Sara DiNapoli, PhD
Director, Scientific Programs
Sara DiNapoli, PhD, serves as the Director of Scientific Programs for the Melanoma Research Alliance. In her role, Sara oversees MRA’s global grants program, ensuring that MRA funding addresses areas of unmet scientific and patient need while fostering innovation in the field. Her leadership at the intersection of science, strategy, and collaboration is instrumental in driving MRA’s research efforts forward.
Prior to joining MRA, Sara most recently served as Test Development Manager for the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). There she led the clinical validation and implementation of next-generation sequencing assays, which are critical tools in advancing precision medicine. She successfully coordinated cross-functional teams of laboratory technologists, bioinformaticians, software engineers, and molecular pathologists to drive these cutting-edge initiatives forward.
Sara holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, where she studied cutaneous melanoma using zebrafish models, and a BA in Biology from New York University. She brings a wealth of expertise in molecular pathology, clinical validation, and scientific program management, as well as a strong commitment to advancing melanoma research. Sara lives in Queens, New York and enjoys traveling, reading, and playing tennis.
