Professor David Thomas
1988: Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (University of Melbourne)
1997: Doctorate of Philosophy (University of Melbourne)
1997: Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Professor David Thomas is the inaugural Director of the Centre for Molecular Oncology at the University of New South Wales and Chief Science and Strategy Officer for Omico. A clinician-scientist, his work focuses on applying genomic technologies to improve the understanding and management of cancer, particularly sarcoma.
He founded Omico to lead a national precision medicine program focused on advanced and early onset cancers, and established the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group. He also developed Australia’s leading adolescent and young adult cancer unit at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Thomas leads the International Sarcoma Kindred Study, the largest global study of genetic factors in sarcoma, recruiting across 23 centres worldwide. His research includes leading the first international study of denosumab in giant cell tumour of bone, contributing to FDA and TGA approval, and co-leading work on whole-body MRI screening in Li-Fraumeni syndrome, influencing international clinical guidelines.
He has held leadership roles in major oncology organisations, including President of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (2018) and Scientific Co-Chair of the ESMO Sarcoma and Rare Cancers Congress 2026. He has authored over 250 publications in leading journals.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Awards and honours (past 10 years)
2024: National Press Club address: Cancer: the modern plague
2024: NSW Premiers Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year
2024: French-Australian Excellence Award in Health and Wellbeing
2024: Health Industry Hub Medical Excellence
2023: Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association, Outstanding Contribution Award
2021/22: PWC Pearls Series: Emerging leaders in Sydney’s business community
2021: NHMRC Level 3 Investigator grant
2020: Herman Suit lecturer, Connective Tissue Oncology Society
2018: David Danks Lecturer, Murdoch Children’s Medical Research Institute
Kidson Lecturer, Queensland Institute of Medical Research
President, Connective Tissue Oncology Society
Named honor: Desai Thomas Award for Excellence in Sarcoma Research (inaugurated 2018)
2014: Raine Visiting Professorship, University of Western Australia
As a clinician-scientist, I apply genomic technologies to the understanding and management of cancer. I founded and lead the International Sarcoma Kindred Study, the largest ever conducted study of genetic factors in sarcoma, having recruited from 23 centres in the US, UK, France, India, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. I established Omico, a Federally-funded national precision oncology platform which focuses on using genomics to develop biomarker-dependent clinical trials infrastructure, and genetically stratified risk management. Omico has enabled more than 15,000 Australians with advanced cancer to access genomic profiling, and also matched targeted therapies through clinical trials. I am also interested in the genetics of early onset cancers, and the derived opportunities for wellness management of survivors. We are also interested in understanding fundamental aspects of cancer biology, for example, the relationship between site of origin and the molecular pathways which are deranged in related cancers. In general, all of these programs are directed towards improving outcomes for cancer patients and their families, and integrating these solutions into routine healthcare.
Conform--Rare Cancers Australia, Parliament House Canberra (29 August 2024)
National Press Club address: Cancer: the modern plague (26 June 2024)
ABC Radio National--Changing Australia: ramping up treatment access for rare and difficult cancers (13 May 2025)
ABC Australian Story--Love Your Sister and Sam Johnson (19 May 2025)
My Research Supervision
Dr Min Li Huang (PhD)
Dr Milita Zaheed (PhD)