The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation

Cure

Where there is hope...there is cure

Importance of Research

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer which can result in significant morbidity and mortality.

It is the seventh most common type of cancer and the most common malignancy in women ages 25-29.
The incidence of melanoma is increasing at the highest rate for any form of cancer in the United States and the current lifetime incidence of melanoma in the United States is 1 in 68.

At present, there are few effective systemic therapies to treat advanced stages of melanoma due to a lack of understanding of the molecular basis for melanoma development and progression.

While there is a growing effort to understand the critical pathways involved in melanoma onset and progression, little progress has been made in the past two decades in the diagnosis or treatment of this fatal form of skin cancer.

Progress in melanoma diagnosis and treatment can only come from a greater molecular understanding of this disease.

Research into the pathways involved in melanoma development and progression is critical to developing rational and targeted therapies for melanoma patients.
A knowledge of the pathways involved in melanoma development and progression will permit development of more sensitive tests for better diagnosis and more accurate staging of patients with early disease.
Tests will broaden the opportunity to identify patients who may benefit from therapy early on.
With the sequencing of the human genome and the development of sophisticated micro-array “gene chip” technologies, scientists are on the brink of unraveling the molecular secrets that have eluded the melanoma research community until now.

Only through more research efforts in melanoma can there be hope to find a cure for this potentially lethal form of skin cancer.

Research Activities

The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation is committed to funding research activities to help find a cure for melanoma. The Research Scholar Award is provided to graduate students focused on advancing melanoma research.

2007 Joanna M. Nicolay Research Scholar Awards

In 2007, The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation was able to double the funding provided through The Johanna M. Nicolay Research Scholar Award.

In the picture: Robert Nicolay, Chairman of The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation; Ms. Megan Keefe student of the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Ms. Courtney Silverthorn Silverthorn student of the Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences Program; Dr. Rhoda Alani, Johns Hopkins University.

2006 Inaugural Joanna M. Nicolay Research Scholar Award

JMNMF 2006 Inaugural Research Scholar Award

In the picture: Robert Nicolay, Chairman of The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation; Staci Cummings, recipient of the inaugural Research Scholar Award; Dr. Rhoda Alani, Johns Hopkins University.

In March 2006, The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (JMNMF) and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center announce the formation and inaugural presentation of the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation Research Scholar Award. Ms. Staci D. Cummings, currently a graduate student in the Pharmacology and Molecular Science Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is the first recipient of this scholarship to advance melanoma research.

2004 Research Grant

In 2004, The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation funded a $50,000 research grant in cooperation with the Melanoma Research Foundation.

The grant was awarded to Dr. Suzie Chen of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The grant is entitled the Characterization of Melanocyte Transformation by Grm1.

To read more about this grant click here.

Clinical Trials

Depending on the specific staging of a diagnosed melanoma case, doctors may suggest clinical trials. Whether or not they are appropriate depends on many factors and each has to be considered carefully.

While the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation does not offer medical advise, we can help guide you in learning more about clinical trials so you can make an informed decision.

For starters, get a copy of the National Cancer Institute's brochure "If You Have Cancer, What You Should Know about Clinical Trials". You can call their cancer information service at 800-422-6237 or download this brochure in PDF format here.

The subject should be discussed with a patient's health care professional to solicit views on the pros and cons of clinical trials and general recommendations. The request for a second opinion may be useful.

Phase I Trial

is intended to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the treatment and to define the toxicities of the treatment. A Phase I trial represents the first test of the treatment in humans and is not designed to show whether the treatment is effective.

Phase II Trial

tests the ability of the treatment to produce tumor shrinkage.

Phase III Trial

compares two treatments for a particular kind of cancer. Typically an experimental treatment is compared to the practice standard to determine if the new treatment produces better survival than the old one. Occasionally the objective is to demonstrate that a treatment with fewer side effects is at least as effective as the standard treatment.

Patients recommended for participation in clinical trials must meet strict criteria for inclusion in study. Adhering to such criteria assures that the research finding are accurate and help to guide decisions as to how best to integrate study findings into clinical practice.

Utilizing the basic knowledge learned, in concert with medical opinions, patients may want to learn even more bofore making a final decision. For additional assistance, the National Cancer Institute's website is recommended: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials

Whether or not to participate is a major decision and, ultimately, only a melanoma patient can make it. At first, the decision may seem overwhelming. However, gaining greater understanding of what is involved, is essential to enable that an appropriate decision is reached.