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The call for donations is in response to a new report issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), entitled, “Clinical Care Advances 2007: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention, and Screening,” that suggests future cancer care advances could be threatened by flat federal funding for clinical trials and research programs. The report cited budgets for the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Cancer Institute that have not changed in four years, marking the longest period of flat funding in history.
Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide. Americans have a one in 60 lifetime risk of developing melanoma, and approximately 59,940 cases of invasive melanoma are expected to be diagnosed in 2007; 8,110 will die. Estimates suggest that one in 50 will be diagnosed in 2010. In fact, melanoma is the primary cause of cancer death in women 25 to 30 years old and the number two cause of cancer death, after breast cancer, in women 30 to 35 years old. The average life span for someone with advanced melanoma is less than one year.
“The Melanoma Research Foundation’s research programs attract the best and brightest scientists in melanoma, who this year submitted a record number of proposals for funding,” said Linda Pilkington, Executive Director, Melanoma Research Foundation. “Every donation we receive makes a difference as we try to increase the available funding to support world-class melanoma research.”
MRF is the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States, and is a leading force in the efforts to increase federal funding. The MRF Research Grant Program supports promising medical research that furthers the goal of developing an effective treatment and possible cure for malignant melanoma, while encouraging scientists and clinicians to join in this mission. The grants are awarded through a scientific peer-review system paneled by leading clinical and basic melanoma researchers. The Foundation is not affiliated with any specific hospital or research institution and thus awards grants to applicants that have the best combination of scientific merit, appropriately skilled researchers, the greatest likelihood for success and the highest benefit for the melanoma patient community.
“Donations are crucial to ensuring that we can continue to push the envelope on research, and further support our education and advocacy efforts,” said Randy Lomax, Chairman, Board of Directors, Melanoma Research Foundation. “Each year, we are able to provide emerging and establish investigators with highly sought-after grants that allow them to explore new avenues in melanoma biology and treatment. We ask people to consider a charitable gift that will allow us to support more research, and make a difference in the lives of those with melanoma.”
About Melanoma Research Foundation
The Melanoma Research Foundation is the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States. The Foundation is committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. The Foundation also educates patients and physicians about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, while acting as an advocate for the melanoma community to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. This year, MRF was a sponsor of the Society for Melanoma Research Congress, which achieved record attendance levels. The MRF website is the premiere source for melanoma information seekers.
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