RTFCCR and MRA join forces for Melanoma
September 26, 2025
The Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) and the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) are proud to announce a new joint Request for Proposals (RFP) for Team Science Awards to advance the early detection, diagnosis, and risk stratification of melanoma.
This award supports clinical validation studies or phase I clinical trials using new or improved imaging technologies, biomarkers, monitoring algorithms, diagnostic or screening tests, or devices. Studies proposing the use of technologies that are easily scalable are encouraged.
The initiative targets critical unmet needs such as improving stratification criteria for patients with melanoma who are at high-risk of recurrence or progression; diagnostic or early-stage melanoma prognostic factors (biomarkers); improving diagnosis and risk stratification of rare and more aggressive subtypes of melanoma across different skin colors, with a focus on acral and nodular subtypes
Joan Levy, MRA’s Chief Science Officer appreciates the opportunity to continue the successful collaboration and partnership with RTFCCR by co-supporting this new RFP. “Identification of better diagnostics and the ability to stratify patients based on risk assessments is critical to advancing and improving care for patients with melanoma. We are excited to support this initiative including the patient perspective, which will strengthen the applications and is highly supported by grant applicants.”
Zoraide Granchi, Senior Scientific Program Manager at RTFCCR, expressed gratitude and excitement for the new collaborative funding initiative with MRA. “Our foundations have a proven track record of uniting to drive forward innovative clinical research. Now, we are taking the next bold step—joining forces to accelerate the early detection and risk stratification of melanoma, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. We believe that the most powerful breakthroughs happen when scientists and patient partners collaborate closely. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and push the boundaries of what’s possible in melanoma care.”
Key Highlights
- Funding: Up to USD 900,000 per project for up to 3 years.
- Eligibility: Projects must include preliminary data linking the proposed marker to melanoma and demonstrate scalability and patient partner involvement. Each team must include at least one Young Investigator who must complete and return the Applicant Eligibility Checklist along with the LOI submission.
- Exclusions: The call does not support population-wide screening, awareness campaigns, or studies involving proprietary tools owned by private entities, such as start-ups or biotech companies.
Application Timeline
- Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: October 27, 2025
- Submission Platform: Altum | ProposalCentral
- Applications will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee including scientific experts, a biostatistician, and a patient partner.
Final funding decisions will be made by the boards of RTFCCR and MRA in May 2026. For more information, please visit MRA’s website.
Email questions about this RFP, eligibility, or other issues about MRA or its awards to science@curemelanoma.org. For questions on the patient involvement plan or questions for RTFCCR, please email Zoraide Granchi, PhD, Rising Tide’s Senior Scientific Program Manager, at zoraide.granchi@risingtide.ch.
Technical questions about the Proposal Central submission system should be directed to their customer support at 800-875-2562 (Toll-free U.S. and Canada), +1 703-964-5840 (Direct Dial International), or by email at pcsupport@altum.com. Support is available from 8:30am-5pm ET, Monday through Friday.
About the Melanoma Research Alliance
MRA is a public charity founded in 2007 by Debra and Leon Black, under the auspices of the Milken Institute, with the mission of MRA is to end suffering and death due to melanoma by collaborating with all stakeholders to accelerate powerful research, advance cures for all patients, and prevent more melanomas. To date, the MRA has awarded $175 million to support over 500 research projects in 19 countries. Please visit www.curemelanoma.org for further information on MRA and the research initiatives funded in prior award cycles.
About Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research
Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research is a charitable, non-profit organization established in 2010 and located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. RTFCCR’s primary consideration in granting support is given to truly innovative, unique, patient-centered clinical research. With patients at the core of the mission, the foundation strives to support clinical trials resulting in the creation of less toxic therapeutic approaches, better disease burden management, earlier cancer detection, and innovative intervention strategies that will lead to increased survival and quality of life. You can find more information here.