MELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The MRF supports medical research for finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. It educates patients and physicians about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and advocates for the melanoma community to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. Creating better outcomes for people impacted by melanoma has been, and will continue to be, at the core of our mission.

The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is committed to advancing a broad scientific agenda across the disciplines of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. It is proud to collaborate with research institutions, investigators, government entities and various leading melanoma organizations. These critical partnerships aim to improve the quality and length of life for melanoma patients. The MRF's education department offers, free of charge, a broad variety of resources including a growing library of print materials, an online webinar series, a Certified Melanoma Educator program, in-person patient and caregiver symposia hosted throughout the country, and other outlets to expand melanoma education and awareness. The MRF is a dedicated advocate for the melanoma community and empowers a nationwide network of volunteers to make their voices heard. In addition to an annual Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, the MRF coordinates year-round advocacy initiatives at the local, state and federal levels.

The MRF prides itself on having a dedicated staff, a committed Board of Directors (the majority of whom are melanoma survivors), advisory boards and partnerships with renowned researchers and institutions and an incredibly dedicated community of supporters who make our work possible. With a strong commitment to responsible stewardship, transparency and leadership in the field, the MRF will continue to advance the pace of melanoma research, education and advocacy. The MRF is also proud to partner with organizations like the National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP) and the Global Coalition for Melanoma Patient Advocacy. These partnerships advance our shared agendas and broaden the reach of research, treatments and potentially life-saving prevention and early detection messaging.

The melanoma research landscape has seen tremendous progress in the last decade. Where treatment options were once highly limited, there are now over a dozen FDA-approved treatments, with even more currently in development. This research progress has been supported by over $21 million in funding from the MRF since our founding. Advocacy efforts have led to legislation that protects children and teens from the dangers of tanning, removes restrictions on sunscreen use in schools and has significantly increased federal funding for melanoma research. The MRF was instrumental in the creation of the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program, which has contributed over $50 million in government funding to melanoma research in the past decade. MRF education and awareness programs continue to promote the importance of early detection - when melanoma is highly treatable - and shift the public perception and dangerous message that skin must be tanned to be beautiful.