Melanoma researchers honoured for outstanding contributions
The NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research, hosted by the Cancer Institute NSW, honours the achievements of the individuals and teams that work across the cancer research sector to lessen the impact of cancer for the people of NSW.
Seven awards were conferred across six categories, with melanoma researchers from the University of Sydney taking out four awards. Our recipients were:
Professor Georgina Long
Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year
Professor Georgina Long was named Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year, for her active, outstanding, sustained contribution to melanoma research. As recipient of this prestigious award, Professor Long received $50,000 to assist her research.
Professor Long is Co-Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia, and Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research at MIA and Royal North Shore Hospital. She leads an extensive clinical trials team and laboratory at Melanoma Institute Australia, with a focus on targeted therapies and immuno-oncology in melanoma.
Professor Richard Scolyer
The Professor Rob Sutherland AO Make a Difference Award
Professor Richard Scolyer received the Professor Rob Sutherland AO Make a Difference Award, awarded to a researcher whose work shifts viewpoints and behaviour from a well-entrenched ‘status quo’ to a radical change. He received $20,000 to assist with his melanoma research.
Professor Scolyer is Co-Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia, and a world-renowned melanoma expert and pathologist. He leads an award winning translational melanoma research laboratory and provides a clinical consultation service for the diagnosis of difficult pigmented lesions, receiving over 2000 cases for opinion from Australasia and beyond annually.
Associate Professor Anne Cust
Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow (>5 years)
Associate Professor Anne Cust was named Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow, awarded to a researcher with more than five years post-doctoral experience in research who has demonstrated exceptional research progress in the previous year. She received a prize of $20,000 to contribute to her research endeavours.
Associate Professor Cust leads the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research group at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, and is affiliated with Melanoma Institute Australia. She investigates the genetic and environmental causes of melanoma especially in people diagnosed under 40 years of age. She also leads several translational research projects related to melanoma prevention, early detection and survival.
Associate Professor Alexander Menzies
Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow (<5 years)
Associate Professor Alexander Menzies was named Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow, awarded to a researcher with less than five years post-doctoral research experience who has demonstrated exceptional research progress over the past year. He received a prize of $20,000 to support his research.
Associate Professor Menzies' research includes clinical trials of new systemic therapies for melanoma, biomarkers of response and resistance to systemic therapy, and immunotherapy-related toxicity.