Melanoma is a type of cancer that forms in cells called melanocytes. It usually forms in skin, but can also form in other tissues such as the eyes or intestines. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds can raise the risk of melanoma of the skin. Members of the Melanoma Center do research to improve understanding and management of skin cancers. The center has these broad goals:
- Improve melanoma treatment
- Develop immune system therapies to treat it
- Create targeted therapies against proteins involved in the disease’s spread to other areas
- Identify new genes involved in melanoma susceptibility
- Develop strategies to prevent the disease
- Develop animal models of melanoma
A Sample of Current Projects
- Investigating aspirin as a UV-protectanct and potential melanoma prevention agent in subjects at high-risk for melanoma.
- Studying mechanisms of combination immunotherapy plus oncolytic virus-based therapy for melanoma.
- Examining genes that regulate development of melanoma brain metastases.
- Developing alternating dosing regimens to forestall the onset of drug resistance in patients with advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma.
Melanoma Fellowship: How to Apply
Applications are accepted between January 1 and May 15 of the year of entry into the fellowship, which typically starts in June or July and runs 12 months.
Required:
- Curriculum Vitae
- A concise one-page personal statement that expresses reasons for applying for a melanoma research fellowship
- At least one recent letter of recommendation from a mentor or supervising physician
Email Dr. Doug Grossman for all inquiries and for all application submissions.
Recent Publications
Neoadjuvant–Adjuvant or Adjuvant-Only Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma
Patel, S. P., Othus, M., Chen, Y., Wright, G. P., Yost, K. J., Hyngstrom, J. R., Hu-Lieskovan, S., Lao, C. D., Fecher, L. A., Truong, T.-G., Eisenstein, J. L., Chandra, S., Sosman, J. A., Kendra, K. L., Wu, R. C., Devoe, C. E., Deutsch, G. B., Hegde, A., Khalil, M., ... Ribas, A. (2023). Neoadjuvant–adjuvant or adjuvant-only pembrolizumab in advanced melanoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(9), 813–823.
