Monash University scholarship named in honour of late Nick Auden

Source: Herald Sun, April 2015

AMY Auden misses her husband Nick every day.

But with three young children, and as the go-to person for comment on melanoma and compassionate use of drugs, she knows she has to get on with life.

Amy’s late husband Nick was the man at the centre of the heartbreaking Save Locky’s Dad campaign, which pushed for pharmaceutical companies to allow people with late-stage melanoma to have access to breakthrough medication.

The family was living in Denver in the US when Mr Auden, a successful lawyer and businessman and a graduate of Monash and Oxford Universities, developed an aggressive melanoma.

He was admitted into a PD-1 ‘wonder drug’ clinical trial to treat his Stage 4 melanoma, but a medical complication meant he was disqualified from the trial.

Mrs Auden, also a lawyer, started the campaign in the hope of convincing pharmaceutical companies to provide the drug under compassionate use or expanded access programs, which is an option when drugs are still in development.

The campaign drew high-profile support, with businessman Ron Walker, AFL star Sam Mitchell, and British comedian Ricky Gervais all adding their voices to the cause.

“The support was overwhelming — so many people identified with the issue,” Mrs Auden said.

“It was just so very frustrating that there was a drug that could help but we couldn’t get it.”

However, the pharmaceutical companies would not budge.

Mr Auden died, aged 41, in November 2013.

In cruel timing, pharmaceutical companies announced soon after his death that the PD-1 drug could be available in the US for people with serious or life-threatening illnesses for which no alternative therapies were available.

The drug is still awaiting approval under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia.

RELATED:Family, friends farewell ‘Locky’s Dad’ Nick Auden

Mrs Auden, Locky, now 9, Hayley, 6, and Evan, who is nearly 3, recently returned to Melbourne and are living in Brighton.

“Leaving Colorado was very difficult as we had wonderful friends and incredible support. Plus the thought of an international move was beyond me after everything that had happened,” Mrs Auden said.

“But while it is hard to be back in Melbourne without Nick, family and friends are helping us establish a new life here.

Mrs Auden is also throwing her support behind a new Monash University scholarship, named in honour of her late husband.

“The university contacted me and asked for my blessing,” she said.

“While the past 18 months have been unfathomably difficult, I try to take some comfort in knowing that Nick lived life to the full every single day and his intellect and approach to life had a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

“He would be absolutely chuffed to know about the scholarship.”

Monash University’s Nicholas Auden International Study Scholarship will help a student undertake a one-year pathways program in the UK.

The scholarship reflects Mr Auden’s own education at Monash University’s Clayton campus and at Oxford.

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Bryan Horrigan, said the program would ensure a lasting legacy for Auden and his journey.

The faculty and law firm Herbert Smith Freehills are paying for the first year of the scholarship but more support is needed.

Donate at the Monash University website or phone 9903 1608.