Rate My Professor Michael Back

A/Prof Back subspecialises in neuro-oncology, with clinical and research interests centred on improving outcomes for brain cancer patients through sophisticated tumour targeting and radiation therapy delivery. His research programme develops protocols to optimise radiation dosing to tumours while minimising exposure to normal brain tissue, with benefits translated directly into clinical practice. He has produced over 100 peer-reviewed publications, more than 30 in the past five years, and supervises three PhD candidates. Key publications include ‘Reflecting on survivorship outcomes to aid initial decision-making in patients managed for IDH mutated Anaplastic Glioma’ (Cancer, 2019), ‘Early pattern of failure involving distant brain sites and ventricular spread in patients with Anaplastic Glioma and IDH mutation’ (Strahlenther Onkol, 2020), ‘Focal radiation therapy for limited brain metastases is associated with high rates of local control and low subsequent whole brain radiation therapy’ (ANZ J Surg, 2019), ‘Survival improvements with adjuvant therapy in patients with glioblastoma’ (ANZ J Surg, 2018), and ‘Short-Course Radiation with Temozolomide in Elderly Glioblastoma Patients’ (N Engl J Med, 2017). In 2019, he established the Brain Cancer Imaging Laboratory with neuroradiologist Dr James Drummond to support imaging-based research and clinical trials. He has been a Board Director of The Brain Cancer Group since 2009 and Cancer Council NSW from 2011 to 2014, contributing to research coordination for brain tumours across NSW and Australasia.