Research Grants
Research Grant RFPs
If you need flexibility in submission of required progress reports (either interim or final) and/or the option of a 1-year no-cost-extension (NCE) please contact MRF Science Officer Robyn Burns at [email protected] or 202.899.2674.
Learn about Research RFPs!
Open RFPs:
Medical Student Research Grants
Beginning in 2011, the MRF has awarded 108 Medical Student Research Grants to students at 53 different institutions. The purpose of these 1-year, $3,000 grants is to promote research opportunities to medical students early in their careers by funding clinical or laboratory-based research projects focused on better understanding the prevention, early detection, behaviors that impact melanoma risk, biology and treatment of melanoma, including cutaneous, ocular, mucosal, pediatric, etc. In 2024, in addition to awards focused on any aspect of melanoma research, the MRF is pleased to also offer at least one award focused specifically on ocular melanoma research. Applications for 2024 grants will be accepted until November 15, 2023 at 5pm ET. Decisions will be made and announced by January 29, 2024. Additional information including eligibility requirements and application instructions can be found in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
For all questions about research funding opportunities or any aspect of the MRF research program, please email [email protected].
Resident/Fellow Research Grants
Due to the success of the Medical Student Research Grant program, in 2024 the MRF will introduce resident/fellow research grants as well. The purpose of these 1-year, $10,000 awards is to promote research opportunities to resident/fellows early in their careers by funding clinical or laboratory-based research projects focused on better understanding the prevention, early detection, behaviors that impact melanoma risk, biology and treatment of melanoma, including cutaneous, ocular, mucosal, pediatric, etc. In 2024, in addition to awards focused on any aspect of melanoma research, the MRF is pleased to also offer at least one award focused specifically on ocular melanoma research. Applications for 2024 grants will be accepted until January 31, 2024 at 5pm ET. Decisions will be made and announced by April 1, 2024. Additional information including eligibility requirements and application instructions can be found in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
For all questions about research funding opportunities or any aspect of the MRF research program, please email [email protected].
Mid-Career Bridge Grants
In response to a growing need in the field, the MRF has established its Mid-Career Bridge Grant to support investigators who are dedicated to melanoma research. This award will be for established researchers with pre-existing R01s, who have applied for a NIH R01 grant that was scored, but not funded. To support and sustain these investigators while they generate the data for the Response to Reviewers in the revised R01 (A1) submission, the MRF is offering bridge funding of up to $100,000 for one year. These awards will be competed 3 times in 2023 and application submission deadlines are on April 14th, August 15th, or December 15th, 2023. Additional information can be found in the 2023 Mid-Career Bridge Grant RFP.
For all questions about research funding opportunities or any aspect of the MRF research program, please email [email protected].
Under Review:
CURE OM Options Bring Hope Team Award in honor of Lindsay Zubeck (CURE OM)
Applications are currently under review. This CURE OM award provides funding of up to $250,000 over a two-year period ($150,000 for year one and $100,000 for year two) to an investigative team whose research will advance treatment for all patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (i.e. not restricted by HLA type). Teams should consist of a PI and at least one co-PI, ideally from different institutions. Teams consisting of both basic scientists and clinicians are encouraged, as is the inclusion of a junior scientist.
MRF Breakthrough Consortium Young Investigator Team Award to Advance the Field of Translational Immuno-Oncology (MRFBC)
Applications are currently under review. The MRFBC Team Award provides funding of up to $150,000 per year for two years to an investigative team whose research focuses on either improving clinical outcomes for patients with melanoma being treated with immuno‐oncology agents or advancing the scientific understanding of immuno‐oncology and the role of the immune system in melanoma. Teams must involve collaborations from at least two different institutions, one of which must be a MRFBC member institution. Further, the proposed PI and all co-PIs must be junior scientists, all of whom have at least one mentor.
2023 MRF Research Grants
Applications are currently under review. Since 1998, the MRF has funded 269 innovative, high impact, basic, translational and clinical research projects. Further, in 2022, the MRF awarded over $1,913,000 in new melanoma research funding. In 2023, the MRF will offer Established Investigator Awards, Career Development Awards (as discussed in the primary Request for Proposals (RFP) linked below), a CURE OM Award, as well as Medical Student Awards, Resident-Fellow Awards, Mid-Career Bridge Grants and a MRF Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC) Pilot Translational Award (detailed in separate RFPs).
To receive announcements of future research funding opportunities, please fill out the form below:
The MRF has been funding peer-reviewed research since 1998. The foundation provides emerging and established scientific investigators with highly sought-after grants that allow them to explore new, high-impact avenues in melanoma research. The types of grants offered are noted below:
- Team Science Awards: The largest grant offered by the MRF, a Team Science Award, encourages collaboration across academic disciplines in an institution or among multiple institutions. Team Science Awards are required to address an unmet need or Special Topic area, as defined by the MRF’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
- Established Investigator Awards (EIA): Applicants must have at least a position of Associate Professor and a demonstrated research track record. This award encourages proven researchers to continue research on emerging challenges in melanoma. Ideally, this award will generate data that can justify a much larger competitive grant.
- Career Development Awards (CDA): This award enables young researchers to generate the groundwork that can leverage additional grant funding from other funding bodies. As such, recipients must be either postdoctoral fellows with less than five years of postdoctoral experience or a research associate, instructor, assistant professor, or the equivalent.
- Medical Student Awards: The MRF is committed to introducing students early in their careers to the clinical or research opportunities under the mentorship of an investigator engaged in melanoma research.
Occasionally, we also have special opportunities available that do not adhere to our usual categories. Specific details and application instructions for each MRF research opportunity will be available in the relevant RFP.