Former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer, renowned for developing an immunotherapy treatment for brain cancer, has undergone complex surgery at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney. Scolyer, along with his colleague Georgina Long, received the joint Australian of the Year 2024 award for their groundbreaking work in immunotherapy research, which has significantly advanced the treatment of melanoma over two decades.

Previously awarded Australian of the Year for his work in immunotherapy, Scolyer was diagnosed with grade 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma after collapsing in a hotel room in Poland in late 2023, a diagnosis that was initially termed terminal with only months to live. Scolyer shared on Instagram before the surgery, expressing gratitude for the support from his medical team and family, especially acknowledging A/Prof Brindha Shivalingam for her exceptional care and support.

Scolyer, a co-director of the Melanoma Institute Australia at the University of Sydney, posted about the surgery alongside pictures of himself in a hospital bed surrounded by family, thanking everyone for their kind thoughts and well-wishes, and also thanked his medical team for their exceptional care.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/05/former-australian-of-the-year-richard-scolyer-focused-on-my-recovery-after-complex-brain-surgery