We are proud to announce that Assoc Prof Inês da Silva, Medical Oncologist & Senior Researcher at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), was recently presented with two research awards on the same night – the inaugural Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize and the NSW Premier’s Awards Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher of the Year.

Assoc Prof Inês da Silva received the awards in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to melanoma treatment and care, and her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her research is dedicated to personalising and improving immunotherapy outcomes for melanoma patients, with a particular focus on understanding mechanisms of resistance, identifying predictive biomarkers, and defining patterns of treatment response and toxicity.

“My journey in science has been deeply shaped by the welcoming and supportive environment I found here in Australia—a country I am now proud to call home. Its commitment to research and innovation has provided the essential foundation upon which my work has been built.

That work has found its home at Melanoma Institute Australia, within the vibrant and collaborative culture of the Melanoma Translational Research Lab. It is a place where scientific curiosity is relentlessly pursued with a clear, translational goal. I am indebted to all my incredible colleagues.

I must thank my core team on the NeoPlatform project, who represent the spirit of the entire lab: Jorja, Laura, Shay, Jayden, Nurudeen, and Lauren.  A very special thank you must go to Jordan, my first PhD student and now my first post-doc. Jordan has been a partner in this journey, teaching me invaluable lessons about mentorship, leadership, and the power of a supportive team. I am also eternally grateful for the guidance of Professor Georgina Long. Georgina has been everything – a colleague, supervisor, mentor, and friend. She is the exemplary model of a clinician-scientist, and her determined belief has been a guiding light at every step of my career.” – Assoc Prof Inês da Silva

Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize

Assoc Prof da Silva is the inaugural recipient of the Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize, presented by Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Tony Haymet at the National Press Club in Canberra.

The Prize is a landmark initiative launched in 2025 by global healthcare company Novo Nordisk to help address gender disparities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across Australia. It is named in honour of Danish physician Marie Krogh, who pioneered treatment for diabetes as one of the first women in Denmark to earn a doctorate in medicine.

Selected by an esteemed panel of leading health and science experts from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Heart of Australia, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Royal Children’s Hospital, and Novo Nordisk, the Prize recognises the outstanding innovation, leadership and impact demonstrated by early- to mid-career career female researchers in science and medicine across Australia.

Assoc Prof da Silva was awarded for her dedication to mentoring the next generation of women in science and for leading the development of the Melanoma Risk Prediction Tool for advanced melanoma alongside other researchers at MIA, including Professor Georgina Long, Associate Professor Alexander Menzies and Associate Professor Serigne Lo. She also developed the NeoPlatform program with Professor Georgina Long. These innovations have shaped national treatment guidelines, influenced international clinical practice, and enabled personalised care strategies for patients with advanced melanoma.

Her achievements have earned recognition from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the Melanoma Research Alliance, and have been supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator and Ideas grants.

Seven outstanding finalists were also honoured alongside Assoc Prof da Silva.

“This award exemplifies the transformative potential of women in STEM. Assoc Prof da Silva’s pioneering work in melanoma is reshaping clinical practice globally. By recognising her achievements – and those of the seven finalists – we celebrate the future of Australian science and medicine led by outstanding women,” – Professor Tony Haymet, Australia’s Chief Scientist.

“The future of Australian science depends on the diversity of voices we elevate today. Equity means more than participation – it demands visibility, voice, and restructuring pathways to leadership. When women seize their opportunities to lead and innovate, our discoveries become richer, our impact deeper, and our future brighter,”  – Professor Kathryn North AC, Director, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and inaugural Marie Krogh Prize Orator.

Read more about the Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize here.

The NSW Premier’s Awards 2025 Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher

On the same evening, Assoc Prof Inês da Silva was announced as the 2025 Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher of the Year, at the 20th annual NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research in Sydney. Assoc Prof da Silva’s colleagues were proud to accept the award on her behalf.

The Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher Award recognises a researcher who is 5 to10 years post-PhD completion and who has demonstrated exceptional research progress, leadership, and impact in the field of cancer research.

A physician-researcher, Assoc Prof da Silva’s research work focuses on translating discoveries in melanoma and immuno-oncology into improved patient outcomes. She has conceived and led numerous international, practice-changing studies that have established effective treatment strategies for patients resistant to standard therapies. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of how specific metastatic sites, such as the liver, can influence treatment efficacy. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals including The Lancet Oncology, New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Cell, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Read more about the NSW Premier’s Awards here.

“We are united by a shared purpose: the relentless pursuit of knowledge to alleviate human suffering. In my field, the stark reality is that despite revolutionary advances like immunotherapy, cancer remains a devastating disease. For every victory, there are patients for whom standard treatments fail. It is for them—for the ones we have lost, like my friend Carla, and for those still fighting—that our resolve is fiercest. This prize strengthens our commitment to a more precise future. We will not give up until we find a cure, and our strategy is clear: to pioneer a personalised research approach that delivers personalised treatments for every patient left behind by resistance. To all the cancer patients and their families: we see you, we are listening, and we will not rest.” – Assoc Prof Inês da Silva