04 April 2025
Thousands of prostate cancer patients across the world are benefiting from more accurate diagnoses and effective treatment options thanks to groundbreaking research by Professor Michael Hofman, recipient of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Foundation’s 2024 Eric Susman Prize, which was announced today.
Professor Hofman is a research scientist, nuclear medicine physician and Director of the Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence (ProsTIC) at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
He has helped revolutionise prostate cancer diagnosis and care by advancing ‘theranostics’ – an innovative, personalised medical approach that combines precision imaging with targeted radiation.
RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin praised the far-reaching positive impact of Professor Hofman’s research.
“Professor Hofman’s research represents a paradigm shift in prostate cancer care,” Professor Martin said.
“His work has fundamentally changed how we detect and treat prostate cancer, transforming patient outcomes across the world.”
Professor Hofman’s approach uses radioactive molecules that specifically bind to proteins in cancer cells, enabling highly detailed imaging to precisely locate cancer cells throughout the body.
It also enables targeted delivery of radiation therapy directly to tumour sites while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The implementation of Professor Hofman’s approach across medical settings has led to substantial improvements in treatment outcomes for prostate cancer patients and has helped significantly reduce side effects.
Professor Hofman’s clinical trials have established this process as the new global standard in prostate cancer detection, achieving a 90 per cent accuracy rate and offering hope to patients with resistant forms of the disease.
“What makes Professor Hofman’s achievement even more remarkable is how quickly these innovations moved from experimental to standard practice,” Professor Martin said.
“This showcases the power of well-supported medical research to rapidly improve lives.
"When we support talented researchers with promising ideas, the results can be extraordinary and can help save countless lives.
"Organisations like the RACP Foundation play an essential role in helping promising medical research reach its full potential.
“We congratulate Professor Hofman on winning the prestigious Eric Susman Prize and thank him for the contributions he has made to the field of medical research,” Professor Martin said.
Professor Hofman thanked the RACP and said the Prize reflected Australia’s leadership and the rapid advances occurring in the field of nuclear medicine.
"PET scanning and theranostics enable truly personalised medicine, improving outcomes for our patients,” Professor Hofman said.
“Our ability to lead innovation is a marker of Australia's world-class infrastructure and expertise.
“I hope this award encourages the next generation of the RACP internal medical trainees to pursue the speciality of nuclear medicine," Professor Hofman said.
Administered through the RACP Foundation, the Eric Susman Prize recognises outstanding contributions to internal medicine. Professor Hofman will receive the Eric Susman Medal and present his research at an upcoming RACP event.