Previous MRA Retreats

MRA’s Annual Scientific Retreat is an invitation-only, think-tank-style meeting focused on the exchange of cutting-edge melanoma research as well as discussion of issues of broad interest to the oncology community. Each year, more than 300 people gather for the event.

2023 | 2022202120202019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2007

2023

2023 Melanoma Research ReportThe 2023 scientific presentations and panel discussions focused on a variety of topics, spanning the development of novel treatment strategies, the use of artificial intelligence and other imaging techniques in melanoma care, optimal management of brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease, moving a drug candidate or device from the lab into the clinic, and research into rare melanoma subtypes. Together these presentations offered an exciting, and in-depth picture of the current state of melanoma research and highlighted areas of unmet patient need.

2023 Retreat Agenda

Reaching for the Stars: Features from the 2023 MRA Scientific Retreat


2022

Melanoma Research Report 2022The 2022 MRA Scientific Retreat included presentations by 20 researchers, including keynote lectures from Drs. Jason Luke and Laurence Zitvogel. Scientific talks discussed novel treatment strategies, next-generation immunotherapies and strategies to address immune-related adverse events, as well as a variety of presentations by MRA Young Investigators. Together these presentations offered an exciting and in-depth picture of the current state of research and highlighted areas of unmet patient need.

2022 Retreat Agenda

Reuniting the Melanoma Community: Features from the 2022 MRA Scientific Retreat


 

2021

CoverMRA's 2021 Scientific Retreat included presentations by 17 researchers, including a keynote lecture from Nobel Laureate William Kaelin, Jr., of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Scientific lectures covered a variety of topics at the leading edge of melanoma research, including novel influences on melanoma formation and progression, promising new immunotherapy drug targets to overcome treatment resistance, strategies to mitigate immune-related side effects, and the latest research and approaches for detecting melanoma early, before it spreads. A moderated panel discussion, which featured speakers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Cancer Institute, and a large academic hospital highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted melanoma screening and care. The panel also explored new directions in treatment strategies for patients with rare melanoma subtypes like acral, mucosal, and uveal melanoma.

2021 Retreat Agenda

Advancing Melanoma Research in Times of Uncertainty: Highlights from the 2021 MRA Scientific Retreat


2020

Melanoma Research Report 2020The 2020 retreat included presentations by 20 researchers, including a keynote lecture from Nobel Laureate and MRA Scientific Advisory Panel member Jim Allison. Central to these presentations, and to the Retreat as a whole, was engaging the melanoma community around the question of how to maintain innovation to improve outcomes for patients. Innovation led to the approval of 12 new treatments in the past decade and pushed survival rates to five years or more for nearly 50% of advanced melanoma patients on combination immunotherapy — but how can this promise be realized for the other half of melanoma patients

2020 Retreat Agenda

Breaking the Barrier: Getting Beyond 50% Long-term Survival for Patients with Advanced Melanoma


2019

MRA Scientific Report 2019 web2 draggedThe 2019 retreat included presentations from 20 researchers that focused on the latest discoveries in melanoma prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. At the Melanoma > Exchange Advocates Forum, melanoma patients and caregivers gathered with experts to learn about the latest scientific advancements as well as engage in critical conversations around advocacy and survivorship.

2019 Retreat Agenda

Research is Hope: Highlights from the Melanoma Research Alliance 11th Annual Scientific Retreat


2018

MRA Scientific Retreat Report web2 draggedAt MRA’s Tenth Annual Scientific Retreat, participants heard about the latest discoveries in melanoma prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, many of which are being made by MRA-funded investigators. They also learned firsthand from individuals personally affected by melanoma and discussed ways in which the different sectors of the melanoma community can work together to ensure the momentum of the past decade of discoveries and treatment approvals continues. 

2018 Retreat Agenda

Ten Years of Accelerating Cures: Highlights from the Melanoma Research Alliance 10th Annual Scientific Retreat 


2017

2017 MRA Scientific Report draggedAt MRA's 9th Annual Scientific Retreat, presentations highlighted the wide variety of approaches that researchers are taking to tackle melanoma. These include identifying new therapeutic targets, especially ones that could be targeted in combination with existing therapies to create greater and more durable responses.

2017 Retreat Agenda

New Horizons in Melanoma Treatment: Bridging the Treatment Gap: Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Ninth Annual scientific Retreat


2016

The Next FrontierSeveral underlying themes emerged in the research presented at MRA's 2016 Scientific Retreat all building on the inspiring advances in developing effective melanoma treatments over the past five years, including the need to improve existing treatments through novel combinations, discovering biomarkers to help select the appropriate treatments, and uncovering new targets for future therapies.

2016 Retreat Agenda

The Next Frontier in Melanoma Research: Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Eighth Annual Scientific Retreat 


2015

Scientific Retreat Report 2015 draggedThe 2015 MRA Scientific Retreat  featured leading scientists who reported on the progress of their research as well as several special sessions that tackled key clinical, scientific, and regulatory issues that need to be addressed to continue to accelerate progress for patients.

2015 Retreat Agenda

Raising the Bar Accelerating New Paradigms in Melanoma Research: Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Seventh Annual Scientific Retreat 


2014

Converging on a CureAn overarching theme of the meeting was the development of combination therapies for metastatic melanoma, in particular the integration of immunotherapies and kinase inhibitors. Research is indicating that drug combinations will be required for long-term control and cure of most patients. The identification of biomarkers is a key component to the rational development and testing of combinations of therapies, and many speakers discussed their research in this area as well.

2014 Retreat Agenda

Converging on a Cure: Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Sixth Annual Scientific Retreat 


2013

MRA Scientific Retreat Report 2013 draggedHighlights from the 2013 MRA Scientific Retreat included a welcome reception hosted by the Embassy of Australia and MRA's first-ever Industry Roundtable Breakfast. The roundtable breakfast facilitated a discussion among leaders in drug and device development, key academic opinion leaders, and government officials about opportunities and challenges for clinical progress in melanoma. Another highlight was the panel discussion focused on clinical care decision-making for present day melanoma patients.

2013 Retreat Agenda

Investing In Innovation Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Fifth Annual Scientific Retreat  


2012

Charting the CourseMRA's 2012 Scientific Retreat highlighted efforts from across the field to develop novel drug combinations, identify mechanisms of resistance, study melanoma vaccines as new or complementary therapy, and improve melanoma early detection.

2012 Retreat Agenda

Building on the Momentum: Charting the Course - Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Fourth Annual Scientific Retreat 


2011

Pathways Progress and PartnershipsThe Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) convened its Third Annual Scientific Retreat in Washington, DC, Feb. 16-18, 2011. The retreat brought together 150 leading scientists from around the world, as well as senior leadership from nonprofit foundations, government agencies, industry, and other key stakeholders to share early findings, identify future directions, discuss ideas, and look for synergies and partnerships.

2011 MRA Retreat Agenda

Pathways, Progress, and Partnerships: Highlights of the Melanoma Research Alliance Third Annual Scientific Retreat


2010

Transformative Advances in Melanoma ResearchThe Melanoma Research Alliance hosted its Second Annual Scientific Retreat in Las Vegas, February 24-26, 2010. The retreat was attended by over 130 of the leading melanoma scientists from the United States and abroad, as well as senior leadership from nonprofit foundations, government agencies, industry, and other like-minded organizations. MRA's annual retreat is a crucial component of our mission to provide a unique and interactive forum to share data early, to identify future directions, to discuss ideas, and to look for synergies and partnerships. The retreat was held at a critical time in the field of melanoma research - a time when the urgency of the problem continues to grow and the opportunities for progress toward solutions are great.

2010 Retreat Agenda

Transformative Advances in Melanoma Research: Highlights from the 2nd Annual MRA Scientific Retreat


2009

In February 2009, a little more than a year after its inception, MRA convened its first scientific retreat and brought together 100 of the world's leading melanoma researchers. The retreat facilitated early sharing of data with the potential to make transforming advances in the biology and treatment of melanoma.

2009 Retreat Agenda


2007

Melanoma a Call to ActionThis first gathering of the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) on November 2007, in Washington DC, was charged with identifying the crucial scientific and clinical questions that need to be addressed in order to transform the field of melanoma detection and treatment, and to begin to map out concrete ways to effect that transformation.

The State of Melanoma Research Call to Action Meeting whitepaper briefly describes discussions from the meeting about current limitations in melanoma basic and clinical science, and summarizes the potential opportunities for the MRA to drive breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this deadly disease.

Download the State of Melanoma Research Call to Action Meeting white paper

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