The Melanoma Academy is an ambitious program that aims to address key unmet needs in melanoma prevention research and rare melanoma subtypes by supporting (1) innovative research that will lead to new understanding, insights, and approaches, and (2) the development of junior investigators (Scholars) that will become the next generation of melanoma research leaders. Dr. David Fisher (Director) and Dr. Michael Davies (Deputy Director) bring extraordinary and complementary experience and skills to the leadership of the Melanoma Academy. They both lead innovative Melanoma Programs at premier U.S. academic oncology centers; both have made seminal discoveries that have altered the melanoma and skin biology fields; and both have overseen successful building and nurturing of junior faculty into outstanding basic, translational, and clinical researchers. Among their mentees are Department/Division Chairs, Foundation leaders, Biotech/Pharma leadership, and many highly accomplished researchers who have made major discoveries and successfully mentored their own trainees. The Melanoma Academy structure is carefully constructed to focus both scientific and professional mentorship on the Scholars. Thus, in addition to this leadership team, the Melanoma Academy includes a team of Advisors with a breadth of expertise, experience, and perspective.

Twelve renowned experts in multiple fields have enthusiastically agreed to participate as General Advisors, providing a diversity of skills and experience to support the Scholars. This team encompasses expertise in work-life balance, diversity, and essential professional skills, in addition to outstanding scientific knowledge and mentorship, all of which are critical to the long-term success of investigators. Our Patient Advocacy and Veterans Committee consists of four patient advocates (including two who are involved in national melanoma patient advocacy organizations and one who is also a U.S. Military Veteran) and two additional Veterans (one a battlefield physician in Vietnam who later became Chair of Dermatology at Harvard, and one who had a medical leadership role in Operation Iraq Freedom and now is senior VP for Research at Mass General Hospital). Finally, our Melanoma Academy includes an Oversight Committee of distinguished leaders to provide guidance and feedback to the Director and Deputy Director regarding the development of both the Scholars and the Academy. The mentorship activities of the Scholars include monthly individual meetings with the Director and Deputy-Directory (alternating months) and monthly group meetings (“Melanoma Academy Meetings”). Each Melanoma Academy Meeting will consist of a research presentation by a Scholar and a presentation by a senior speaker (alternating between scientific and work-life-professionalism topics). The Scholars will also participate in an annual workshop, held in conjunction with the Society of Melanoma Research Annual Meeting to leverage opportunities to meet, learn from, and network with additional leaders in melanoma research, and a biennial multi-day workshop that will balance professional and scientific development sessions. The Scholars will also meet each year with Patient Advocates and Veterans to present their research, to enhance and refine their abilities to engage with the general public, and to develop new approaches to maximize their impact. In turn, the Patient Advocates and Veterans will participate in the ongoing evaluation of the scholars and the Melanoma Academy. Finally, our Melanoma Academy includes Pilot Research Projects that address key unmet needs in melanoma research identified by the Melanoma Research Program, and that will stimulate collaboration between the Scholars and the Directors and the Advisors of the Melanoma Academy.

Ultimately, the Melanoma Academy presents a unique vision to achieve short-term success through impactful and innovative research addressing key unmet needs in melanoma prevention and rare melanoma subtypes research. Further, the Academy aims to achieve long-term impact through the development of the next generation of research leaders in these fields. Our mentorship plan will include measurable objectives for our Scholars, which will be assessed and reviewed on a regular basic to identify challenges and barriers to success and opportunities to teach and support. The vision of the Melanoma Academy focuses on achieving these goals by providing the Scholars with scientific expertise and resources; professional guidance and mentorship; and collaborative and networking opportunities with leading investigators from around the country that are beyond the reach of any single institution or mentor. We envision this non-traditional approach as a model to accelerate melanoma research and progress in melanoma prevention and in rare melanoma subtypes initially, but it has the potential to extend to other key areas of unmet need. This approach will maximize the clinical impact of the Department of Defense research funding programs for junior investigators, and will to eradicate the burden of this deadly disease.