Research Overview
Since its founding in 2007, the Melanoma Research Alliance has become the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide. Through 475 awards, MRA has directly invested more than $160 million, and leveraged an additional $450 million in collaborative and follow-on funding towards its mission. MRA is catalyzing strategic, collaborative, and accountable research efforts that have moved the field forward and given patients and their loved ones better treatment options and renewed hope.
MRA supports both individual investigator and collaborative team projects focused on translational, innovative research that will impact the prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of melanoma in the near and intermediate future. Learn more about MRA Grant Mechanisms.
With the significant infusion of research funds into the field provided by MRA, melanoma is leading the field of oncology in the development of targeted treatments and new immunotherapies for cancer patients. The data that MRA-funded scientists are generating is informing research in many fields, including those studying colon, breast, brain, pancreatic, kidney, prostate, bladder, leukemia, lymphoma, and lung cancer.
Annual Request for Proposals
MRA research funding is awarded through a competitive, peer reviewed process. Each summer, MRA announces its Request for Proposals (RFP) soliciting translational research grant applications from scientists and clinicians around the world. In the latest round, MRA awarded more than $9 million in total funding.
How Awards are Selected
All proposals undergo rigorous peer review by the MRA Grant Review Committee, comprised of experts in diverse areas of translational cancer research. The GRC operates under guidelines that ensure objective review by the committee. Final funding decisions are ratified by the MRA Board of Directors. Full-term funding is contingent upon review of annual progress reports and other oversight activities conducted by MRA.
What MRA has Funded
MRA has supported 502 principle investigators on more than 415 distinct research projects. Funded Investigators come from 158 institutions across 19 countries. Our research has looked at 211 unique therapeutic approaches, and has touched all 15 new treatments approved by the FDA since our founding. MRA is on the forefront of accelerating research and saving the lives of people touched by melanoma. Learn about our grant mechanisms or see a listing of all MRA grant awards.