Melanoma Research Alliance: Young Investigator Awards Grant

The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) Young Investigator Awards aim to attract early career researchers with innovative ideas in melanoma research. The program offers funding of up to $85,000 per year for three years, supporting projects focused on preclinical, translational, and early clinical research. Proposals should address significant gaps in melanoma prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment, encouraging the next generation of leaders in this vital field.

NOTE: All Young Investigator applicants must complete and return the Applicant Eligibility Checklist by Letter of Inquiry Deadline above.
MRA Mission
The mission of the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is to end suffering and death due to melanoma by collaborating with all stakeholders to accelerate powerful research, advance cures for all patients, and prevent more melanomas.
Request for Proposals
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for pre- clinical, translational, and early clinical research with the potential to produce unusually high impact, near-term advancements in melanoma prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Objective: Emphasis on Translational and Clinical Science
MRA is soliciting proposals that address the gap in translational science (i.e., turning scientific discoveries into tools and/or treatments for high-risk individuals and patients with melanoma). Successful proposals have the potential of applying important basic and preclinical discoveries to the near-term development of clinical trials and studies impacting melanoma detection, prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment.
Proposals for clinical studies testing well-defined and clearly articulated hypotheses are welcome and should be accompanied by a brief protocol synopsis and timeline with milestones. IRB approval is not required at the time of application but is required before initial payments are made.
MRA welcomes proposals in the following areas:
Prevention: Elucidation of environmental, epidemiological, and biological factors in melanomagenesis that lead to improved strategies for melanoma prevention.Detection and Diagnosis: Development of innovative detection and diagnostic methodologies; identification and validation of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.Treatment: Projects emphasizing the translation of scientific findings to new treatments for patients with melanoma. Examples include, but are not limited to, studies of melanoma immunotherapy, therapeutic applications based on molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma formation and/or progression, treatments that target the tumor microenvironment or microbiome, combination therapies, and development of novel biomarkers of response to therapy.
Young Investigator Awards aim to attract early career faculty with original ideas into the field of melanoma, thereby recruiting and supporting the next generation of melanoma research leaders. Awardees will be provided funding to accomplish innovative and original, preclinical, translational, and/or early clinical research projects. Young Investigators are scientists within the first five years of their first academic faculty appointment. A mentorship commitment from a senior investigator is required.
Amount
Up to $85,000 per year for three years (up to $255,000 total)