The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), a new organization formed under the auspices
of the Milken Institute, with the generous support of Debra and Leon Black, intends
to support ambitious and innovative projects from both individual scientists and
research teams to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues relevant to pathways
governing the behavior and clinical outcome of melanoma.
Melanoma is a leading cause of new cancer diagnoses. Therefore, more effective options
for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are urgently needed. From a basic and clinical
research perspective, melanoma occupies the crossroads of molecular biology and
immunology.
Melanoma of the skin is one of the most common cancers in the United States—among
the top 10 causes of new cancer cases. While the overall five-year survival rate
for people diagnosed with melanoma is high at 92 percent compared to 66 percent
for all other cancers, the survival rate decreases dramatically once melanoma spreads
to other parts of the body.
FasterCures, the Milken Institute, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation hosted
the State of Melanoma Research Call to Action Meeting in Washington, DC. The mission
of this meeting was to convene a world-class, cross-disciplinary group of expert
biomedical researchers possessing clinical and scientific expertise to develop a
research agenda that will provide innovative solutions to critical research issues
leading to better treatments and a cure for melanoma. Click here to download the whitepaper from the meeting.
In December 2007, the MRA lunched its Web site (www.melanomaresearchalliance.org) and distributed its Request
for Proposals. Over 100 RFPs for individual and team science funding were received.
Grants will be rewarded in the Spring/Summer of 2008.
Learn more about Melanoma and the Melanoma Research Alliance by downloading
our Fact Sheet.
