Prof Michael Hofman

Professor Michael Hofman is a nuclear medicine physician and physician-scientist. He previously completed a research fellowship at Guy's & St Thomas' in London, and had consultant appointments in the private sector. He has a broad interest in positron emission tomography (PET), molecular imaging applications in oncology and radionuclide therapy, with a particular interest in novel PET radiotracers and theranostics. His research has pioneered the use of Ga-68 PET in a number of domains including pulmonary (ventilation/perfusion), renal imaging, and oncologic imaging of endocrine and prostate tumours. He has strong expertise in all aspects of theranostics including prostate and neuroendocrine cancers.

He is currently in receipt of grants as principal investigator totalling more than $10 million dollars, including chief investigator of the PCFA/Movember proPSMA Study, a multi-centre randomised study of PSMA PET imaging in prostate cancer and also the ANZUP/PCFA “TheraP” multi-centre randomised  study of LuPSMA therapy versus chemotherapy. In addition, he is principal investigator on grants from Cancer Australia, the NHMRC and received a Clinician-Researcher Fellowship from the Peter MacCallum Foundation to support this research.

Prof Hofman has a leading academic track record for his specialty relative to experience in Australia, with over 150 peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters. He has received a number of international awards including the SNMMI Image of the Year 2018, RSNA Cum Laude Award 2013 & 2016 (top ranked educational exhibit), Henry Wagner Award 2014 (best oral presentation), EANM Eckert & Ziegler Award 2011 (top ranking scientific abstract) and twice winner of the ANSTO Award for significant innovation in research in nuclear medicine. He is a frequent invited speaker at national and international meetings, and was the co-chair of the scientific committee for the 4th World Theranostic World Congress in 2016. In 2015 he was elected a fellow of the International Cancer Imaging Society, one of three Australians recognized by the society. He is a member of the oncology subcommittee of the ongoing MBS Review where he advocates for fair and equitable access to PET for patients with cancer.

Prof Hofman is a keen educator, and was the RACP representative on the RACP / RANZCR Joint Specialty Advisory Committee (JSAC) in Nuclear Medicine from 2008-2015. In this capacity, he was the co-author of the revised national Nuclear Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum, and the national co-ordinator of the oral assessment task for trainees from 2012-2014. He has contributed to clinical practice guidelines, and run hands-on workshops culminating in the first administration of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumours in two countries, Malaysia and Israel. He has been the director of training for molecular imaging at Peter MacCallum, and has been supervisor of several post-graduate researchers.

He currently serves as the vice chair of the oncology program for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the peak body representing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals. As the inaugural scientific member of the Australasian Radiopharmaceutical Trial Network (ARTnet) he aims to develop evidence for nuclear medicine applications in multi-centre clinical trials. In 2016, Prof Hofman undertook a six month sabbatical in leading centres in Germany, Israel, France and the United Kingdom focusing on PET/MRI, preclinical PET translational research, novel radiotracers and theranostics. He is an associate editor for several journals including the international editorial committee of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the nuclear medicine subsection editor for Cancer Imaging, and Leukemia Lymphoma.

IN THE NEWS

Australian-first trial set to revolutionalise treatment of advanced prostate cancer, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

New trial for prostate cancer patients, Seven News  

Nuclear medicine could be a game changer for advanced prostate cancer, Australian Financial Review