Leading the Charge

Melanoma Research for the Next Decade

2021-2022 Annual Report

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Leading the Charge

Melanoma Research for the Next Decade

2021-2022 Annual Report

Our Mission


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.

Our Mission

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.


Founded in 2007 with the generous support of Debra and Leon Black, MRA is the largest nonprofit funder of melanoma research. To date, MRA has awarded $131 million to 380 research programs. Thanks to the generous support of our founders, 100% of all donations to MRA go directly to research.

Debra Black Headshot
Marc Hurlbert Headshot
LETTER from the Chair and CEO

Since our inception in 2007, the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) has been laser-focused on advancing cutting-edge research needed to achieve our mission. With our singular vision, MRA stands as the largest private nonprofit funder of melanoma research in the world.

Today, MRA has proudly invested more than $143 million through 415 grant awards. We support the world’s best, most promising science and research and are guided by the expertise of our world-renowned Grant Review Committee. We support research from bench to bedside and beyond while helping patients and families navigate the ever-evolving treatment landscape.

MRA-funded investigators have been behind every major breakthrough in melanoma research since our founding. That’s 15 new FDA-approved treatments that have transformed what it means to be diagnosed, treated for, and live with melanoma. Patients are living longer and fuller lives than ever before, and there is so much to be grateful for.

Melanoma research has energized the entire field of oncology and created a new paradigm for how cancer is viewed. Therapies conceived, tested, and approved first in melanoma are now used to successfully treat patients with twelve other types of cancer and are being tested in dozens more.

And, as you’ll see throughout this report, we are not resting on our laurels. That’s because for as much progress as we’ve made, we still haven’t achieved our mission of ending suffering and death due to melanoma. To be direct: too many lives are still being tragically cut short and too many families are being forced to say goodbye, too soon.

Featured in this report are some of our key achievements over the past year. These examples highlight our capacity to partner with stakeholders and fund scientific studies that are continuing to change the way we think about melanoma in the lab, in the clinic, and around the world.

We are deeply grateful for the patients who participate in research and the support of our advocates, donors, volunteers, partner organizations, government leaders, and corporate allies who help us lead the charge in melanoma prevention, detection, and treatment. We anticipate another year of impactful, new findings in our mission to eradicate melanoma and look forward to working with all our partners and supporters.

With gratitude,

Debra Black signature

Debra Black
Chair and Co-founder

Marc Hubert signature

Marc Hurlbert, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Melanoma circle
Debra Black Headshot
Marc Hurlbert Headshot
LETTER from the Chair and CEO

Since our inception in 2007, the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) has been laser-focused on advancing cutting-edge research needed to achieve our mission. With our singular vision, MRA stands as the largest private nonprofit funder of melanoma research in the world.

Today, MRA has proudly invested more than $143 million through 415 grant awards. We support the world’s best, most promising science and research and are guided by the expertise of our world-renowned Grant Review Committee. We support research from bench to bedside and beyond while helping patients and families navigate the ever-evolving treatment landscape.

MRA-funded investigators have been behind every major breakthrough in melanoma research since our founding. That’s 15 new FDA-approved treatments that have transformed what it means to be diagnosed, treated for, and live with melanoma. Patients are living longer and fuller lives than ever before, and there is so much to be grateful for.

Melanoma research has energized the entire field of oncology and created a new paradigm for how cancer is viewed. Therapies conceived, tested, and approved first in melanoma are now used to successfully treat patients with twelve other types of cancer and are being tested in dozens more.

And, as you’ll see throughout this report, we are not resting on our laurels. That’s because for as much progress as we’ve made, we still haven’t achieved our mission of ending suffering and death due to melanoma. To be direct: too many lives are still being tragically cut short and too many families are being forced to say goodbye, too soon.

Featured in this report are some of our key achievements over the past year. These examples highlight our capacity to partner with stakeholders and fund scientific studies that are continuing to change the way we think about melanoma in the lab, in the clinic, and around the world.

We are deeply grateful for the patients who participate in research and the support of our advocates, donors, volunteers, partner organizations, government leaders, and corporate allies who help us lead the charge in melanoma prevention, detection, and treatment. We anticipate another year of impactful, new findings in our mission to eradicate melanoma and look forward to working with all our partners and supporters.

With gratitude,

Debra Black signature

Debra Black
Chair and Co-founder

Marc Hubert signature

Marc Hurlbert, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Melanoma circle