Australia’s Professor Richard Scolier has been named one of the Australians of the Year for his life-saving work on melanoma. That basis is being used to treat his own incurable cancer.
by Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporter
Wednesday 15 May 2024 07:28, UK
Australian doctors are now cancer-free after applying their own pioneering research into melanoma to an incurable brain tumor diagnosed almost a year ago.
Professor Richard Scolier from the University of Sydney said he “couldn’t be happier” after recent MRI results showed there were still no signs of recurrence of the glioblastoma.
After posting updates on X, Professor Scolyer was nominated along with fellow Sydney University professor Georgina Long. Australian of the Year said: “I couldn’t be happier!!!”
“Thank you to my amazing team for looking after me, especially my wife Katie and my amazing family!”
Professor Skolja, who is credited with saving thousands of people with his life-changing melanoma treatment, was diagnosed with the tumor in June last year after suffering a stroke in Poland.
He took the foundation of life-changing research into melanoma and applied it to himself, becoming the first brain tumor patient in the world to receive combination immunotherapy before surgery.
Professor Scoria is now hopeful that the tumor will not come back. Doctors say the median time for his grade 4 brain tumor to come back is six months.
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“By working on experimental treatments that carry the risk of shortening lifespan, he is advancing our understanding of brain tumors and benefiting future patients,” the University of Sydney said in an Australian of the Year award. Stated. Professor Scoria and Professor Long received the award.
The professors, who are also co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute of Australia, have made the disease curable thanks to an immunotherapy approach that activates a patient’s own immune system.
Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Varley in February, Professor Scolier said: “The risk of serious side effects to this type of drug is quite high, but I couldn’t be happier with the progress so far and I hope so.” It will remain that way for some time. ”
Professor Long added: “We have shown that we can activate the immune system and do it very successfully. This is a fundamental step in changing the field of brain tumors and the way we search for drugs.” he added.
