Celebrating the Australians of the Year 2024

Tour de Cure would like to congratulate Melanoma Institute researchers Professor Richard Scolyer AO and Professor Georgina Long AO who have been announced as Australians of the Year for 2024. Their contribution to considerable advancements in the melanoma space and their approach have attracted global attention.

Prof. Scolyer has received 9 Tour de Cure grants, with the first dating back to 2012, whilst Prof. Long has been associated with 7 Tour de Cure grants. Their work together as Co-Directors of the Melanoma Institute has incredible momentum, with 8 Tour de Cure cancer research breakthroughs recorded to date, with a focus on melanoma genome projects. These results have progressed the understanding and treatment of metastatic melanoma in adolescent and young adults, by revealing distinct mutation landscapes and the potential role of germline variants in disease susceptibility.

In 2023, the Signature Tour team was delighted to be joined by Prof. Scolyer, and he was able to share stories about his work and the impact of the Tour de Cure funding. Not long after this tour, Prof. Scolyer was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. Courageously, the colleagues have set about to develop a series of world-first treatments, with Scolyer risking his own life to advance the understanding of brain cancer and help future patients.

Tour de Cure extends our heartfelt support for Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO as they take on the Role of Australians of the Year, and hope that their involvement will further highlight and advance the role of cancer research and awareness in Australia. We also wish Richard the best as he takes on his personal cancer challenge.