Professor Helen Mohan

Professor Helen Mohan is an Irish-trained Colorectal Surgeon and Clinician-Scientist with appointments at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Austin Health, and the University of Melbourne. She is also Director of Clinical Research at the International Medical Robotic Academy (IMRA) and the research lead for lower GI surgery at Austin Health. Her clinical practice and research focus on colorectal cancer, surgical innovation, translational research, and education, with a particular emphasis on patient-centred care and survivorship.

Prof Mohan has founded national and international research collaboratives, including the International Colorectal Outcomes Registry Collaborative (ICORC) and the ROPES robotic pelvic exenteration collaboration. She has initiated and leads multiple clinical trials, including PLATIPUS, COALA, PRIORITY CONNECT 2, and translational projects on the microbiome in peritoneal cancers. She also established laboratory-based research programs such as ECHIDNA, aimed at improving outcomes in peritoneal disease, and leads NHMRC grant applications including BIOCORE.

A recognised leader in surgical education, Helen has designed and delivered curricula for robotic and pelvic exenteration surgery both in Australia and internationally. She supervises PhD and graduate research students, develops simulation-based learning programs, and has contributed extensively to curriculum development through the University of Melbourne, IMRA, and professional societies such as ESSO and RACS.

Prof Mohan’s achievements have been underpinned by resilience and dedication, balancing high-volume clinical work, research leadership, and family commitments. Her work integrates patient co-design into research and clinical trials, ensuring that patient perspectives inform outcomes and education initiatives. She holds extensive international collaborations and editorial roles, and continues to drive innovation and collaboration across the VCCC Alliance to enhance lower GI cancer care, research, and education.