Richard Scolyer (1966–2026): A Life That Changed Cancer Treatment Forever

Richard Scolyer, the beloved and inspiring melanoma researcher, died on Sunday, after his own relentless battle with cancer.

The pathologist, husband and dad was 59 years old.

Professor Scolyer burst into the public consciousness in 2024, when he was awarded joint Australian of the Year for his pioneering melanoma cancer treatment, which he volunteered to test on himself when he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

According to a family statement, which was read out by his brother-in-law Charles Nicholl, he passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife, Katie, and three children, Emily, Matt and Lucy.

“His family meant everything to him and his passing has left a big hole in our lives,” Mr Nicholl said.

Humble beginnings

Born in Launceston, Tasmania, to a teacher mother and an auto-electrician father, the young Richard Scolyer excelled at high school before studying medicine and pathology.   

At the age of 39, he became a clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

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He became one of the world’s leading authorities on melanoma, authoring hundreds of scientific papers, and he helped establish Australia as a world leader in melanoma treatment.

Professor Scolyer was the co-medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia. He was also a senior staff specialist at the Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Conjoint Professor at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Medical School.

Triumph to tragedy

Professor Scolyer helped drive advances that changed melanoma from one of the deadliest cancers into a disease that became treatable and sometimes curable.

His research was conducted in partnership with medical oncologist Professor Georgina Long.

In May 2023, at the height of his career, he was diagnosed with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that is usually terminal.

Refusing to accept that he had been given merely months to live, the professor turned to research.

Drawing on insights from his own work, Professor Scolyer became the ground-zero patient to undergo treatment that involved receiving immunotherapy before surgery to remove his brain tumour.

Whether it would be successful or not, the pathologist understood that the results of the treatment would help researchers and future patients.

“He continued to communicate, explaining the world-first experimental treatment he had taken on, candidly sharing his own ups and downs with fellow cancer patients and the world,” Mr Nicholl said.

Whether it would be successful or not, the pathologist understood that the results of the treatment would help researchers and future patients.

Highest honour

The next year, Professor Scolyer and Ms Long were named joint Australians of the Year in recognition of their pioneering contributions to melanoma research.

Prof Scolyer then used his newfound “celebrity” to speak openly about his struggle and work, publicly documenting his journey, including on social media.

Tragically, on March 10 last year, he revealed the cancer had returned.

Open letter

Upon his death, Scolyer’s family released an open letter by the professor, addressed to his “fellow Australians”.

“I pen this letter as a final goodbye to all those I have had the immense privilege of loving, sharing life’s adventures with, working alongside and meeting during what can only be described as a life filled with happiness, optimism, opportunity and passion,” Professor Scolyer wrote.

“I’ve spent the last three years being open and honest about my journey with glioblastoma, in part to be transparent about what cancer patients and their families go through, and in part to provide hope and inspiration that we can and should continue to push boundaries to propel the cancer field forward.

“Having dedicated my 35-year working life to patient care, cancer research and improving lives, I wanted to keep contributing, even in my darkest hour.”

“Great mentor”

Professor Scolyer is survived by his wife and three children.

“Richard was a great mentor to his children,” Mr Nicholl said. “All share his and Katie’s thirst for knowledge and energy for life”.

“They were and remain Richard’s biggest champions as he forged a new path following his brain cancer diagnosis to help other patients who would follow.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a state funeral will be held for Professor Scolyer.

Read the professor’s full open letter on his official Facebook page.

Feature image: Canva Pro