**Breaking News**

Baltimore Raven's Cam Cameron Takes the "Offensive" for Melanoma Awareness in New PSA

Baltimore, MD – May 1, 2012 – May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month and the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (JMNMF) – a national nonprofit, headquartered in Maryland that supports melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure – has produced a 30-second public service announcement highlighting the importance of early skin cancer screenings and melanoma awareness, featuring Offensive Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Cam Cameron, a stage 2 melanoma survivor. Melanoma is the most serious and lethal form of skin cancer. Read More

See New PSA & 2nd Version w/Surprise Ending

JMNMF Announces 2012 Research Scholarship Awards

Research Summaries with Award Photos – here

The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (JMNMF) awarded nine $10,000, nationally competitive, “Research Scholar Awards” (RSA) to exceptional graduate student researchers at leading cancer centers across the U.S. The JMNMF grants, increased dramatically, by nearly 30% in 2012 (following a 40% funding increase in 2011), to significantly enhance the potential for advancements in the melanoma cancer field and encourage a larger number of students to choose melanoma research as their professional career path.

The 2012 RSA applicant pool and cancer research centers represented grew to include 42 of the country’s most promising young melanoma researchers, and 28 prominent National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers or members of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI). This represents a dramatic 60% increase in students and 75% growth in research institutions participating, respectively. As first in the U.S. to fund graduate student melanoma researchers, the JMNMF program is celebrating the program’s sixth anniversary. – Read full press release with 2012 Award recipients

CALIFORNIA FIRST STATE TO ENACT TEEN INDOOR TANNING BAN

California Governor Jerry Brown, on Oct. 9, 2011, signed legislation prohibiting minors from using tanning beds, a first-in-the-nation law, that the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation actively supported. Indoor tanning before the age of 35 has been associated with a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The body of new scientific evidence, and re-classification of tanning beds in June 2009 by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), to their highest cancer risk category - ‘carcinogenic to humans’ – presents an indisputable imperative for states to enact, or toughen existing, laws to prevent deadly melanoma skin cancer from occurring through indoor tanning among those most at risk - minors. The U.S. falls behind other countries, including France, Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom, in protecting our nation’s youth from cancer causing UV-radiation emitted by tanning beds. The JMNMF also actively supports similar legislative initiatives throughout the U.S. California Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), author of SB 746, said the new rule was needed to protect teens from the risk of adverse health effects, including skin cancer, from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. "If everyone knew the true dangers of tanning beds, they'd be shocked. Skin cancer is a rising epidemic and the leading cause of cancer death for women between 25 and 29," Lieu said. SB 746 takes effect January 1, 2012 – the full text of SB 746 can be read here. The full text of JMNMF’s strong support letter to Chair Curren Price & members of the CA Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, urging passage of SB 746 - Tanning Facilities, can be read here.

Team “WIN-THE-FIGHT”

Largest Charity Team at Eagleman Ironman 70.3 Triathlon The JMNMF Team “WIN-THE-FIGHT” has raised over $34,000 to date in 2011, with nearly 600 donations to support their efforts to “WIN-THE-FIGHT…against melanoma. Pictured here is half of the record-sized team at the June 12 Eagleman Ironman 70.3 race in Cambridge, MD.

FDA Approves New Treatment for Melanoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Yervoy (ipilimumab) to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer…

• Read full FDA Press Release

JMNMF Announces 40% Increase in Melanoma Research Scholarships

The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (JMNMF) increased 2011 funding by 40% in announcing seven nationally competitive “Research Scholar Awards” (RSA), presented to exceptional graduate student researchers, at leading cancer centers across the U.S. The JMNMF annual $10,000 scholarships, significantly enhance the potential for advancements in the melanoma cancer field, and encourage a larger number of students to choose melanoma research as their professional career path. The 2011 RSA ceremony at the University of Virginia Cancer Center included (left to right) Kevin Janes, Ph.D. and Ass’t. Professor of the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering (BME); Esther Hoffberg, JMNMF Board & RSA Committee member; Karin Holmberg, RSA recipient and BME graduate student; Greg Safko, JMNMF President; and, Kathryn Thornton, Professor of Engineering and Applied Science and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. The 2011 RSA applicant pool, and cancer research centers represented, grew to include 26 of the country’s most promising young melanoma researchers and 16 prominent National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers or members of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI). Now celebrating the program’s fifth anniversary, read more

American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations on Limiting Sun Exposure in Children…

• Read the full AAP Press Release

Foundation Expands 2010 Research Scholar Awards by 25% Across U.S.

The Joanna Nicolay Melanoma Foundation increased melanoma research funding by 25% awarding five top graduate students from a pool of candidates that increased over 40% from 2009.

• 2010 Awards - Research Summaries
• 2011 Awards - Research Summaries

FTC Settles with Indoor Tanning Association Over False Health and Safety Claims

The Federal Trade Commission complaint asserts, "Contrary to claims in the association’s advertising, indoor tanning increases the risk of squamous cell and melanoma skin cancers…"

• Read full FTC Press Release
• Read FTC Consumer Advisory on Indoor Tanning

ABC News 20/20 & Cosmopolitan Investigative Report

"ABC News 20/20 and Cosmopolitan magazine teamed up for a special investigative report on the deceptions of the tanning industry - both the broadcast news segment and article are very informative to the life-threatening risks of indoor tanning."

• ABC News 20/20 - "Tanning Salons Downplay Health Risks"
• Cosmopolitan - "Scary Truths Tanning Salons Deny"

Howard County, Maryland “Teen Tan Ban”

JMNMF Testimony and support letters were instrumental to advance the historic “1st in nation” complete ban on teen tanning – see full JMNMF release “In the News” below and audio and video feeds here:

• WAMU 88.5 FM article or listen to Audio