CURE Ocular Melanoma
CURE Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM)
Ocular melanoma is a form of melanoma that develops in the eye. It is the most common eye cancer in adults and the second most common type of melanoma. Approximately 2,000 Americans are diagnosed with ocular melanoma each year, and 50 percent of these cases spread to other parts of the body. When this occurs, it is most often fatal. More information about this type of melanoma is available in our OM Fact Sheet.
Founded in 2011
CURE OM (the Community United for Research and Education of Ocular Melanoma) is the MRF’s initiative to increase awareness, education and research funding for ocular melanoma, while improving the lives of people affected by this disease. The CURE OM initiative excels because of the hard work and dedication of its Patient and Scientific Steering Committees and the generosity of our community. Show your support with a tax-deductible donation to the MRF’s CURE OM initiative today!
OM Research
The MRF’s CURE OM initiative is leading the ocular melanoma (OM) field forward. We are committed to accelerating the development of effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this disease. Our scientific initiative includes research grants, a patient registry, and biannual international scientific meetings. These efforts ensure continued collaboration, support and coordination to move OM research forward.
To date, the MRF has funded 25 uveal melanoma grants totaling over $2.6 million. To learn about upcoming CURE OM research opportunities, search our Research Grants page. CURE OM, as part of its CURE OM Unite! Campaign, has spearheaded the incorporation of the patient/caregiver voice into its grant program. Many of these practices are now being incorporated into the main MRF grant program.
In 2021, CURE OM launched the VISION Registry, a global patient-reported registry to support advances in ocular melanoma research and treatment development. Designed with the guidance of the Registry Steering Committee, the VISION Registry will inform patient-centered research initiatives focused on policy, patient preferences and standards of care. In addition to collecting invaluable data about diagnosis, disease progression, treatment choice and outcomes, geography and environmental factors, the registry supports the collaboration of patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and the pharmaceutical industry to find a cure together. The 2016 #CUREOM Unite! campaign supported the initial development and framework of the registry.
CURE OM hosts regular global science meetings to facilitate interdisciplinary and innovative collaboration focused on finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for ocular melanoma. To date, CURE OM has held 14 such scientific meetings. Each meeting includes a diverse group of speakers and participants from around the world. To learn more about upcoming CURE OM scientific meetings, search our Scientific Meetings page.
OM Education
The MRF’s CURE OM initiative is committed to being the leading provider of ocular melanoma education, resources and support. We partner with leading ocular melanoma clinicians and researchers to ensure our ocular melanoma patient and caregiver community always receives the best, most accurate information.
Patient & Caregiver Meetings
Each year, the MRF’s CURE OM initiative hosts the Eyes on a Cure: Patient & Caregiver Symposium, bringing together ocular melanoma patients, survivors and caregivers to learn about the latest advances in OM research and treatment. In addition to a full scientific agenda featuring internationally renowned researchers, physicians and OM experts, starting in 2018 this meeting also began featuring a wellness track of activities like art therapy, family communication workshops, yoga and more.
The 2024 Eyes on a Cure: Patient & Caregiver Symposium, hosted in conjunction with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will be held on May 3-5, 2024. Click here for more information – registration will be available soon!
The 2023 Eyes on a Cure: Patient & Caregiver Symposium, hosted in conjunction with Moffitt Cancer Center, was held on March 31 – April 2, 2023 in Tampa, FL. Click here to view recordings from the event.
The 2022 Eyes on a Cure: Patient & Caregiver Symposium, hosted in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson University, was held on August 26, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA. Click here to view recordings from the event.
The 2021 Eyes on a Cure Mini Summit: Spring Updates was held virtually on April 29, 2021. This event included two free, LIVE panel discussions with leading medical specialists, support service specialists as well as patients and those who love them. Sessions included The Current State of Clinical Trials and Surveillance, Support and the Patient Perspective. Follow this link to watch the recordings.
The 9th Annual Eyes on a Cure: Patient & Caregiver Global Symposium was held virtually on November 19-21, 2020. Follow this link to watch the recordings.
Resources
CURE OM’s education program includes a variety of online educational and supportive resources for ocular melanoma patients and the people who support them, including webinars, support groups and a treatment center finder.
OM Awareness
The MRF’s CURE OM initiative aims to increase awareness by promoting the importance of early detection. Ocular melanoma is most often detected during a routine, dilated eye exam.