Profile Professor Glenn Marshall AM

You wear many different hats. Can you tell us about your different roles and what they entail?

I have always worked as a clinicianscientist. My primary appointment is as a Paediatric Oncologist at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in the Kids Cancer Centre where I see patients most days. Seeing children with cancer and their families each day has informed every aspect of my research career and still inspires me.

I have an appointment at the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) as Head of the Embryonal Cancer Group. At CCI I lead a group of more than 20 scientists, clinician-scientists, bioinformaticians and a pathologist, all working on the cause, prevention and treatment of embryonal child cancer. Our research work is heavily translational in nature, meaning we are always seeking real world application of our findings. I am part of the leadership group of ZERO, a precision medicine program for children with cancer, which I helped initiate some nine years ago. Over the past 10 years I have gradually passed on my leadership roles at the CCI, SCH and, of several state and national research networks to others, including recently the Directorship of Kids to Adults Alliance (K2A) and Child UnLimited to Prof Raghu Lingam (UNSW) and Prof Harriet Hiscock (Murdoch Institute and RCH Melbourne). I am still involved in the consumer component and on the operations group.

How long have you been working in Children’s cancer space and what led you to this specialty?

I have worked on the problems faced by children with cancer for more than 35 years. I was inspired to work in this area of medicine because of some inspirational mentors who were clinicians who thought like scientists, by the chance to apply scientific enquiry to the problems I see in the clinic every day, and most importantly, by the children and their parents affected by this disease.

What does your typical day/week look like?

I see children with cancer and their families most days as inpatients or outpatients in a clinic at SCH or at outreach clinics in Canberra and Coffs Harbour. Every day I also meet with scientists working with me. I still chair the ZERO MTB each few weeks, which is an amazing learning experience as we struggle to find treatments for children with high risk cancer. I set aside a few hours each working week for grant writing or drafting manuscripts. This activity continues on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

What is the best part of your job/s?

There are many which include: telling families their child is cured, seeing adults who I have treated in our long-term follow-up clinic; getting invited to 21sts, weddings and other significant events in the child’s life; working with great clinical and scientific colleagues; suddenly realising we have a really important new experimental result after long years of toil and then publishing in a good journal; and ultimately seeing clinical practice change due to our work.

What is your role in SPHERE?

I have been a Co-Director of K2A and now the national Child UnLimited with Claire Wakefield and Raghu Lingam for five years.

How does SPHERE help contribute to your research in children’s cancer?

We could not have begun K2A without the support of SPHERE. In K2A and Child UnLimited we focus on children with chronic illness: improving the whole of child life and that of their families through research on consumers, mental health problems, models of care, missed education and transition for these kids to an adult health system.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

Improving the way we treat child cancer so more kids are surviving and thriving, hopefully achieved by inspiring others. Giving hope to families who come to us in need, winning their trust, and then doing the best we can to help them.

In your spare time, you paint portraits. How long have you been painting?

Painting by Professor Marshall, 'Luc at Louvre'

I actually do a lot of things in my spare time. One of those is oil portraiture and landscape painting. I have had one show and am planning another with artist friends. Recently, I have undertaken a few portrait commissions. Yes, I have sadly not yet been hung in the Archibald or Moran prize. I really enjoy the art which I picked up in my 40s having never painted before, as it is so different to all the other things I do.

Painting by Professor Marshall, 'Middle Rock'

What is your greatest personal achievement?

Marrying my wife (although I am not sure you can “achieve” a marriage?) and receiving her unwavering support even in the difficult times. Raising my son and welcoming our new grandson into the world recently.

More about Professor Marshall

Published more than 230 research articles on biological, clinical and survivorship aspects of child cancer

Received awards from NHMRC and CINSW for excellence in translational research

Order of Australia (AM) in 2014 for significant service to medicine

Director of the Kids Cancer Centre for 18 years (until 2016)

Fellow of Australian Academy for Health and Medical Science in 2017

2019 – Premier’s Award as the Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year

Health Services Research Award from Research Australia (2019)