$1M in New Grants Awarded to Further Melanoma Research in 2008

- Melanoma Research Foundation Continues to Fund World-Class Melanoma Research
-

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Melanoma
Research Foundation (MRF) recently approved 2008 grants through the MRF
Research Grant Program totaling more than $1 million, providing a substantial
boost to the melanoma research community. This initiative supports promising
medical research that furthers the goal of developing an effective treatment
and possible cure of malignant melanoma, while encouraging scientists and
clinicians to join in this mission.

"We are particularly excited about these grants as they support young
scientists with a dream for finding a cure and experienced scientists with a
vision for the future of cancer research," said Randy Lomax, Chairman, Board
of Directors, Melanoma Research Foundation. "This funding represents our
strong and ongoing commitment to support medical research for melanoma."

The newly awarded grants were provided as part of the MRF's Career Development
Grant Program and Established Investigator Grant Program. The Career
Development Grant provides funding of up to $50,000 per year for two years to
investigators who are beginning a research career emphasizing melanoma-related
projects. The Established Investigator Grant provides funding of up to
$100,000 per year for two years to established researchers in melanoma or
those in closely related fields who wish to move into melanoma research.

These grants, awarded through a scientific peer-review system paneled by
leading clinical and basic melanoma researchers, are made possible by
charitable donations in support of innovative melanoma research. In fact, two
of the grants recently provided were awarded in the names of Danny Federici --
keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and melanoma patient
-- and the late James Robbins -- former president and chief executive officer
of COX Communications -- respectively, for their generous donations to the
MRF. The recipients include:

Career Development Grants:
-- Dr. Paul Antony, University of Maryland -- Baltimore, "Inducing Potent
Anti-Tumor Immunity Against Melanoma Using Cytokine/Antibody Immune Complexes"
-- Dr. Susanne Schlisio, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, "Neuronal Apoptosis by
the Prolyl Hydroxylase EglN3: Oxygen Sensing and Cancer"
-- Dr. Soheil Dadras, Stanford University, "The Role of Small Ribonucleic
Acids in the Progression of Cutaneous Melanoma"
-- Dr. Karen Taraszka Hastings, University of Arizona, "Role of Lysosomal
Thiolreductase GILT in Activation of Melanoma-Specific T Lymphocytes"
-- Dr. William Kim, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
"Interrogating the Role of HIF in Malignant Melanoma"
-- Dr. Jedd Wolchok, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, "Particle
Mediated Epidermal Delivery of Xenogeneic gp100 DNA Vaccines for Melanoma"
(The grant awarded to Dr. Wolchok was designated and funded by the Live4Life
Foundation.)

Established Investigator Grants:
-- Dr. Edward DeFabo, George Washington University, "Mechanisms of UVB
Initiation of Melanoma: A Novel in Vivo Approach"
-- Dr. Boris C Bastian, University of California -- San Francisco,
"Integrating Genetic and Morphologic Features of Melanoma to Improve Disease
Classification"
-- Dr. Patrick Hwu, MD Anderson Cancer Center, "Regulatory Immune Cell
Interactions in the Microenvironment of Melanoma Metastases"

"We continue to rely on the generosity of others to help fund innovative
research to further the goal of developing effective treatments and ultimately
a cure for melanoma," said Linda Pilkington, Executive Director, Melanoma
Research Foundation. "In 2008, the MRF looks forward to providing crucial
funding to help bridge the gap in melanoma research to ensure that patients of
tomorrow have the help they need."

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing
cancers in the U.S., and can strike people of all ages, all races and both
sexes. One in 50 people have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma. In
fact, in 2008, more than 62,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with
invasive melanoma, resulting in an estimated 8,400 deaths. Until there is a
cure for melanoma, research is crucial to ensure patients of tomorrow have the
help and hope they deserve.

To learn more about donating to MRF and its research programs, please visit
http://www.melanoma.org.

About the Melanoma Research Foundation
The Melanoma Research Foundation is the largest private, national organization
devoted to melanoma in the United States. The Foundation is committed to the
support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a
cure for melanoma. The Foundation also educates patients and physicians about
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, while acting as an advocate
for the melanoma community to raise awareness of this disease and the need for
a cure. The MRF Web site is the premiere source for melanoma information
seekers. More information is available at http://www.melanoma.org.

SOURCE Melanoma Research Foundation

Heather R. Huhman, +1-202-742.5259, heather@jonespa.com, for Melanoma Research
Foundation