Melanoma Research Foundation Research Portfolio
The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating melanoma by accelerating medical RESEARCH , while EDUCATING to and ADVOCATING for the melanoma community.
Funding Melanoma Research
Scientific Initiatives
Creation of Resources MRF BREAKTHROUGH CONSORTIUM (MRFBC)
The MRF provides emerging and established scientific investigators (from medical students to senior investigative teams) with highly sought-after, peer-reviewed grants across the disciplines of biology, immunology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. From 1998-April 2023, we have awarded 289 grants at 84 institutions, totaling $23.2 million.
289
Recognizing a need for greater collaboration around translational research, the MRF formed the MRFBC in 2010. The MRFBC is a national network of 22 centers of excellence in melanoma that collaborate to accelerate research for a cure.
GRANTS FUNDED AT 84 INSTITUTIONS
University of Colorado Northwestern University University
of Chicago Ohio State University
TYPES OF GRANTS FUNDED:
University of Pittsburgh
Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Yale University Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Columbia University New York University University of Pennsylvania/ Wistar Institute
TYPES OF GRANTS PURPOSE
ELIGIBILITY
DURATION
California Pacific Medical Center
MEDICAL STUDENT
Introduces students early in their careers to clinical/ research opportunities under the mentorship of an investigator engaged in melanoma research Provides opportunities and funding to engage in short-term clinical or laboratory-based research projects Enables young researchers to generate the ground- work that can leverage additional grant funding from other funding bodies
Medical students at an accredited U.S. medical school or institution
1 year
University of California San Francisco
RESIDENT/ FELLOW
Residents or fellows in the United States with an interest in melanoma research Junior investigators which include: • Postdoctoral fellows with less than five years of postdoctoral experience OR • A research associate, instructor, assistant professor or the equivalent Established researchers with pre- existing R01s, who have applied for a NIH R01 grant that was scored, but not funded Established researchers, mainly faculty with at least an associate professor appointment A PI and at least one co-PI, ideally from different institutions
1 year
St. John’s Cancer Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
The Angeles Clinic and Research Center
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
2 years
University of California Los Angeles
Duke University
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center
Vanderbilt University
Rare Subtype Focus Community United for Research and Education of Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) In 2011, the MRF launched CURE OM to focus solely on advancing the goals of the ocular melanoma community. To date, CURE OM has provided $2.1 million in research grants, held numerous scientific conferences and educational patient meetings. In 2021, CURE OM launched a first of its kind patient-reported OM registry (www.visionregistry.org) and continues to advocate for the ocular melanoma community to improve the lives of people impacted by this disease. Pediatric and Mucosal/Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Initiatives The MRF has also launched initiatives that focus on pediat- ric and mucosal/acral lentiginous (MM/ALM) melanoma. As such, the MRF is supporting grants focused on pediatric melanoma as well as mucosal melanoma. With respect to pediatric melanoma, the MRF sponsors an Annual Pediatric Summit each year so that families can come together and learn the latest in medical treatments and research, and find support. With respect to MM, the MRF held a investigator/ patient meeting in 2022 focused on this rare disease. Future goals include a focus on staging and increased calls/meetings on aspects related to the disease.
Support to the Field • Partnership with the Society for Melanoma Research to sponsor annual investigator awards and satellite symposia • Scientific meetings that address key focus areas, e.g., brain metastases, equity/access and consensus on gene expression profiling in cutaneous melanoma. • In 2022, the MRF celebrated 6 healthcare providers and researchers with awards at Galas in Denver and New York City. Further, due largely to patient suggestions, the MRF has developed a wide array of educational information, downloads for use in the office, links to clinical trials, buddy programs and online support groups. More information about the MRF, its programs and its scientific leadership can be found at www.melanoma.org. Patient Perspective Incorporating a patient-centric approach to the grant review process, a patient review panel ensures that patient and caregiver priorities are reflected in the research funding process. If you are interested in participating in such a panel, please sign up for more information by scanning this code:
MID-CAREER BRIDGE
Supports and sustains investigators as they generate the data for the response to reviewers in a revised R01 submission
1 year
ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR
Encourages proven researchers to continue research on emerging challenges in melanoma
2 years
TEAM Encourages collaboration across academic disciplines in an institution or among multiple institutions
2 years
Provides pilot translational awards, MRF-funded grants awarded through partner organizations, donor-directed research funding and support for urgent or specific needs
OTHER
Varies by grant
Varies
GRANT RECIPIENT
GRANT RECIPIENT
T he MRF grant was instrumental in helping us to advance our melanoma research program and to connect with the melanoma community.
T his grant was the first one I was awarded after finishing my medical training, and tremendously helped establish my academic career.
FUNDING FROM THE MRF HAS RESULTED IN:
261 PUBLICATIONS
539 PRESENTATIONS
10 PATENTS
25 CLINICAL TRIALS
120 GRANTS WITH NEW COLLABORATIONS
75 GRANTS WITH NEW FUNDING SUPPORT
108 MEDICAL STUDENT AWARDS
37 ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARDS
102 CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
12 TEAM AWARDS
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT MELANOMA.ORG/ RESEARCH-SCIENCE
15 SOCIETY FOR MELANOMA RESEARCH AWARDS
5 DONOR-DIRECTED AWARDS
10 OTHER AWARD TYPES
MELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION melanoma.org/research-science 202.347.9675 or 800.673.1290
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