Bold melanoma scientist and former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer has died, aged 59, after staving off cancer for two years when he was given only months to live.

Scolyer was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable and aggressive stage four brain cancer, in June 2023, and given just six to eight months.

He undertook a world-first experimental treatment on himself, which he pioneered with colleague Georgina Long, and survived for almost two years.

But after beating the odds, the father of three tragically lost his fight on Sunday.

In Scolyer’s final message, he said he would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who “gave it a crack”.

“Thank you for your outpouring of love and support for me and my family,” Scolyer said in the statement.

“Those of you I met during my travels as joint 2024 Australian of the Year, my amazing online community which spans many countries, and of course my hometown Tasmanians — you’ve laughed with me, cried with me, and provided encouragement and support to keep going just when I needed it most,” he said.

“I haven’t sugar-coated my journey and I sincerely thank you for allowing me the space and opportunity to share it with you, warts and all.

“I hope I have in some small way made the road ahead easier and smoother for others.

“If my legacy was to continue beyond these words, I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who ‘gave it a crack,’ and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love and compassion.”

Richard Scolyer with wife Katie and two of his children, and journalist Hamish McDonald. Photo: X

Scolyer was a melanoma pathologist who helped save thousands of people’s lives during his career through groundbreaking skin cancer research.

Along with Professor Georgina Long, he took the disease from being a death sentence to largely curable through treatment that activates a patient’s own immune system, bringing hope and healing to many.

A keen triathlete, Scolyer shared insights on his cancer journey, amassing thousands of followers on social media and earning praise for his bravery in advancing scientific understanding.

He underwent immunotherapy before surgery to remove the tumour and a personalised vaccine and looked to be making a recovery.

But in March 2025, he revealed a recurrent tumour had returned and was quickly growing like tree roots in the left side of his brain after a complex surgery was unable to remove the entire mass.

He told followers the immunotherapy treatments and vaccine might have made a difference and the potential benefits of the experimental procedures were worth the risk.

“More work needs to be done in a clinical trial to prove this,” he said.

“At worst, I’ll leave the legacy of increased scientific knowledge to benefit future brain cancer patients.”

Professor John Thompson of Sydney University hailed Scolyer’s “cheery, down-to-earth ‘lad from Launceston’ personality”.

“His stellar career in medicine and pathology research has produced huge benefits for countless cancer patients worldwide,” he said.

Scolyer and Long, who were co-medical directors at the Melanoma Institute of Australia, were jointly awarded Australian of the Year in 2024.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the field of melanoma and skin cancer, in 2021.

-with AAP