The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) was founded in 2007 with a very clear mission to end suffering and death caused by melanoma. While incredible strides have been made with seventeen new FDA-approved treatments that are saving lives, the mandate to finish the job is imperative. We understand, now more than ever, that we must capitalize on, and propel forward, the scientific advances and investments already made.
MRA’s leadership prevails as the largest nonprofit, non-governmental funder of melanoma research in the world, having proudly invested more than $175 million in over 500 melanoma research projects at 165 institutions. MRA continues to innovate to meet the evolving needs of scientists and researchers, and patients and caregivers. This year, in addition to funding $9.3 million in new research grants, MRA expanded our RARE Melanoma Registry recruiting over 600 patients (approximately one-third each with acral, mucosal, or non-acral cutaneous melanoma). Additionally, MRA launched our innovative Next Steps Program to award milestone-based funding to scientists and projects in need of support for the ‘next steps’ to accelerate discoveries from the lab bench to the clinic.
MRA’s 2024-2025 Annual Report showcases the innovation, imagination, and investments that are bringing cutting edge science from bench to bedside. Perhaps more importantly, this report highlights how the power of collaboration can’t be overstated when it comes to MRA’s research priority areas: treatment resistant cutaneous melanoma, rare melanomas, brain and central nervous system metastases, and prevention, risk prediction, and diagnosis.
MRA is proud to be at the center of this, convening the brightest minds at our Scientific Retreat, awarding Team Science Awards, building the RARE Registry, and launching the MRA Melanoma Biorepository and RARE Consortium. All are predicated on the fact that together, we get more done: more research, more treatments, more cures.
None of this would move forward without the dedicated patient and caregiver community, guiding us every step of the way. We wish to thank our community for lending their voices, sharing their stories, and selflessly participating in clinical research. We are also deeply grateful to our board of directors, donors, volunteers, partner organizations, government leaders, and corporate allies who share our commitment in the prevention, detection, and treatment of all melanomas. While new challenges on the research landscape have arisen, we’ve come too far to relinquish any momentum, and we will not. We know together we will fulfill our mission. Thank you for your continued support.
With immense gratitude,
Chair & Co-founder
Chief Executive Officer
