The Melanoma Research Alliance Established Investigator Award supports experienced investigators conducting innovative preclinical, translational, or early clinical melanoma research.
Projects should have the potential to produce unusually high-impact, near-term advances in melanoma prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment. MRA prioritizes transformative research supported by a strong scientific rationale, rigorous methodology, and a credible pathway toward clinical application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must hold a full-time faculty appointment at the level of Assistant Professor or an equivalent position, or higher.
- Applicants must work at an academic institution or another eligible nonprofit research organization.
- Principal Investigators must demonstrate clear evidence of an independent research program.
- Investigators do not need to have received formal training specifically in melanoma research.
- Previous MRA recipients must be current with all required scientific and financial reporting.
- Each investigator may serve as PI on only one MRA proposal across all award mechanisms and Special Opportunity Awards in the 2026–2027 cycle.
- Multiple proposals may be submitted from the same institution when each has a different PI and addresses a distinct scientific hypothesis.
- UK- and Israel-based Special Opportunity Awards are restricted to eligible investigators working in those countries.
Funding Details:
- The award provides up to USD 125,000 per year.
- The maximum award period is three years.
- The maximum total award is USD 375,000.
- MRA plans to provide at least USD 7.9 million in new funding across all mechanisms in the 2026–2027 cycle.
Deadline:
- Letter of Intent deadline: August 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Estimated LOI decisions: October 31, 2026.
- Invited full proposal deadline: December 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Further Information:
- Applications are evaluated according to scientific and clinical importance, originality, rigor, feasibility, investigator qualifications, institutional support, and potential for rapid clinical benefit.
- Original and transformative projects with a strong scientific rationale and clear pathway toward improving melanoma prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment will receive priority.
- MRA also offers related Special Opportunity Awards in acral melanoma, uveal melanoma, and for eligible investigators based in the United Kingdom and Israel.
- Proposals must be submitted through ProposalCentral, and eligibility questions may be directed to science@curemelanoma.org.
- Official program information and application details: Visit the Melanoma Research Alliance 2026–2027 Request for Proposals page for the official RFP, application requirements, current deadlines, Special Opportunity details, and program updates.