Professor Pablo Fernandez-Peñas

Professor Pablo Fernández-Peñas is a distinguished dermatologist and researcher with extensive experience. He is a Professor of Dermatology at The University of Sydney and Head of the Department of Dermatology at Westmead Hospital. He leads the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Group at the Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research.

With a strong foundation in basic skin biology, established during his career in Spain, he has significantly expanded clinical, research, and educational services in Western Sydney and established a dedicated Dermatology Research and Clinical Trials Unit.

Renowned for his extensive research, recognised by the Belisario Award of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, he has been the Principal Investigator on 26 research projects, attracting over 34 million dollars, and 94 clinical trials from phase I to phase IV in skin cancers (including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma) and skin inflammatory diseases (psoriasis, eczema, hidradenitis suppurativa and others).

He has contributed to over 270 publications, 117 papers on Oncodermatology in clinical and translational research and 13 on skin proteomics.

His groundbreaking work on developing scarless biopsies for the non-invasive diagnosis of skin diseases, including melanoma, focuses on improving healthcare in rural and remote areas. His clinical practice is dedicated to managing complex cases, providing invaluable insights into patient needs and challenges. He opened the first Cutaneous Lymphoma and Oncodermatology clinics in NSW. As the NSW Lead of the ACRF Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID), he is at the forefront of melanoma research, focusing on risk stratification, imaging analysis, treatment outcomes, and quality of life. His passion for immunology, oncodermatology, quality of life, and information technologies is instrumental in his research and clinical practice. He has exceptional project management skills and a deep understanding of clinical and translational research and healthcare delivery interdependencies.