Melanoma Research Alliance Seeks Innovative Proposals to Address Gap in Translational Science

The Melanoma Research Alliance is a public charity that supports an international cross-disciplinary group of biomedical researchers with the clinical and scientific expertise to explore, identify, and pursue innovative solutions to critical research questions leading to better treatments and a cure for melanoma patients.

The 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 or melanoma patients. Successful proposals will have potential for translational development that could lead to high-impact near-term clinical application in areas of melanoma prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment. Development and/or use of novel technologies that have the potential to further such advances in the program's areas of emphasis will be considered.

For the 2011-12 cycle, proposals in the following areas are of particular interest and will receive special consideration: developing combinatorial treatment strategies for patients with unresectable stage III-IV melanoma; exploring biomarkers of treatment response and/or resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy and developing methods to overcome resistance; characterizing molecular pathways driving BRAF wild type melanomas; and defining unique molecular and/or immunological characteristics of acral and amelanotic melanomas in order to identify new therapeutic targets in these patients.

MRA plans to provide at least $3 million in new funding for Individual Investigator Awards during the 2011-12 cycle. Proposals will be accepted for Individual Investigator Awards in the following categories:

Young Investigator Awards provide investigators within four years of their first academic faculty appointment with $75,000 per year for two to three years to accomplish innovative, early concept projects.

Established Investigator Awards provide investigators with an established record of scientific productivity with up to $125,000 per year for two to three years to conduct projects supported by preliminary data.

Pilot Awards provide an award of $50,000 per year for two years for potentially transformative pilot studies from investigators who are past the initial four years of their first academic faculty appointment.

Academic-Industry Partnerships awards are designed to facilitate interactions between the academic and industrial research sectors, and will be co-funded by MRA and an industrial collaborator whose involvement is essential to the project. The PI must be an academic investigator. Industry scientists may serve as co-investigators or collaborators. Investigators with an established record of scientific productivity will receive up to $100,000 per year for two to three years from MRA to conduct projects supported by preliminary data. Industry funds or in-kind support must match but may exceed MRA funds for two to three years, for a total annual award value of $200,000 or more.

Principal investigators must hold a faculty appointment at an academic research institution within or outside the U.S. at the level of assistant professor (or equivalent) or above. Investigators need not be specifically trained in melanoma research; however, they should be working in an environment capable of conducting high-quality, high-impact melanoma research.

Visit the MRA Web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and information on previously funded research.

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