Australian melanoma researcher Richard Scolyer dies after pioneering brain-cancer trial

Australian melanoma expert Richard Scolyer, 59, died after undergoing a world-first experimental treatment for glioblastoma that combined pre-surgical immunotherapy with a personalised tumour vaccine. The approach, developed with his colleague Professor Georgina Long at the Melanoma Institute Australia, was based on their breakthrough work in advanced melanoma, which has increased cure rates for that disease from under 10% to about 50% worldwide.

Scolyer announced his death in an open letter, saying he wanted to keep contributing despite his illness. He described his life as filled with "happiness, optimism, opportunity and passion" and expressed gratitude to his family and colleagues.

"It didn't sit right with me… to just accept certain death without trying something," Scolyer wrote.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the scientist travelled "with courage, determination, and a grace that never ceased to be remarkable."

Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour, typically has a median survival of less than a year under standard surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In 2023, Scolyer became the first patient to receive a combination of immunotherapy drugs before surgery, together with a vaccine tailored to his tumour’s genetic profile. Early scans suggested an immune response in the brain, prompting a small early-stage trial in the United States to test the regimen in other patients.

Professor Long and Scolyer were named Australian of the Year in 2024 for their contributions to cancer research. Their work on combination immunotherapy has reshaped treatment protocols for melanoma and now offers a potential new avenue for brain-cancer therapy.