New Galli Senior Fellowships and Bob Dickens Senior Research Fellowships to foster next generation of medical researchers
Mid-career researchers will benefit from a new fellowship program that was announced at the annual Galli Research Symposium on 23 October 2025.
The Galli Senior Fellowships and Bob Dickens Senior Fellowships will support scientists and clinician-researchers who conduct research into melanoma and skin cancer, developmental disorders, medical biology, or paediatric orthopaedics at a crucial period in their careers, following their post-doctoral work.
The fellowships, to be awarded in 2026 and 2027, will provide comprehensive support to empower the next generation of research leaders.
Each fellowship offers:
- Five years of salary support
- Up to $20,000 in additional research funding
- $5,000 for travel to establish collaborations
- Mentoring opportunities
- Provisions for parental leave and career breaks
The program's flexible structure accommodates full-time researchers and clinician-scientists, encouraging a diverse range of applicants.
Building on a decade of philanthropy
The Galli Research Symposium celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of The Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Chair in Developmental Medicine. It was also an opportunity to honour Emeritus Professor Glenn Bowes AO (2 November 1948 – 16 January 2025).
Professor Bowes, as former Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, facilitated the extraordinary gifts from Pamela Galli AO that led to the establishment of collaborative research chairs and programs across the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. Professor Bowes championed multidisciplinary approaches that extended far beyond his medical background.
To honour Professor Bowes’ legacy, Professor Zornitza Stark delivered the inaugural Professor Glenn Bowes Memorial Keynote Oration on implementing genomics in healthcare.
The new Galli Senior Fellowship program builds on 10 years of philanthropic vision by Mrs Galli and represents a formalisation of the Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Medical Research Trust and the Pamela Galli and Bob Dickens Paediatric Orthopaedic Research Trust's commitment to supporting early and mid-career researchers. Previous funding has already propelled researchers to great heights, such as Associate Professor Melanie Eckersley-Maslin from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre who went on to secure a prestigious Snow Medical Research Fellowship.
Speaking at the symposium, Interim Provost Professor Jane Gunn AO highlighted the fellowship program's importance to the University.
"These fellowships strengthen our commitment to cross-disciplinary research and collaboration within the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. Our strong partnerships with WEHI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, provide an environment where transformative research can flourish."
The fellowships embody Mrs Galli's vision to enable long-term research, unencumbered by the ‘short-termism’ often associated with traditional grant schemes. New Senior Fellows - who will be named in 2026 - will have the means to establish themselves as leaders in their fields, while making significant advances to health in areas such as personalised cancer treatments, the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and child orthopaedic surgery for cerebral palsy.
Applications for the Galli Senior Fellowships and Bob Dickens Senior Fellowships are now open. Follow this link to learn more and apply.