John was diagnosed with a rare form of NSCLC in 2014 which led to him making a private submission to Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) for the listing of a targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This resulted in him also appearing before a Senate Inquiry into access to new, innovative and specialist cancer drugs in Australia. Since being diagnosed John has been involved in a number of community and patient projects and representing patient views and perspectives including whilst as a Director of Rare Cancers Australia.
John is particularly interested in the future potential for genomics and proteomics for both the diagnosis and treatment options for cancer and is currently a consumer representative with Australia Genomics, NSW Health Genomics Steering Committee and ProCan.
With TOGA John wants to ensure that consumer priorities and perspectives are reflected in in each stage of the research.
John was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for services to the community and is married with 2 children and lives in Sydney, Australia.
