Richard Scolyer, a distinguished Australian pathologist known globally for his work on skin cancer, passed away on June 7, 2026, at the age of 59 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. His diagnosis came unexpectedly in May 2023 while attending a medical conference in southern Poland.

Scolyer, who was in his mid-fifties, experienced a seizure after waking up with a headache in a Krakow hotel. Diagnostic scans revealed a malignant mass on the left side of his brain, later identified as a glioblastoma approximately the size of a squeezed golf ball. Despite his extensive medical background, including having diagnosed numerous cases of brain cancer himself, Scolyer faced the grim prognosis that typically accompanies this disease, characterized by a median life expectancy of about 14 months.

Co-director of the Melanoma Institute Australia in Sydney, Scolyer had made significant contributions to melanoma research alongside his colleague Georgina Long, who shared the 2023 Australian of the Year honor with him. Their collaborative work notably advanced the use of immunotherapy—a treatment that activates the body’s immune system—to improve survival rates in advanced melanoma from 5 percent to 55 percent over 15 years.

Drawing on this expertise, Scolyer became the first to undergo an experimental immunotherapy protocol adapted from melanoma treatment to target glioblastoma. The approach involved administering a combination of immunotherapy drugs to stimulate an immune response prior to surgical removal of the tumor, a strategy that had not previously been attempted in this way for brain cancer. Aware of the risks of delaying surgery, Scolyer accepted the uncertainty inherent in this novel treatment, describing himself as a medical "guinea pig."

Initial results showed promise, with Scolyer documenting his journey through public updates and a forthcoming memoir, Brainstorm, co-authored with Garry Maddox. Although the positive response was anecdotal rather than definitive proof, Scolyer voiced hope that this approach could pave the way for further research into glioblastoma therapies, a field where treatment options have remained largely unchanged for nearly two decades.

Scolyer’s medical career was marked by extensive academic and clinical achievements. Born in 1966 in Launceston, Tasmania, he earned his medical degree from the University of Tasmania and completed postgraduate work in the United Kingdom before obtaining his MD from the University of Sydney in 2006. Over his career, he contributed to more than 900 scientific publications, served on international editorial boards, and held leadership positions with the World Health Organization.

He is survived by his wife, Katie Nicoll, also a pathologist, their three children—Emily, Lucy, and Matt—and a pet dog. Just weeks before his diagnosis, Scolyer competed in an international aquathlon, underscoring his athleticism and vitality.

In March 2026, Scolyer publicly announced a recurrence of his cancer with an uncertain prognosis, but took encouragement from the initiation of a formal clinical trial based on his treatment regimen in the United States. Reflecting on his experience, he expressed that he did not seek to be seen as inspirational, but rather as someone who placed confidence in science and embraced an innovative treatment path in the face of a dire diagnosis.

Richard Scolyer’s legacy includes his groundbreaking work in melanoma, his courageous personal battle against glioblastoma, and a trailblazing effort that may influence future research into brain cancer therapies.