Since 1998, the MRF has funded 269 innovative, high impact, basic, translational and clinical research projects. Further, in 2022, the MRF awarded over $1,913,000 in new melanoma research funding. In 2023, the MRF will offer Established Investigator Awards, Career Development Awards (as discussed in the primary Request for Proposals (RFP) ), a CURE OM Award, as well as Medical Student Awards, Resident-Fellow Awards, Mid-Career Bridge Grants and a MRF Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC) Pilot Translational Award. 

Mid-Career Bridge Grants

In response to a growing need in the field, the MRF has established its Mid-Career Bridge Grant to support investigators who are dedicated to melanoma research. This award will be for established researchers with pre-existing R01s, who have applied for a NIH R01 grant that was scored, but not funded. To support and sustain these investigators while they generate the data for the Response to Reviewers in the revised R01 (A1) submission, the MRF is offering bridge funding of up to $100,000 for one year. These awards will be competed 3 times in 2023 and application submission deadlines are on April 14th, August 15th, or December 15th, 2023.

Medical Student Research Grants

Purpose: To promote research opportunities to medical students early in their careers by funding clinical or laboratory-based research projects focused on better understanding the prevention, early detection, behaviors that impact melanoma risk, biology and treatment of melanoma, including cutaneous, ocular, mucosal, pediatric, etc. In 2024, in addition to awards focused on any aspect of melanoma research, the MRF is please to also offer at least one award focused specifically on ocular melanoma research. Applications will be accepted until November 15, 2023.