It's been nearly 40 years since Dr. Pamela Rusell graced the halls of UC – so what has she been up to since then?

Through her research and collaborations, one could say that she has completely revolutionised the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. In addition to her ground breaking studies, Pamela has established several organisations which have greatly impacted the oncology world, including:

• Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia with Roger Climpson
• Genitourinary Oncology Group
• Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration

Throughout her career, Pamela has been awarded over $35 million in grants, written over 200 published articles, has six patents tied to her name, and has mentored and supervised dozens of PhD candidates and Post Doctorate Fellows.

Today, Pamela is a Professor and Head of Biomedical Imaging and Prostate Cancer Models at the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre in Queensland. Her latest research has been on theranostics – nanoparticle devices used for diagnosis, imaging and delivering therapy to cancer patients. One of her main focuses is reducing the spread of cancer from the prostate into the bone, which is one of the most debilitating effects of prostate cancer. In addition to these credentials, Pamela is the Deputy Chair of the Personal Development and Talent Management Committee at the Translational Research Institute in Brisbane.

After earning her Masters and PhD in the 1960s, Pamela came to UC to pursue her Diploma of Education in 1979. From 1977 to 1978, Pamela was a Lecturer in Microbiology at UC, helping create four new science courses. She credits her time as a Lecturer at UC with shaping her teaching career that has now spanned four decades.

For her outstanding contributions to prostate and bladder cancer research, Pamela was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2003, and she has been listed in the Who's Who Australia four times and the Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, USA in 2005.

With a career that most only dream of, and a list of accomplishments that could fill a book, Pamela Russell's legacy continues to inspire students, faculty, and medical professionals all over the world.