Tracey O’Brien, Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of Cancer Institute NSW, shared on LinkedIn:
“Research rarely gets a red carpet.
Perhaps it should.
This Thursday, I have the pleasure of being the guest MC for the 2025–26 Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards. Now in their 22nd year, they are about as close as our sector gets to the Academy Awards.
As I’ve read through the finalists, what has struck me is not only the calibre of the science, but the many different ways research makes a difference.
- There is an AI eye-imaging platform being tested to identify dangerous brain pressure from a 10-second video.
- National infrastructure linking health data securely across Australia.
- Nurse-led heart failure care and regional telestroke services changing how care is delivered.
- Patient-derived organoids and spatial mapping of cancers to better guide precision treatments.
- Parent-led advocacy ensuring lived experience shapes both research and care.
The categories span discovery, frontiers, digital and data innovation, health services research, advocacy and philanthropy.
That breadth matters. Better health depends not only on discovery, but on translation, implementation, trusted data and the participation of the people and communities research is intended to serve.
All of it deserves a night on the national stage.
See also: The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025 (Full List)
Tracey O’Brien was recognized among The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025, highlighting her contributions to the field of oncology.
Nominations for 100 Influential People in Oncology 2026 are now open, recognizing leaders, researchers, clinicians, innovators, advocates, and other individuals making a meaningful impact on oncology and cancer care.
Don’t miss the opportunity to nominate yourself, a colleague, or someone whose contributions deserve to be recognized.
Submit your nomination by September 15.
