Spring 2025
By Brendan Monahan
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) has awarded a $900,000 Team Science grant to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to advance innovative immunotherapy approaches for treating melanoma. This funding supports a collaborative project led by F. Stephen Hodi Jr., MD, director of the Melanoma Center and of the Center for Immuno-Oncology, and the Sharon Crowley Martin Chair in Melanoma at Dana-Farber. Hodi is joined by a distinguished team of investigators, including Rizwan Haq, MD, PhD; David Liu, MD, MPH, MS; and Ajit Johnson Nirmal, PhD.
While immunotherapies like PD-1 inhibitors have significantly improved treatment for some melanoma patients, many do not respond, underscoring the need for more personalized strategies. Using advanced techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing and mass cytometry, Hodi and his team will analyze blood samples from more than 100 patients to identify immune cell populations linked to successful outcomes, setting the stage for more individualized therapies.
This multidisciplinary approach combines molecular profiling and spatial imaging to understand immune cell interactions within tumors. The team will also use pre-clinical models to evaluate the role of these cells in immunotherapy.
“We have made remarkable progress in the fight against melanoma, yet many patients still await the benefits,” said MRA Chief Executive Officer Marc Hurlbert. “The pioneering research led by Dr. Hodi and his team promises to unveil new insights, paving the way for enhanced outcomes for all those impacted by this disease, both now and in the years to come.”
Founded in 2007, the MRA is the largest nonprofit funder of melanoma research worldwide, awarding over $160 million and leveraging an additional $450 million to date. By supporting groundbreaking studies and fostering collaborative scientific efforts at Dana-Farber, the MRA is making significant strides toward improving outcomes for patients with melanoma, providing hope for more effective treatments and, ultimately, cures.