Public and Government Resources

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), is the federal agency charged with increasing scientific knowledge on cancer cause, prevention and control, as well as on the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of cancer patients.  The budget for the NCI is part of the Labor Health and Human Services Appropriation section of the Federal budget.  

National Cancer Institute — Melanoma Home Page (NCI)  

NCI's The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research: A Plan and Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2008

NCI Funded Skin Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) P-50 Grants

Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants promote interdisciplinary research and move basic research findings from the laboratory to clinical settings, involving both cancer patients and at-risk populations. Laboratory and clinical scientists share the common goal of bringing novel ideas to clinical care settings that have the potential to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and to improve survival rates and quality of life. SPORE investigators work collaboratively to plan, design and implement research programs that may impact cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. Key qualities of the program include patient advocates and coordination with investigators in Europe, Canada, Asia, and Mexico.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Skin SPORE
Thomas S. Kupper, M.D., director

The Wistar Institute/University of Pennsylvania Skin SPORE
Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M., Sc. D., director 

The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Melanoma Program
John M. Kirkwood, M.D., Co-leader

University of Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Skin SPORE
Elizabeth Grimm, PhD., director

Yale University Skin SPORE
Ruth Halaban, M.D., director

ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov provides each trial's purpose, participant criteria, locations and phone numbers. The website’s information should be used in conjunction with advice from healthcare professionals. Before searching for a particular trial, visitors to the site may want to learn more about clinical trials in general. 

In the search box, type in the word melanoma to retrieve a list of trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides an overview and links of public resources, skin cancer screening information, skin cancer organizations and funded research projects.

National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Collaborating Organizations

The National Melanoma Alliance collaborates with the following organizations:  

National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

Vital Options and the Group Room

Professional Societies

American Academy of Dermatology

Society for Melanoma Research