Biography
Professor Phillip Stricker is a leading expert in the treatment of prostate cancer in Australasia and is a pioneer in prostate cancer imaging. Professor Stricker has one of the most extensive surgical experiences in his field having performed almost 3000 robotic prostatectomies, over 4,000 open prostatectomies, over 480 high-dose-rate and over 1,000 low-dose-rate brachytherapy procedures, over 10,000 transperineal biopsies, and over 600 focal NanoKnife® therapy procedures the latter two of which he pioneered. Professor Stricker is fully trained in Single Port Robotic Surgery and TULSA treatments.
Professor Stricker’s research interests includes quality of life, potency preservation, imaging and focal therapy, and he’s authored over 200 peer reviewed publications.
Education
M.B.B.S (Honours II Division I),
University of NSW1978 F.R.A.C.S. Part I 1980, F.R.A.C.S. (Urology) Part 2 1988
V.Q.E 1980
Awards
Professor Stricker was awarded Australia’s 2nd highest award, the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on the Australia Day 2015 Honours list for “Distinguished service to medicine and medical research, as a leading urologist, a robotic surgery pioneer, a teacher and mentor, and as an advocate for prostate cancer awareness”.
Selected Current Appointments
1988 – current Urologist, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital
2020 – current Emeritus Fellow, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
2010 – current Chairman, Dept. Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Clinic and HMO St Vincent’s Hospital
2008 – current Clinical Director, Prostate Cancer Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre
2003 – current Director, St. Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Research Centre
2022 – current Professor, Department of Surgery, University of New South Wales Australia 2010-current Clinical Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney 2010-current Conjoint Professor, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney
Translation – Current Selected Achievements
Active Surveillance
Greater than 1000 cases on active surveillance since 1992. The largest series in Australia. Structured program of follow-up with PSA, transperineal biopsies of the prostate and MRI scans.
Open and Robotic Radical Prostatectomy
Achieved international standard outcomes with <10% positive margins, up to 92% potency recovery and <2% long-term incontinence. These results have been presented and published in state, national and international meetings and journals.
Transperineal Biopsy
First described this technique in 1995, published and presented extensively on it’s accuracy, safety and technique, has performed over 7,000 cases,and recently wrote the chapter by invitation in Hinman’s Textbook of Urology
MRI & PET Scanning
One of the pioneers of MRI prostate cancer imaging and PSMA Pet Scanning and has extensively presented and published on it’s role in detection, targeted biopsy ( including MR/US Fusion techniques), staging and monitoring and planning therapy.
Focal Therapy
One of the pioneers of focal therapy using IRE (Nanoknife). He currently has extensive experience and has performed over 800 cases of Focal IRE since 2013 to date. Published data on the largest prospective focal Nanoknife therapy cohort in the world in European Oncology Urology.
Current Major Grants in the last 5 years
2019-2020 – St. Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Grant. PRIMARY Trial – Can combined multiparametric
MRI and PSMA PET imaging replace prostate biopsy in the primary diagnosis of prostate cancer?
Emmett L and Stricker P. $40,000
2019-2020 – St Vincent’s Curran Foundation Grant. PRIMARY Trial – A prospective evaluation of
prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) to reduce
unnecessary prostate biopsies in men at risk of prostate cancer. Emmett L and Stricker P. $100,000
2020 – 2021 – Angiodynamics (USA). IRE Immuno study – $120,000
2019-2021 – The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research & Enterprise (SPHERE) –
Additional diagnostic value of PSMA to mpMRI in the diagnostic setting: Ability to reduce
unnecessary prostate biopsies in men being investigated for prostate cancer. PRIMARY Trial. Emmet
L and Stricker P. $150,000
2019-2021 – Cancer Institute of NSW Programme Grant. $4,000,000
2021-2022 – St. Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Grant. Prospective cross-sectional multi-centre study of
68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in addition to mpMRI in men undergoing 12-month confirmatory biopsy during
Active Surveillance for low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PIAS Trial). Stricker P and
Thompson J. $25,000
2021-2022 –Ramaciotti Health Investment Grants. Prospective cross-sectional multi-centre study of
68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in addition to mpMRI in men undergoing 12-month confirmatory biopsy during
Active Surveillance for low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PIAS Trial). Stricker P and
Thompson J. $200,000
2022 – 2022–Angiodynamics (USA). IRE Immuno study Extension – $100,000
2022 St. Vincent’s Curran Foundation (Endowment Grant). PIAS study – $50,000
2024 – Angiodynamics (USA). Multi-Centre resgistry – $30,000
2025 – Angiodynamics (USA). Multi-Centre resgistry – $60,000
Publications
Over 300 peer-reviewed publications
- Please click here for recent major publications
- Please click here for a complete list of publications
Top 5 Recent Invited Conference Presentations
1. USANZ 2017 – Focal therapy nanoknife and PSMA Imaging and MRI Imaging workshop
2. Robotic Symposium – Potency preservation in Robotics
3. PROSCA Portugal – Focal Nanoknife, Robotic RP
4. Tasmania ASM – Prostate Cancer Update – 8hours
5. MRI Fusion Workshop – Co Convenor
Other track record achievements in the past 5 years
- Supervision and mentoring of eight research fellows to Masters or PhD including The Rob Sutherland Fellow
- Production of patient oriented DVDs for prostate cancer care
- Invited speaker to twenty national and international conferences and meetings
- Member of The Expert Advisory Panel to develop books on :
1.Treatment of Localised Prostate Cancer –both editions (NHMRC approved )
2. Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer ( NHMRC Approved )
3. Clinical Practice guidelines for PSA Testing (PCFA & NHMRC approved ) - Supervisor of Robotic Surgical Training for Registrars, Fellows and Consultants
- Reviewer of Publications for multiple Journals including European Urology, Journal of Urology, Medical Journal of Australia.
- Prof Stricker provides four training classes per year on Facal Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife) to medical professionals via Getz Healthcare.
- Prof Stricker mentors UNSW high degree medical students