Milania Agajanian, Pre-Med Biology Major at Loyola Marymount Univeristy, shared on LinkedIn:
“I’m excited to share that the research I worked on regarding the geographic distribution of melanoma clinical trial sites and disease burden in the United States will be formally published by the Society for Investigative Dermatology in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology as part of their August supplement. The publication will also be available on PubMed, which I’m excited about as this work will be shared with a broader community of physicians, researchers, and students.
I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to present a continuation of this research as a poster at the Unified California Community Health Conference (UCCHC) 2026, hosted by the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. Presenting this work allowed me to share my findings with physicians, researchers, medical students, and other members of the healthcare community, while engaging in meaningful conversations surrounding melanoma, clinical research, and equitable access to care.
The research, titled ‘Melanoma Clinical Trials Across the United States of America and Globe: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Site Distribution and Disease Burden,’ examines the geographic distribution of melanoma clinical trial sites across the United States and globally and compares these locations with melanoma incidence, prevalence, and mortality.
Through this research, we identified important geographic differences in where melanoma clinical trials are conducted. Although the United States contains a large proportion of clinical trial sites, their distribution does not always align with regions experiencing the greatest burden of melanoma. This raises important questions about equitable access to clinical research and emerging therapies.
This research remains important because clinical trials can provide patients with access to innovative treatments that may not otherwise be available. When trial sites are concentrated in certain areas, patients living in regions with a high burden of melanoma may face additional barriers to participation. Understanding these disparities can help researchers identify underserved populations and expand access to clinical trials.
Ultimately, improving the geographic distribution and accessibility of clinical trials can help ensure that advances in melanoma treatment reach the patients and communities who need them most. This research highlights the importance of creating a more accessible, representative, and equitable clinical research landscape.
I would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Sarmen Sarkissian, Lina Petrossian, and the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) for providing me with this opportunity and for their continued mentorship and guidance throughout this research and publication process. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as a researcher and contributing to the field of medicine through work that I hope can make a meaningful impact.”
Hilda Agajanian, Founder of The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation, shared Milania Agajanian’s post, adding:
“Such a fantastic accomplishment!
To have five publications by the age of 20 is an extraordinary achievement. It shows not only your intelligence and work ethic, but your genuine commitment to advancing medicine in a way that matters.
This latest paper, examining the geographic distribution of melanoma clinical trial sites against actual disease burden, is such meaningful work. Highlighting where access to research and emerging therapies falls short is exactly the kind of thoughtful, equity-focused contribution our field needs.
I’m especially proud that you not only completed this research but also presented it at the Unified California Community Health Conference. Sharing your findings and engaging in those important conversations about equitable care shows both courage and maturity beyond your years.
Watching you grow into such an amazing young driven by a desire to become a physician to make clinical research more accessible and representative, fills me with deep pride. You are already contributing to medicine in ways that will help real patients and communities.
Keep up to hard work. The best is still ahead of you.
I am so proud to be your mother.”
You can also read PIVOTAL Trial: Neoadjuvant Intralesional Immunotherapy in Melanoma on OncoDaily.
