Graeme Young underwent secondary education at Northcote High School Melbourne and subsequently graduated MB, BS in 1969 from the University of Melbourne. After attaining Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1978), he studied overseas on a Fogarty International Fellowship (NIH) and RACP Travelling Scholarship at Washington University, St Louis. He graduated MD in 1981 (University of Melbourne, research), and in 1997 was appointed as the foundation Professor of Gastroenterology at Flinders University of South Australia, and Regional Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Southern Adelaide Health Service. In 2002, Graeme was additionally appointed as Director of Development, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer. In 2005, he became Head of the Flinders Cancer Control Alliance, subsequently the Flinders Centre for Cancer Prevention and Control (FCCPC) and now Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC). From 2011 until Dec 2020 he was Professor of Global Gastrointestinal Health at Flinders University, having relinquished his clinical appointments. In 2021 he retired from that position and was honoued with the title Emeritus Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor.

Honours/Awards: 2021: Emeritus Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor.

2017: elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS); Winner of the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Innovation in Medical Research.

2014: made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM); awarded the Charles G Moertel Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award, an international Award for “dedication to colon cancer research” and was honoured by establishment by the FCIC of the “Graeme Young Oration”.

2013: South Australian Scientist of the Year.

2011: awarded the title of Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor from Flinders University.

2009: Distinguished Research Prize of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia at its 50^th Anniversary Celebrations; elected a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF).

2008: elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).

2007: South Australian of the Year in Health for his screening research and the role he played in the establishment of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program; recognised as one of the fifty most influential people in South Australia. 

2006: he received a “Ten of the Best” award from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia for research into screening for colorectal cancer.

2005: CSIRO P-Health Flagship Fellow.

He has an international reputation, especially in the broad field of colorectal cancer and its prevention and colorectal epithelial biology. He has many publications including articles on intestinal cell biology, mechanisms of dietary prevention, screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer, dietary impact on colorectal disease, colonic fermentation of dietary substances and public health issues related to bowel health and bowel cancer. He is the senior editor on several comprehensive textbooks and contributes chapters to major textbooks on gastrointestinal medicine.

Over the last few decades he has led a multidisciplinary clinical and translational research initiative at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer which gre out of his roles as head of Gastroenetrology Services and Director of Development of the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer.. He has led several teams of research personnel covering population screening, clinical research, epithelial biology and molecular biology. He has attracted funding from Australian and overseas bodies, including NHMRC, Cancer Councils, NIH, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Australian Cancer Research Fund, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, NGOs and government.

In terms of leadership and peer processes, he has been Chairman of the Governing Council (board) of the FCIC. He has participated in and/or chaired national committees or boards including the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, NHMRC, and National Cancer Control Initiative. He has served as a Member of Council of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia for 12 years. He has advised several international research bodies (including US National Cancer Institute), organisations involved in management of cancer (e.g. WEO, UICC), and biotechnology companies. He was a founding Board Member of the International Digestive Cancer Alliance and has been the Chair of the World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee. During the period 2005-2013 as WEO chair, he grew that internationally influential group of experts from 50 to 550 people at a time when there was a global expansion of organised screening programs.  He has advised health authorities in Australia, and countries around the world including New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Netherlands and others on screening for colorectal cancer. In 2012, he was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a global process re-examining the role of zinc therapy in diarrhoea and malnutrition in developing countries. In 2015-2018 he Chaired The Salvation Army Moral and Social Issues Council, Australia. He remains acive in research pertaining to colorectal cancer screening, especially biomarker development, and bowel health in developing countries.