"I will be forever grateful to Richard for shining a light on the critical importance of research infrastructure in transforming outcomes in cancer."
Robyn Leonard
Australia has lost Professor Richard Scolyer AO to brain cancer and our hearts are heavy.
Our Founder and Director, Robyn Leonard OAM, was fortunate enough to spend time with Richard on several occasions when he attended Brain Cancer Australia events as our special guest.
"He was humble, caring, thoughtful – and committed to changing the trajectory of brain cancer research and patient care.
Richard was an inspiration to me – as he has been to many.
His work in melanoma created a blueprint for driving progress in cancer research. Melanoma was once like brain cancer – a devastating disease with few treatment options. Today, the five-year survival rate for advanced melanoma has increased from less than 10% to more than 50%.
When Richard reflected on why melanoma research had been so successful in his 2024 National Press Club address, he turned to something that rarely gets public attention.
He spoke about the power of infrastructure - systems for patients to enrol in clinical trials, specimen collections for research, patient data that informed both research and clinical care.
I will be forever grateful to Richard for shining a light on the critical importance of research infrastructure in transforming outcomes in cancer.
Vale Richard Scolyer. Thank you for your extraordinary generosity, your pioneering work, and relentless efforts to raise awareness and support for brain cancer research and patient care."
- Robyn Leonard OAM, Founder and Director, Brain Cancer Australia
Robyn Leonard and Professor Richard Scolyer at the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture.
