MRA Research Overview
The MRA is focused on finding and funding the most promising melanoma research worldwide that will accelerate progress toward a cure. Since its founding in 2007, MRA has awarded $21.7 million to 50 programs that hold the promise of turning scientific discoveries into tools and treatments for high risk individuals or melanoma patients. The MRA research agenda focuses on translational, innovative
research that has the potential to impact the prevention, diagnosis, staging and treatment of
melanoma in the near and intermediate future.
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MRA solicits both individual investigator and collaborative team scientific proposals with the potential to make transforming advances in the biological understanding and treatment of melanoma.
- The Team Science Award Program is the centerpiece of the MRA research portfolio. Team science projects, consisting of multiple Principal Investigators, promote synergistic and transformational research advances with the potential for rapid clinical translation. Up to $1 million total over two to three years is offered.
- The Established Investigator Award program supports senior investigators with an established record of scientific productivity and accomplishment to pursue innovative melanoma research proposals. Up to $125,000 per year for two to three years is provided.
- The Young Investigator Award program aims to attract early career scientists with novel ideas into melanoma research, thereby recruiting and supporting the next generation of melanoma researchers. $75,000 per year for three years is offered.
- Pilot and Development Awards test potentially transformative ideas that do not contain extensive preliminary data, but that articulate a clear hypothesis and translational goals. $50,000 per year for up to two years is provided.
- A new type of mechanism, called the Academic-Industry Partnership Awards, was offered in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2011 funding to facilitate cross-sector collaborations and accelerate melanoma research with high clinical impact. This program is open to Established Investigators and research Teams. Up to a combined $200,000 per year for two to three years for Established Investigator Partnership Awards and $1.5 million total over two to three years for Team Science Partnership Awards is offered.
In just a few years of active research, significant progress has already been made. The productivity of funded investigators as a direct result of MRA awards has been high, as measured in tangible outcomes and in promising early research results. MRA is building a robust, collaborative melanoma research community focused on delivering effective results as quickly as possible.
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- $12.3 million in additional research funding leveraged from other sources by MRA investigators. The majority of this funding was granted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health through a highly competitive merit-based process.
- Six patent applications filed for new technology, which have the potential to be developed into new tools or treatments for patients.
- Approximately 70 collaborations initiated and strengthened between academic, government, and industry scientists, which enhances sharing of information and fast-forwarding the research.
- 26 papers published in high impact journals describing research results supported by MRA, which inform the scientific and clinical communities about promising new research so that others may build upon the results to help patients.
- Approximately 140 presentations delivered by MRA investigators at medical and scientific meetings in the U.S. and internationally, where research results are shared and the profile of MRA is enhanced.
- Promising research findings reported from 32 MRA-funded research programs started in 2008 and 2009, including those that are moving forward into clinical trials and preclinical models.
Please join us so that together we can expand melanoma research and save lives. Keep the momentum of research growing each year.