Vale Richard Scolyer
16 December 1966 – 7 June 2026
Professor Richard Scolyer has passed away aged 59 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Professor Scolyer and his colleagues’ research into advanced-stage melanoma has led to a survival rate of more than 50 per cent at five years.
The 2024 Australian of the Year worked with his colleagues to take their learnings from melanoma research and treatment to fight brain cancer.
They found that immunotherapy could be used in brain cancer treatment, which was first tested on Professor Scolyer himself.
Below are snippets of an open letter written by Professor Scolyer and released following his passing.
My 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.
My intention is for this letter to be published upon my passing – as my final farewell.
I cannot thank my beautiful wife Katie and my adored children Emily, Matthew and Lucy enough for their love, their support, their strength, and their compassion. They are shining examples of the best of humanity and make me extremely proud.
To my research and clinical colleagues, I implore you to stay inquisitive and brave and keep striving to break new ground.
To all cancer patients, I encourage you to consider enrolling in research and clinical trials, if on offer.
And to government and the wider community, please keep funding science and medical research. This is the most impactful way that you too can make a difference.
Perhaps the greatest lesson to come from these last three years is that cancer does not define us. It may be the current road we are travelling, but it is not our entire journey.
A terminal cancer diagnosis does however provide clarity as to what truly matters. It shines a spotlight on the importance of relationships, on true friendship and on selflessness.
If my legacy was to continue beyond these words, I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who “gave it a crack”, and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love and compassion.
With much love and gratitude,
Richard