Congratulations to our Newest Grant Recipients!

From the desk of MRF CEO Kyleigh LiPira:

We are thrilled to announce that the Foundation will award $1.4 million in competitive research grants to help advance melanoma research and improve the treatment options available to melanoma patients and their loved ones. Ten Career Development and Established Investigator Awards will be awarded to support innovative research in overcoming immunotherapy resistance, treating melanoma brain metastases, identifying new treatment targets and methods, and more. One grant, awarded to Dr. Allison Betof Warner, was generously funded by the Silverstein Family Research Grant Challenge for Women in Science. To learn more about each research project and all proposals funded by the MRF, visit the Funded Research page.

In addition to funding compelling new research, we are excited to announce the publication of a paper in Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research updating approaches, challenges and opportunities in melanoma central nervous system metastases. This article encapsulates key discussions held during the 3rd Annual Melanoma Brain Metastases Summit held in November 2021 which brought together researchers and physicians. The goal of the meeting was to advance the scientific understanding of brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) treatments, preclinical models, challenges, and identify future areas of work. Click here to read the full article.

The MRF remains committed to supporting researchers at all stages of their scientific careers and advancing the most promising scientific pursuits to develop more effective treatments, improve patient outcomes and, one day, find a cure for melanoma. This work is only possible because of the incredible generosity of our community - thank you!

With gratitude,

JUST PUBLISHED! VISION Data Report

Launched in May 2021, the VISION Registry was co-developed by ocular melanoma (OM) patients, caregivers, researchers and clinicians as a tool that the entire OM community can access globally anywhere there is internet. At its core, VISION seeks to connect and empower the OM community and support the best patient care, quality of life and improved patient outcomes through collaboration and centralization of data and resources. For years to come, VISION will benefit the entire OM community by deepening our understanding of the disease as well as providing opportunities for information exchange and community connection. To that end, we are proud to share the first VISION Registry Data Report with initial findings and key learnings from patients and caregivers who contributed data from around the world. The Registry Report presents an impressive framework for developing additional patient-centered resources and driving collaboration and research.

The MRF would like to thank the incredible team working to support VISION including the patients and caregivers who are actively participating and providing input and feedback, the VISION Steering Committee, the dedicated CURE OM team and registry sponsors Mass General, TriSalus and Castle Biosciences.