Richard Scolyer, the pioneering Australian cancer specialist who became a test case for an experimental brain tumour treatment, died on Sunday night. He was 59.

His death prompted a wave of tributes for his transformative work in melanoma care.

Scolyer, pathologist and co-medical director at Melanoma Institute Australia, was recently named joint 2024 Australian of the Year, alongside his long-time collaborator Georgina Long.

Their groundbreaking work on immunotherapy revolutionised the treatment of advanced melanoma, making it a manageable condition for many patients.

Scolyer was diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain cancers, in 2023. He bravely agreed to a world-first experimental approach, applying insights from melanoma treatment to his own tumour.

This innovative regimen involved immunotherapy administered before surgery, a strategy developed by Dr Long and her team to stimulate an immune response against the cancer. A clinical trial based on this treatment commenced in the US earlier this year.

Scolyer publicly documented his illness, stating in a letter released posthumously that he aimed to shed light on the realities faced by cancer patients and their families, while offering hope for continued research.

“Having dedicated my 35-year working life to patient care, cancer research and improving lives, I wanted to keep contributing, even in my darkest hour,” he wrote.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese led tributes, saying Australia had lost “one of our brightest lights and one of our biggest hearts”. “Every day, this remarkable man – the cancer specialist who became his own subject – took us into his confidence, and he lifted us all in the process,” he added, describing Scolyer’s public battle with the illness as “an act of profound generosity”.

Mr Albanese announced that the recently established Richard Scolyer Chair at Sydney cancer centre Chris O’Brien Lifehouse would carry his name, expressing hope that “one day when a cure is found, Richard’s name will be spoken”.

Scolyer is survived by his wife, Dr Katie Nicholl, and their children Emily, Matthew and Lucy.