Dr Peter Andrew Downie

Peter Downie has made an outstanding contribution, and impact on paediatric cancer. He is well regarded by his peers and much loved by his patients. Peter’s contribution extends well beyond his medical expertise and research into children’s cancer, as he is also recognised for his contributions to fundraising for paediatric cancer research.

Following an internship in general medicine at Prince Henry’s Hospital (Melbourne), Peter commenced training in paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital in the early 1980’s. He was appointed Chief Resident (1988), and Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Haematology-Oncology (1989 – 91).

Peter accepted a consultant position in general paediatrics and paediatric haematology-oncology at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, (1992) and then as a Research Fellow at the Wyler Children’s Hospital, University of Chicago.

Peter spent two years studying biology and molecular signalling in childhood leukaemia. As a consequence of this work, Peter was awarded 1st Prize at the 4th annual Basic Sciences Symposium, University of Chicago, for his research.

He has been a Consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital since1994, leading the unit for three years from 2008. He was instrumental in establishing the

Leukaemia Research Fund at the RCH, which has raised over $3mil for research into childhood leukemia.

Since 2004, Peter has mentored and trained 12 Paediatric Oncology Fellows, many of whom now hold senior consultant positions in Australia and overseas.

Peter is Head of Oncology at the Children’s Cancer Centre at Monash Children’s Hospital and Head of the Children’s Cancer Research at the Hudson Institute, Monash University.

Other achievements include:

• Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Children’s Haematology-Oncology Group 2007-2014. He remains the executive.
• Medical Director of the Victorian Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service 2010-2014.
• Governor, Malcolm Sargent Fund for Children with Cancer 2004-2010
• Spokesman for Bailey’s Day, a charitable event that has raised over $1Mil for the Monash Children’s Cancer Centre.