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This May, the entire melanoma community came together to recognize Melanoma Awareness Month. We had the opportunity to hear from leaders in the field, connect with advocates, and spread awareness of melanoma and the importance of prevention, early detection, and sustained research investments.
In case you missed any of it, we have recapped MRA's Melanoma Awareness Month programming below.
This Melanoma Awareness Month, we kept up the momentum in the fight against melanoma. Gifts are only being matched through May 31st, but you can still help us reach our goal by making a gift today.
As always - 100% of every donation made to MRA goes directly to research, without administrative, development, or other fees, because of the ongoing generosity of our founders! MRA has been recognized with Charity Navigator's Highest Four-Star Rating, and MRA also maintains a Platinum Seal of Transparency on Guidestar.
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MRA, the world’s leading non-profit funder of melanoma research, announced its largest annual global investment of $18.4 million to advance the next generation of breakthroughs in melanoma detection and treatment.
This year’s portfolio supports 30 discovery-stage research grants, alongside advancing the RARE Melanoma Research Consortium and the Melanoma Biorepository – critical infrastructure designed to unlock insights into the most complex and underserved forms of the disease. These investments span leading academic and medical institutions across the United States and 5 countries, reinforcing MRA’s role as a global convener accelerating progress across the field.
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You may have heard of T cell receptor (TCR) therapies, when a patient’s own T cells are removed, engineered in a lab to better recognize cancer, and then infused back into the body. But there’s another approach called ImmTAC (immune-mobilizing TCR) therapies. These treatments don’t require removing cells. Instead, they work inside the body to help existing immune cells better “see” and attack melanoma more effectively.
What’s the difference between these approaches? Who might be eligible for each? What are the risks, benefits, and unknowns? Dr. Rino Seedor of Jefferson Health joined us on the Melanoma > Exchange to answer the community's questions! Check out the archived Q&A thread.
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MRA was honored to participate in a recent Melanoma Awareness Day hosted by Iovance, alongside several fellow melanoma advocacy organizations. The day brought together patients, advocates, and industry for meaningful conversations, including a town hall where patients shared their melanoma journeys and experiences with TIL therapy. Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the cell manufacturing facility and see firsthand how personalized cellular therapies are developed. We are grateful for opportunities like this to collaborate across the melanoma community and continue advancing treatments and support for patients and families.
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This May, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and MRA teamed up to remind fans to protect and check their skin! As part of this partnership, MRA was on site at the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, TX, alongside metastatic melanoma survivor and PBR CEO Sean Gleason to help spread awareness among the bull riding community. Sean and the PBR also presented MRA with a generous $25,000 check to continue our lifesaving research investments.
To see a recap of our time in Fort Worth, check out our Instagram highlights!
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MRA hosted an installment of our patient-focused Meet Up webinar series called “TIL Therapy for Melanoma: A Patient Perspective and What’s New in Research.” The session featured Dr. Ravi Amaravadi of the University of Pennsylvania, a leading physician-scientist in melanoma research and early-phase clinical trials, alongside patient advocate Rob Ricker, in conversation with MRA’s Director of Communications and Engagement, Dana Deighton. The discussion explored how tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy is changing the treatment landscape for advanced melanoma and what patients and caregivers can expect when considering this highly personalized form of immunotherapy. Watch the recording!
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In recognition of Melanoma Awareness Month, MRA hosted a special installment of our patient-focused Meet Up webinar series called “From Skin Checks to Clinic Visits: Understanding Melanoma Prevention.” The session featured Dr. Joshua Arbesman of the Cleveland Clinic, a physician-scientist and leading expert in melanoma risk and prevention, alongside melanoma survivor and patient advocate Leah Adams, an MRA Leadership Councilmember, in conversation with MRA’s Director of Communications and Engagement, Dana Deighton. The discussion explored melanoma prevention, early detection, hereditary risk factors, and how individuals and families can feel more informed and empowered when navigating dermatology visits and skin health. Watch the recording!
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MRA’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Stephanie Kauffman, joined a panel of experts as part of the Milken Institute’s 2026 Global Conference. The session, titled “What Will Success Against Cancer Look Like in 2035?”, explored how progress in cancer research is increasingly driven by the ability to identify risk earlier, intervene sooner, and continuously learn from patient outcomes. This session spotlighted the scientific advances that are redefining how cancer is managed and shortening the distance between discovery and impact on the patient. Panelists explored how these innovations could reshape what progress against cancer will look like by 2035. Register to watch the recording!
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This May, MRA was proud to be the exclusive charity partner for Humble Bundle - a digital marketplace offering games, ebooks, software, and more. As the featured Choice partner, 5% of all Humble Choice subscription sales will support MRA throughout the month. In addition, select bundles may also contribute 5% of their sales to MRA.
If you’re interested in subscribing and supporting MRA, check out Humble Choice before the month is over!
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May was also Ocular Melanoma Awareness Month - a time to shine a light on this rare but serious melanoma subtype - and our friends at Eye on Grace Foundation are spearheading the Eye Patch Challenge! Learn more about the challenge and be a part of the movement!
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The Melanoma Research Alliance, our staff and board members, corporate and advocate partners, and experts we fund and collaborate with were featured in various ways throughout May.
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