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.
“The MRF grant was instrumental in helping us to advance our melanoma research program and to connect with the melanoma community.”
– Grant Recipient
“This grant was the first one I was awarded after finishing my medical training, and tremendously helped establish my academic career. ”
– Grant Recipient
Funding Melanoma Research
Grants funded at 94 institutions 330
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 2025, the MRF has awarded 330 grants at 94 institutions, totaling $26.7 million.
TYPES OF GRANTS FUNDED:
Types of Grants
Purpose
Eligibility
Duration
Medical Student
Medical students at an accredited U.S. medical school or institution
1 year
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 groundwork that can leverage additional grant funding from other funding bodies Encourages proven researchers to continue research on emerging challenges in melanoma Encourages collaboration across academic disciplines in an institution or among multiple institutions Provides pilot translational awards, MRF-funded grants awarded through partner organizations, donor-directed
Resident/Fellow
Residents or fellows in the United States with an interest in melanoma research
1 year
Career Development
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, mainly faculty with at least an associate professor appointment A PI and at least one co-PI, ideally from different institutions
2 years
Established Investigator
2 years
Team
2 years
Other
Varies by grant
Varies
research funding and support for urgent or specific needs
Scientific Initiatives
Creation of Resources MRF BREAKTHROUGH CONSORTIUM (MRFBC)
Recognizing a need for greater collaboration around translational research, the MRF formed the MRFBC in 2010. The MRFBC is a national network of 30 centers of excellence in melanoma that collaborate to accelerate research for a cure.
California • California Pacific Medical Center • St. John’s Cancer Institute • The Angeles Clinic and Research Center • University of California Los Angeles • University of California San Francisco Connecticut • Yale University Colorado • University of Colorado Florida • Moffitt Cancer Center • University of Miami Illinois • Northwestern University • University of Chicago
Maryland • Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center • John Hopkins University Massachusetts • Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Minnesota • Mayo Clinic* *Includes satellite sites in Arizona and Florida. New York • Columbia University • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center • Northwell Health • New York University
Ohio • Ohio State University Pennsylvania
• Fox Chase Cancer Center • Thomas Jefferson University • University of Pennsylvania/ Wistar Institute • University of Pittsburgh Tennessee • Vanderbilt University Texas • M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Utah • Huntsman Cancer Institute Virginia • University of Virginia
North Carolina • Duke University • University of North Carolina
Support to the Field
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 almost 2.6M 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/ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT (AYA) AND MUCOSAL (MM)/ACRAL LENTIGINOUS (ALM) MELANOMA The MRF has launched initiatives that focus on pediatric and AYA melanoma patients and MM/ALM. As such, the MRF is supporting grants focused on pediatric/AYA melanoma as well as MM/ALM. With respect to pediatric/ AYA melanoma, the MRF sponsors an Annual Pediatric or AYA Summit each year so that patients/families can come together and learn the latest in medical treatments/research and find support. With respect to MM, the MRF held its inaugural investigator/patient meeting in 2022 focused on this rare disease; the next meeting will be in 2026. In addition, the MRF also launched its MM Translational Working Group which convenes quarterly to focus on MM clinical trials, research, and collaborative opportunities. Future goals include the creation of a MM patient and caregiver guide.
Partnership with the Society for Melanoma Research to sponsor annual investigator awards and satellite symposia.
Partnership with Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, to provide a merit award each year to a promising investigator in melanoma.
Scientific meetings that address key focus areas, e.g., brain metastases, equity/access and consensus on gene expression profiling in cutaneous melanoma.
In 2024, the MRF celebrated four healthcare providers and researchers with awards at Galas in Denver and New York City.
The MRF has robust patient and caregiver support resources provided at no cost through its Education Institute. More information can be found at www.melanoma.org/ educationinstitute. 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:
Funding from the MRF has resulted in:
979 New Educational Initiatives
267 New Research Initiatives
351 New Research Awards
287 Publications
10 Patents
137 Medical Student Awards
692 Presentations
27 Clinical Trials
43 Established Investigator Awards
145 Grants With New Collaborations
113 Career Development Awards
85 Grants With New Funding Support
15 Team Awards
5 Resident/Fellow Awards 21 Merit Awards From
the Society for Melanoma and Conquer Cancer Foundation 17 Other Award Types
To learn more, visit
melanoma.org/ research-science
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MELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION 1420 K Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 melanoma.org/research-science 202.347.9675 or 800.673.1290
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