The Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation primarily funds biomedical research at major academic medical centers and cancer institutes focused on melanoma biology, biomarkers, and therapeutic development. Their grants concentrate on investigator career development (Dermatology Fellows, Young/Established Investigator awards), collaborative ‘Team Science’ projects, pilot studies and targeted translational programs (e.g., biomarker development, drug discovery). Recipients are predominantly U.S.-based universities and cancer centers, with repeated multi-grant relationships to leading institutions.
The Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation’s grantmaking is built around melanoma research at academic medical centers, with repeated support for team science, biomarkers, drug discovery, and investigator development. A 2025 grant of $1,088,210 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for two pilot awards and one team science award shows how the foundation combines hypothesis-generating projects with collaborative research. Other large awards point in the same direction: Columbia University Irving Medical Center received $1,155,000 in 2025 for a team science award and a young investigator award, while Yale University received $1,755,000 in 2023 for two team science awards and one young investigator award. The foundation also backs programs that move melanoma research from basic science toward clinical application, including next steps awards for biomarker development and drug discovery. Across the recent grants list, recipients are mainly universities, cancer centers, and medical schools working on melanoma biology, therapeutic development, and translational research. Its portfolio shows a consistent emphasis on training early-career researchers and supporting collaborative institutional teams rather than individual patients or direct service work.
Early-career development is a clear thread in the portfolio. In 2024, New York University Grossman School of Medicine received $800,000 for one dermatology fellows award and two established investigator awards, linking trainee support with senior research leadership. The foundation also funds investigator advancement through young investigator awards, such as the $255,000 grant to New York University in 2023. Collaborative research is another core area: Harvard College received $600,000 in 2023 for a team science award, while the University of California, Los Angeles received $627,500 in 2025 for a pilot award, a team science award, and a young investigator award. Translational work appears in its next steps programs, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s 2025 grant for melanoma biomarker development.
Typical grants are substantial: the p25 is $100,000, the median is $255,000, and the p75 is $375,000. The recent record shows both multi-award institutional grants and repeated support to the same recipients across years. Johns Hopkins University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the University of California, Los Angeles also appears in multiple years; and several other institutions recur with different combinations of awards. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals. The grant portfolio is programmatic rather than transactional, with awards attached to named research tracks such as team science, pilot, young investigator, and established investigator support.
$11.9M
$25.2M
$16.5M
$17.4M
Most grants fall between $100K and $375K, with a median of $255K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$255K
75th Percentile
$375K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, research-focused giving to leading U.S. academic medical centers and cancer institutes with frequent repeat grants; a mix of medium-to-large awards directed at career development, team science, and targeted translational initiatives rather than broad community programs.
Notable grantees: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
Giving is national, and every recent grant in the supplied data went to a U.S. recipient. The largest concentration of grants goes to Connecticut, led by Yale University in New Haven. Other frequent recipient cities include New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and San Francisco. Recent awards also reached Tampa, Seattle, Charlottesville, Evanston, Iowa City, Aurora, and Cambridge. The recipient distribution is entirely domestic, with no non-U.S. countries represented in the recent grants list.
Its grants focus on melanoma research at academic medical centers and cancer institutes, especially melanoma biology, biomarkers, therapeutic development, drug discovery, and collaborative translational projects. The recent grants list also shows support for team science, pilot studies, and investigator development awards.
Yes. Recent grants include dermatology fellows awards, young investigator awards, and junior faculty/clinical instructor awards. Examples include New York University Grossman School of Medicine, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Johns Hopkins University, showing a sustained pattern of career-stage support.
Typical grants are sizable. The distribution provided shows a p25 of $100,000, a median of $255,000, and a p75 of $375,000. Recent awards also range above $1 million for multi-award institutional grants.
The giving is national and entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants list. Connecticut has the highest grant count, with Yale University in New Haven appearing among the largest recipients. Other repeated recipient cities include New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and San Francisco.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC | TAMPA, FL | $1,155,000 | 2025 | 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,155,000 | 2025 | 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER (MSK) | NEW YORK, NY | $1,088,210 | 2025 | 2 PILOT AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (MASS GENERAL) | BOSTON, MA | $1,025,000 | 2025 | 1 NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 PILOT AWARD |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $975,000 | 2025 | 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $900,000 | 2025 | TEAM SCIENCE AWARD |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | TEAM SCIENCE AWARD |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $627,500 | 2025 | 1 PILOT AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $264,999 | 2025 | 1 PARTNERSHIP AWARD, 1 PILOT AWARD, 1 NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $255,000 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $255,000 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $255,000 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $255,000 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $255,000 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY - OHSU | PORTLAND, OR | $254,842 | 2025 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $150,000 | 2025 | NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY | BOSTON, MA | $149,999 | 2025 | NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $149,460 | 2025 | DERMATOLOGY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - CHICAGO CAMPUS | EVANSTON, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD |
| SOCIETY FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER (SITC) | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP AWARD |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM | DETROIT, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | PILOT AWARD |
| THE WISTAR INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | PILOT AWARD |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PILOT AWARD |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | MRA IN TRANSIT MELANOMA CONSORTIUM AWARD |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ONCOLOGY CONQUER CANCER FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP AWARD |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $12,000 | 2025 | TEAM SCIENCE AWARD |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $800,000 | 2024 | 1 DERMATOLOGY FELLOWS AWARD, 2 ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARDS |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $442,500 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | IOWA CITY, IA | $375,000 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $375,000 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $375,000 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $375,000 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $375,000 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $354,160 | 2024 | 1 PILOT AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $255,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $255,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $255,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $255,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION DBA MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL | BOSTON, MA | $255,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $254,862 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| HLEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC | TAMPA, FL | $241,320 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $187,500 | 2024 | ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $110,000 | 2024 | MRA IN TRANSIT MELANOMA CONSORTIUM AWARD |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PILOT AWARD |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2024 | PILOT AWARD |
| INSTITUTE OF CANCER RESEARCH DBA THE RESEARCH INS OF FOX CHASE CANCER CTR | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | PILOT AWARD |
| THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $85,000 | 2024 | YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD |
1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER (MSK)
$1,088,2102 PILOT AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (MASS GENERAL)
$1,025,0001 NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$1,000,0001 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 PILOT AWARD
1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
TEAM SCIENCE AWARD
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$627,5001 PILOT AWARD, 1 TEAM SCIENCE AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
1 PARTNERSHIP AWARD, 1 PILOT AWARD, 1 NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$255,000YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY - OHSU
$254,842YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES
$150,000NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY
$149,999NEXT STEPS: MELANOMA BIOMARKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$149,460DERMATOLOGY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD
SOCIETY FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER (SITC)
$100,000PARTNERSHIP AWARD
THE WISTAR INSTITUTE
$100,000NEXT STEPS: ADVANCING DRUG DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPIES AWARD
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC
$100,000PILOT AWARD
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
1 DERMATOLOGY FELLOWS AWARD, 2 ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARDS
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
$375,000ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$375,000ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD
WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$375,000ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD
1 PILOT AWARD, 1 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$255,000YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$255,000YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION DBA MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL
$255,000YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$187,500ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$100,000PILOT AWARD
PILOT AWARD
THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC
$85,000YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD