Melanoma: Know the Facts, Rare Subtypes, and What's New in Research

In honor of Melanoma Awareness Month, ResearchMatch and the Melanoma Research Alliance co-hosted a special webinar highlighting the latest advancements in melanoma research, treatment, and patient advocacy. The session featured expert insights from MRA's Chief Science Officer Dr. Joan Levy and Dr. Charlotte Ariyan of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as well as powerful personal stories from melanoma patient advocates Leah Adams and Amy Jardon.

Dr. Levy shared encouraging progress in the field, including MRA's $175 million investment in global funding, supporting more than 500 research projects since its founding in 2007. She also highlighted MRA's RARE Registry - a direct-to-patient registry for people with acral, mucosal, or cutaneous melanoma with the goal of accelerating research focused on rare melanoma subtypes.​ ​Dr. Ariyan spoke about the transformative impact of immune therapies and targeted treatments, which have drastically improved prognoses for patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma.

Leah reflected on her experience with melanoma as both a patient herself and caregiver to her father who has Stage IV melanoma, underscoring the importance of community and patient advocacy throughout the journey. Amy, an acral melanoma survivor, emphasized the urgent need for rare melanoma research to accelerate and improve outcomes for all patients.

The conversation reinforced the vital role of patient participation in research and the collective effort needed to continue driving progress against melanoma.

Watch the full recording: