The family of a world-renowned pathologist say his legacy will live on through his melanoma research and the inspirational way he dealt with his own brain cancer diagnosis.
Richard Scolyer, the 2024 Australian of the Year, will be honoured with a state funeral after his death on Sunday at the age of 59.
He helped save the lives of thousands of people through his groundbreaking work on skin cancer.
Along with colleague Georgina Long, he took melanoma from being a common death sentence to a disease that was largely curable through treatment that activated a patient’s immune system, bringing hope and healing to many.
Professor Scolyer’s brother-in-law Charlie Nicoll reflected on the leading researcher’s three-year battle with an incurable and aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma, after he was given as little as six months to live in 2023.
“Rather than just accepting the terminal prognosis, he applied the same driven, interrogating, science-based attitude to his own cancer battle,” Nicoll said on Monday.
Prof. Scolyer undertook a world-first experimental treatment based on his and Long’s melanoma research, despite the risk it could cut his life further.
Immunotherapy before surgery to remove the tumour and a personalised vaccine helped stave off the disease for almost two years.
“His rationale was simple—he wanted to continue to make a difference and he wanted cancer patients to know they weren’t alone,” Nicoll said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the offer of a state funeral for his “personal friend” had been accepted.
“Australia has lost one of our brightest lights and our biggest hearts,” he said.
“The world is a better place because of Richard Scolyer’s contribution, that’s a contribution that will go on through the work done in his name, but also the work that he has done.”
Scolyer, a keen triathlete, studied medicine at the University of Tasmania before specialising in pathology at the University of Sydney.
He shared his cancer journey on social media and earned praise for his bravery in advancing scientific understanding.
Scolyer continued taking part in community park runs after his diagnosis and rode 500 kilometres through Tasmania earlier in 2026 as part of cancer fundraiser Tour de Cure.
“It was a physically challenging and extremely emotional ride for Richard, visiting his childhood home and the places he grew up, even a special stop for a presentation from the family’s beloved footy club, the Bridgenorth Parotts,” Tour de Cure organisers said following his death.
In March 2025, Scolyer revealed a recurrent tumour had returned and was quickly growing like tree roots in the left side of his brain after complex surgery was unable to remove the entire mass.
He told followers the immunotherapy treatments and a vaccine might have made a difference and the potential benefits of the experimental procedures were worth the risks.
On Monday, his family released an open letter Prof Scolyer penned before his final stages of illness.
“I haven’t sugarcoated my journey and I sincerely thank you for allowing me the space and opportunity to share it with you, warts and all,” he said.
“I hope I have in some small way made the road ahead easier and smoother for others.”
Scolyer’s family said he would be missed, but never forgotten.
“He will live on through his published work in melanoma, his impact on brain cancer treatment, his honest and raw interviews and social posts which lifted the veil of secrecy around cancer and through the traits he passed onto his family,” Nicoll said.
