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AMRF | Marking 20 years of making a difference

2026 Research Awards

Congratulations to our successful applicants in the 2026 funding round. These awards are made possible by the generosity of our community, helping turn promising research into real-world outcomes that save lives.

The Maureen Ellen James Memorial Award

Suzanah Boyd
Macquarie University

Early Career Researcher Award

Dr Douglas Gaskarth
Monash University

Post Graduate Scholar Award

 

Laura Smith
Melanoma Institute Australia

The John Walter Holland Memorial Award

Rachael Stone
Adelaide University

“We hope this research brings us one step closer to our shared goal of zero deaths from melanoma by helping identify patients at the highest risk of recurrence earlier, enabling more personalised care and ultimately improving patient outcomes.” – Suzanah Boyd

Suzanah Boyd

Maureen Ellen James Memorial Award

Macquarie University

While many patients with Stage II melanoma are cured with surgery alone, some experience disease recurrence despite having no obvious signs of cancer remaining after treatment. This project brings together a multidisciplinary research team from Macquarie University (led by Professor Helen Rizos), Melanoma Institute Australia (led by Professor Georgina Long), and Edith Cowan University (led by Professor Elin Gray).
 
Our aim is to develop a highly sensitive blood test, known as a liquid biopsy, that can detect signs of residual disease before melanoma recurrence becomes clinically apparent. By analysing circulating tumour DNA, DNA methylation patterns, and protein biomarkers in the bloodstream, we hope to create a powerful tool for identifying patients at greatest risk of recurrence and informing more personalised treatment strategies.
 
The study will integrate these molecular markers with established clinical factors to improve the accuracy of recurrence prediction. Combined, these biomarkers could help clinicians intervene earlier when needed while reducing unnecessary treatment for lower-risk patients. Ultimately, this approach aims to improve outcomes and quality of life for people affected by melanoma.
Learn more about the Maureen Ellen James Memorial Award

“By understanding why some patients respond differently to therapy, this research may lead to more effective, personalised melanoma treatments and improved patient outcomes in the future.” – Dr Douglas Gaskarth

Dr Douglas Gaskarth

Early Career Researcher Award

Monash University

While targeted therapy has significantly improved outcomes for people with advanced melanoma, biological males remain less likely to respond to treatment and to display poorer survival outcomes than females.

This project investigates why these differences occur by examining the role of the androgen receptor – a protein activated by male sex hormones such as testosterone – in driving resistance to MAPK inhibitors, a common targeted therapy for melanoma. Using advanced spectral flow cytometry, we will analyse how cancer cells, immune cells and surrounding support cells within the tumour microenvironment respond to treatment in both male and female melanoma models.

By identifying the cellular mechanisms that contribute to treatment resistance, we aim to uncover new therapeutic targets that could improve responses to therapy, reduce sex-based disparities in melanoma outcomes, and support the development of more personalised treatment for patients.

“My hope is that this research will contribute to a future where every patient with melanoma receives the treatment most likely to benefit them. By improving our understanding of how DNA methylation influences response and resistance to immunotherapy, this work aims to support more personalised treatment decisions and inform the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients who do not currently respond to existing therapies.” – Laura Smith

Laura Smith

Post Graduate Scholar Award

Melanoma Institute Australia

Immunotherapy has significantly improved outcomes for many people with melanoma, but challenges remain in predicting which patients will benefit most from treatment.

This project will investigate how DNA methylation, an epigenetic process that regulates gene activity, influences response and resistance to immunotherapy given before surgery (neoadjuvant immunotherapy) in people with stage III melanoma. By analysing tumour samples collected before and after treatment, researchers will map changes in DNA methylation across the genome and examine their impact on tumour biology.

The study aims to identify epigenetic signatures linked to treatment outcomes, improve our understanding of how melanoma evades the immune system, and identify candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Ultimately, this research seeks to support more personalised treatment approaches and improve outcomes for people affected by melanoma.

I am honoured to be receiving this award and am extremely grateful to the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation for their support in this project. I hope that this research will provide us with new insights into how we can improve the outcome of melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy.” – Rachael Stone

Rachael Stone

John Walter Holland Memorial Award

Adelaide University

While immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the treatment of advanced melanoma, many patients either do not respond or eventually develop resistance to these therapies. This project will investigate a specialised population of cancer-fighting immune cells known as cytotoxic CD8 T cells and explore how a molecule called CD15s helps these cells migrate from the bloodstream into tumours. Previous research has shown that patients with higher levels of CD15s on their T cells are significantly more likely to respond to immunotherapy and experience longer survival.

This study aims to understand how CD15s expression is regulated by examining the role of dendritic cells, which activate T cells, and the gut microbiome, which is increasingly recognised as an important influence on immune function. By uncovering the biological mechanisms that enhance T cell homing to tumours, this research seeks to identify new strategies to improve immunotherapy responses and increase the number of patients who benefit from treatment.

Learn more about the John Walter Holland Memorial Award
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Privacy Policy

Australian Melanoma Research Foundation (AMRF) respects and is committed to protecting the privacy of the people whose personal information it collects. We collect personal information about individuals who are employed by us, our donors, our volunteers, other supporters, allied associations, consultants and service providers.

Information we collect

Whenever we collect personal information, we will identify ourselves as AMRF and ensure people are aware of why we are collecting information and how we plan to use it.

The type of personal information AMRF usually collects and holds includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, donation date, reason for donation, merchandise orders and other information such as health related information pertaining to AMRF research and program delivery. This information may be collected in person, via our website on the secure payment gateway, as well as other sources.

When people visit our website, or download information from it, the following information is recorded by Google Analytics:

  • Their network location and IP address
  • The date and time of their visit, pages visited, and time spent on each page
  • Referring site details (ie the site and page they came from to arrive at this site)
  • Type of web browser they used
  • Type of operating system they used
  • JavaScript support, screen resolution, and screen colour processing ability

This information is only used for statistical and website development purposes. We make limited use of cookies on our website. We use cookies to improve the functionality of our website, and to remember user preferences when people return.

In the event where an individual shares unsolicited personal information that AMRF would not have collected for the purposes outlined above that information will be destroyed or de-identified as soon as is practicable.

How we use and disclose personal information

We collect and use stakeholder’s personal information to carry out the functions and activities of AMRF and to comply with our legal obligations, to maintain and update our records and to help us manage and provide our services.

We may also use information to ask for support and to keep people informed about the ways in which our donors and supporters help us to make a difference to raise funds for research, awareness and early detection programs.  People have the right to opt out of any communications from AMRF.  This will not stop them receiving receipts and other transactional communications as required by law.

We may disclose personal information to third parties who assist us to perform functions on our behalf (such as commercial mail preparation services, this information is permanently deleted by the provider upon completion of the service and confirmed in writing of such).  These external service providers are under a duty to maintain the privacy and security of your information in line with this Privacy Policy and to use your personal information only for the purpose for which it is disclosed.

AMRF does not use any government related identifiers, such as Medicare numbers or tax file numbers, of an individual as our own identifier.

Marketing and communications

We may use people’s information within AMRF only in connection with marketing and fundraising campaigns. We may provide marketing communications to stakeholders on an ongoing basis by telephone, electronic messages (eg. email), online (including websites and mobile apps) and other means, unless they opt out or we are subject to legal restrictions. These may include communications relating to AMRF and our programs, campaign and promotional messages, event invitations, fundraising opportunities and newsletters.

AMRF also sends transactional communications which include but are not limited to: Donation & Tax Receipts, forgotten password e-mails, event sign up confirmation and confirmations from Web forms.

To opt-out of receiving AMRF marketing communications people can:

  • Select the “unsubscribe” option in one of the marketing communications that they receive from us.
  • Send an email to: admin@melanomaresearch.com.au
  • Call us on 0419 822 969
  • Send a written request to: PO Box 574, Kent Town DC SA 5071

Security of personal information

AMRF regards the security of personal information as a priority and takes a number of precautions to protect people’s personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Specific security precautions are in place for processing online payments through payment gateway providers Stripe and PayPal which include the use of encrypted links, dedicated private connections and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. However, the Internet is not a secure environment and although all care is taken, we cannot guarantee the security of information people provide to us via electronic means such as email.

If people become aware of any inaccuracy in the personal information, we hold about themselves, they are encouraged to contact AMRF so we can update any personal information we hold.

Anonymity

Where it is lawful and practicable, we will allow individuals to deal with us on an anonymous basis. For example, if we receive a telephone enquiry, we will not require that the enquirer gives us their name, although depending on the nature of the enquiry, we may not be able to answer it unless they do.

We can also accept gifts and other forms of support anonymously. However, provisions contained in taxation legislation require AMRF to collect the name of the donor if the donor requires a tax-deductible receipt.

Image copyright

AMRF’s reputation and goodwill is extremely important. Permission to use images featured on this website has only been given to AMRF and therefore should not be downloaded or used in any way by a third party without consent.

For information on obtaining permission for an image, please email admin@melanomaresearch.com.au.

Acceptance of terms

If AMRF updates or changes this Privacy Policy, the changes will be made on this page. Your continued use of AMRF’s website following the posting of changes will mean you accept those changes.

Contact us

If you have any questions about privacy-related issues OR you wish to lodge a complaint about a breach of this policy OR other privacy matter OR you do not wish to be contacted by us to ask for your support, please contact us by email at  admin@melanomaresearch.com.au. Alternatively our postal address is below:

AMRF
PO Box 574
Kent Town DC SA 5071

We take your privacy concerns seriously. Where you express any concerns that we have interfered with your privacy, we will respond to let you know who will be handling your matter and when you can expect a further response. We may request additional details from you regarding your concerns and may need to engage or consult with other parties in order to investigate and deal with your issue. We will keep records of your request and any resolution.

For information about privacy generally, or if your concerns are not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au and on 1300 363 992.