Melanoma Research Alliance

Although treatment options for advanced melanoma have improved, many patients still will not benefit from currently approved therapies. Limited treatment options are available for such patients, representing a clear unmet medical need for patients today. Oncolytic viruses are a form of immunotherapy that use viruses to infect and destroy cancer cells. This type of immunotherapy is under investigation to treat advanced melanomas and may be useful when initial anti-PD-1 immunotherapy stops benefiting patients. A new oncolytic virus called RP1 is currently being tested in a Phase 3 clinical trial called IGNYTE-3. To learn more about RP1 and this clinical trial, we talked to two of the study’s principal investigators: Omid Hamid, MD, Co-Director of the Melanoma Center and Phase I Immuno-Oncology Program at The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute, Inc., a Cedars-Sinai Affiliate and Tawnya Bowles, MD, Surgical Oncologist and Senior Medical Director of Oncology at Intermountain Health. https://lnkd.in/gkhvYTfd

MRA is proud to announce the appointment of Sara E. DiNapoli, PhD as the new Director of Scientific Programs! In her role, she will oversee MRA’s global grants program, ensuring that MRA funding addresses areas of unmet scientific and patient need while fostering innovation in the field. Her leadership at the intersection of science, strategy, and collaboration will be instrumental in driving MRA’s research efforts forward. Dr. DiNapoli joins MRA from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where she most recently served as Test Development Manager for the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory. At MSK, she led the clinical validation and implementation of next-generation sequencing assays, which are critical tools in advancing precision medicine. She successfully coordinated cross-functional teams of laboratory technologists, bioinformaticians, molecular pathologists, operations managers, and software engineers to drive these cutting-edge initiatives forward. Sara holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, where she studied cutaneous melanoma using zebrafish models, and a BA in Biology from New York University. She brings a wealth of expertise in molecular pathology, clinical validation, and scientific program management, as well as a strong commitment to advancing melanoma research. Join us in welcoming Dr. DiNapoli to the MRA team!

ICYMI! Dr. Elizabeth Buchbinder of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is answering questions through Friday Oct 4 about the rare melanoma subtypes on MRA’s Melanoma > Exchange community! Ask her your questions: https://lnkd.in/gSb29c_W

Tomorrow marks 6 months since I lost my good friend to melanoma, and I still find myself doing things deliberately to keep his memory alive. Yesterday I got up early to hike the Rock of Gibraltar. Yes, I could have taken the cable car to the top of the monolithic limestone at the entrance to the Mediterranean, but I needed to ascend the 1,400’ mountain on foot. I wanted to use the solo time to intentionally think about Chad -- his nicknames, his cutting humor, and his willingness to drop his guard, confide and listen to what mattered most to me. It seems unfair that Chad was the one plucked from our high school friend group at such an early age but it’s also a reminder that I am not the one in charge. On the flip side, it makes me smile to think about the hundreds of people like you who decided to help by donating to my 1,000-mile walk for Melanoma Research Alliance. I am 75% of the way there and I am confident that, with your help, we will get to the $100,000 goal by 12/31/24. Together we are bringing honor to Chad and the more than 100,000 people who will get diagnosed with this unpredictable disease this year. To nominate someone that you know who has been impacted by melanoma or to donate, please use this link to my page https://lnkd.in/gYQBaEPY

Acral, mucosal, pediatric, and uveal melanomas – what we collectively call rare melanomas – represent an area of profound unmet medical need. We know far less about these melanoma subtypes, including what causes them, how they progress, and how to effectively treat them. From investing more than $20 million through over 50 awards specifically focused on rare melanomas, to creating community-driven resources like the Acral and Mucosal Melanoma Model Catalogs, and launching MRA’s RARE Melanoma Registry - MRA is a leader in moving critical research into rare melanomas forward. On Rare Cancer Day, learn more about what MRA is doing to advance rare melanoma research. #RareCancerDay #melanoma #research www.curemelanoma.org

Acral, mucosal, pediatric, and uveal melanomas – what we collectively call rare melanomas – represent an area of profound unmet medical need. We know far less about these melanoma subtypes, including what causes them, how they progress, and how to effectively treat them. From investing more than $20 million through over 50 awards specifically focused on rare melanomas, to creating community-driven resources like the Acral and Mucosal Melanoma Model Catalogs, and launching MRA’s RARE Melanoma Registry - MRA is a leader in moving critical research into rare melanomas forward. On Rare Cancer Day, learn more about what MRA is doing to advance rare melanoma research. #RareCancerDay #melanoma #research www.curemelanoma.org

Today is World Cancer Research Day. This year #WCRD focuses on the importance of innovation under the motto “Innovation In Cancer Research Drives Progress Toward Health Equity”. At MRA, championing innovative research is at our core. Since our inception in 2007, we have proudly invested more than $160 million through 475 grant awards worldwide. We support the world’s best, most promising science and research needed to provide better outcomes for all patients. Therapies conceived, tested, and approved first in #melanoma are now used to successfully treat many other types of cancer and are being tested in dozens more. With your support of melanoma research, we can move towards a future without cancer. To learn more about MRA's impact and the work we do, visit CureMelanoma.org. #WorldCancerResearchDay

In 2011, the median survival for patients with metastatic melanoma was just six and a half months. However, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment option gradually began to increase survival. Now, long-term data from a landmark international trial show about half of patients with metastatic melanoma treated with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors survive cancer-free for 10 years or more, according to a new report from Weill Cornell Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators and their colleagues. "After a decade of follow-up, we can now confidently tell our patients that there are treatments available with the potential to transform metastatic melanoma into a manageable, long-term condition, instilling confidence about the future," said Dr. F. Stephen Hodi, co-senior author of the study. The 10-year follow-up study will bring the phase 3 CheckMate 067 trial to a close. https://lnkd.in/ekz9ua89

Please welcome Kiké Ayodeji to Team MRA! Kiké is MRA’s Senior Associate for Development. In her role, Kiké leads the day to day across donor relations, gift administration, and supporting development operations. She is a dedicated development professional in donors relations and community outreach with experiences at leading health driven and social impact organizations. Previously, as a Development Coordinator at The ALS Association, Kiké provided crucial support for distinguished events, managed auction fundraisers, and auction data management. Her role as an Individual Giving Associate Consultant at MADRE involved a range of donor-related activities and collaborative efforts to achieve team goals. At Health HIV, Kiké served as a Conference Consultant, where she assisted with audits, budget preparations, and ensured the successful operation of conferences. Additionally, her tenure as a Community Outreach Coordinator and Executive Assistant at the National Organization of Black County Officials allowed her to plan outreach events, teach development strategies, and manage finances effectively. In her spare time, Kiké enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She holds a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. We are thrilled to have Kiké on our team, connecting our valued donors and partners to the impact of MRA’s mission.

MRA was honored to attend The Wayne Stinchcomb Big Orange Foundation's 15th Annual Bull Roast in Baltimore this past weekend where we all came together to celebrate Wayne Stinchcomb's memory and continue his legacy by raising funds for melanoma research. THANK YOU to all involved with the Big Orange Foundation. With your partnership over the years, $510,000 has been donated to MRA in support of melanoma research, with specific awards aimed at better understanding treatment resistance and improving prevention. We appreciate your continued support in powering progress together.