated Australian pathologist whose groundbreaking work transformed cancer treatment and who later became the subject of his own experimental brain cancer therapy, died on Sunday night at the age of 59.

Scolyer had been battling grade 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, since his diagnosis in June 2023. Despite being given an initial prognosis of just six to nine months, he survived for nearly three years after undergoing a world-first treatment strategy he helped design.

A globally respected cancer researcher, Scolyer served as co-medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia and was widely recognised for his work in immunotherapy. Alongside longtime collaborator Professor Georgina Long, he helped revolutionise the treatment of advanced melanoma by harnessing the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. Their contributions earned them the title of Australian of the Year in 2024.

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After learning of his glioblastoma diagnosis, Scolyer chose not to follow conventional treatment pathways alone. Instead, he and Long adapted principles that had proven successful against melanoma to create an experimental treatment plan for brain cancer.

The approach involved administering a combination of immunotherapy drugs before surgery, with the aim of priming the immune system to recognise and attack the tumour. Following the operation, Scolyer received a personalised vaccine developed using the unique genetic profile of his cancer.

The treatment delivered encouraging early results. While glioblastoma typically recurs within months, Scolyer's scans remained free of tumour growth for almost two years. Researchers also recorded a significant increase in activated immune cells within the tumour tissue, findings that contributed to the launch of an early-stage clinical trial in the United States this year.

Scolyer announced in 2025 that the cancer had returned, but continued to publicly document his journey in the hope that it would advance research and support other patients facing similar diagnoses.

In a posthumously released letter, he wrote that he wanted to continue contributing to cancer research even during his illness and hoped future brain tumour patients would benefit from what had been learned.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Scolyer, confirming that his family had accepted the offer of a state funeral. A cancer research chair at Sydney's Chris O'Brien Lifehouse will also be named in his honour.