Richard Scolyer: Pioneering Melanoma Pathologist and Australian of the Y

Richard Scolyer was an Australian pathologist and cancer researcher best known as one of the world's leading experts on melanoma and as the joint 2024 Australian of the Year. Born on December 16, 1966, in Launceston, Tasmania, he became a senior specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and a professor at the University of Sydney.

Scolyer co-authored more than 700 publications and was ranked the world's leading publisher in melanoma pathology in 2019. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2021, was named Australian of the Year with Georgina Long in 2024, and won Social Impact Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2025 for Brainstorm.

In 2023 Scolyer was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma. He delayed surgery to receive experimental immunotherapy and a personalized cancer vaccine, an later documented in Nature Medicine, and lived about two and a half years, far beyond the average survival for the disease. He died in Sydney on June 7, 2026, at age 59, survived by his wife, fellow pathologist Katie Nicoll, and their three children.

Achievements: Ranked the world's leading publisher in melanoma pathology (2019), appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (2021), named Australian of the Year with Georgina Long (2024), won Social Impact Book of the Year for Brainstorm (2025).

Birth: December 16, 1966 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Profession: Pathologist and cancer researcher.

Interesting Facts: Scolyer co-authored more than 700 publications and book chapters, and a state funeral was held for him at the Sydney Opera House.