Category: Allies & Partnerships
Embrace Your Skin and Don't Be Anything that You Aren't
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 10 April 2018 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories
This freckled red head was never meant to be tan, but it didn’t stop her from trying. Stefani Schuetz just wanted that ‘perfect glow’ that she hoped would help her fit in after moving to Florida. She was training for a triathalon – a race requiring swimming, cycling, and running – with her sister when everything changed. Her sister thought she saw a bug on the back of her leg – but this bug turned out to be much worse. Instead of a bug, Stefani found a suspect mole that she’d never noticed before. She knew she had to get it checked out, but money was tight for this single Mom; it took her four months to make it to the dermatologist for a biopsy.
We Challenge You! Join the Melanoma Research Alliance and the Your Cancer Game Plan Challenge!
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 31 January 2018 In Allies & Partnerships
We’re excited to announce that we’ve joined Merck on the Your Cancer Game Plan Challenge, a social sharing program that will help us raise funds and continue our support of melanoma patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and others.
Creating a New Generation of Melanoma Models
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 8 January 2018 In Allies & Partnerships, Science
We all can remember the eruption that happened when our 1st grade science teacher combined vinegar and baking soda together to represent a volcano. In some ways, this is just like experiments that take place every day in the search for better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for melanoma. In both instances, the researcher uses models to represent systems and phenomena that would otherwise be difficult or unethical to touch, see, or manipulate. Models are powerful things and we use them every day to make things easier to understand. In science, modeling is an essential component of our scientific process.
New Year, New Grantees An Insider's Perspective into MRA Grantmaking
By Tasheema Prince, MRA Scientific Program Manager | 5 January 2018 In Allies & Partnerships, Science
New goals and time for personal reflection; the start of a year is an exciting time for many. It is also an action-packed time for the Melanoma Research Alliance's grantmaking process. As the Scientific Program Manager at MRA, I get a front row seat as we do our part to drive towards breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of melanoma.
Introducing Clinical Trial Navigator: Start Searching Today
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 5 December 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, News, Science, Treatment
At MRA, we know that advancing science is our best bet in the fight against melanoma. More than 87,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with melanoma this year, and with these numbers on the rise, researchers are working harder than ever to find new and better treatment options. In fact, there are over 300 clinical trials happening in melanoma right now.
Connecting the Dots – Clinical Trials and Patient Engagement
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 15 November 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, News
MRA is thrilled to announce the launch of the Melanoma > Exchange, a melanoma treatment and research focused discussion group and support community. Through the Melanoma > Exchange, anyone touched by Melanoma can find support, ask questions, and build community among people who share a similar experience.
Ten Years of Powerful Research and Results
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 13 November 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, News, Prevention, Science
In 2007, when Debra Black was diagnosed with Stage II melanoma, there were few treatment options. In fact, for those diagnosed with late-stage melanoma, only two FDA-Approved treatment options existed, and they only provided a 16% chance at five-year survival. After dealing with her own health concerns, she and her husband knew that they could-and needed- to do more. That’s why later that year they worked with Mike Milken to found MRA and transform the melanoma landscape.
MRA Raises Millions of Dollars for Groundbreaking Melanoma Research
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 5 November 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, Events
Normally, when people are at a Sotheby’s auction, they come to bid on beautiful and rare art. On Nov. 2nd, however, more than 240 people came together at Sotheby’s Headquarters in New York City to raise their paddle in the fight against melanoma. Together, participants raised over $20 million to further advance melanoma research.
Safe and Sound: Balancing Safety with Innovation in American Sunscreens
By Cody R. Barnett, MRA Director of Communications | 10 October 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, Policy, Prevention
Currently, Americans have access to 16 sunscreen active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent skin cancer. The last time a new OTC (Over the Counter) sunscreen ingredient was added to the FDA sunscreen monograph was 1999. Meanwhile, Europeans have access to 29 sunscreen active ingredients. In the United States there are currently eight new sunscreen ingredients that are pending FDA review, which have been used in Europe – many for over ten years. These new, and potentially better, active ingredients could allow sunscreens to last longer and provide better full spectrum coverage that could help us reverse trends of increasing melanoma incidence in this country. Unlike in Europe where sunscreens are classified as cosmetics, in the United States the FDA is required to evaluate all active ingredients in sunscreens as OTC drugs. Meaning, that all U.S. sunscreen ingredients must be found generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) in the same manner as other OTC medications. The FDA says that this is critical to keeping us safe, but is it possible to balance innovation and safety?
Melanoma Survivor and Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt Shares His “Game Plan” for Battling Cancer
By Your Cancer Game Plan | 19 September 2017 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, Treatment
Mike Schmidt, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is considered to be the greatest third baseman of all-time. As a professional athlete, he always felt invincible, but in 2013 a melanoma diagnosis threw him a curveball that he wasn’t prepared for.
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