
Dr Deborah Meyran is a paediatric oncologist and clinician-scientist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, with research appointments at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and an academic appointment at the University of Melbourne.
She leads advanced therapies within the national ZERO Childhood Cancer Program and directs the Paediatric and AYA Cancer Immunotherapy Program at Peter Mac. Firmly grounded in patient care, her research focuses on translating scientific discoveries into more effective, less toxic and more accessible treatments for children and young people with cancer.
Dr Meyran established Australia’s first immune-profiling platform for paediatric tumours through the ZERO Childhood Cancer Program. This work contributed to the development of tools now used to inform real-time immunotherapy recommendations for children with high-risk cancers. Her research also advances next-generation CAR T-cell therapies and explores strategies to overcome treatment resistance by reprogramming immune cells and the tumour microenvironment.
She leads multidisciplinary collaborations across Australia and internationally and has secured more than $6 million in competitive research funding. She has co-authored >25 publications in leading journals, including Science Translational Medicine, Annals of Oncology, Cancer Discovery and Nature Communications, attracting more than 1,000 citations. Her research has also informed international clinical and transplant guidelines for rare paediatric leukaemias, including chronic myeloid leukaemia and juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia. Her contributions have been recognised through several awards, including the 2026 Lea Medal, acknowledging emerging female leadership in cancer research, and the Picchi Award for Excellence in Cancer Research.
Dr Meyran represents paediatric oncology on the VCCC Alliance Health Equity Advisory Group, where she advocates for equitable access to advanced therapies for children and adolescents with cancer. Her research program is endorsed by the Peter Mac Youth Cancer Action Board, helping ensure that the experiences and priorities of young people affected by cancer shape its direction.
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