Released on: December 26, 2007, 9:38 am

Press Release Author: Melanoma Research Foundation

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) today issued a request
for charitable giving to ensure important melanoma research continues to move
forward. The call for donations is in response to a new report issued by the
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), entitled, "Clinical Care Advances
2007: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention, and Screening," that
suggests future cancer care advances could be threatened by flat federal funding for
clinical trials and research programs. The report cited budgets for the U.S.
National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Cancer Institute that have not
changed in four years, marking the longest period of flat funding in history.

Press Release Body: HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) today
issued a request for charitable giving to ensure important melanoma research
continues to move forward. The call for donations is in response to a new report
issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), entitled, "Clinical Care
Advances 2007: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention, and
Screening," that suggests future cancer care advances could be threatened by flat
federal funding for clinical trials and research programs. The report cited budgets
for the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Cancer Institute
that have not changed in four years, marking the longest period of flat funding in
history.

Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States and worldwide.
Americans have a one in 60 lifetime risk of developing melanoma, and approximately
59,940 cases of invasive melanoma are expected to be diagnosed in 2007; 8,110 will
die. Estimates suggest that one in 50 will be diagnosed in 2010. In fact, melanoma
is the primary cause of cancer death in women 25 to 30 years old and the number two
cause of cancer death, after breast cancer, in women 30 to 35 years old. The
average life span for someone with advanced melanoma is less than one year.

"The Melanoma Research Foundation's research programs attract the best and brightest
scientists in melanoma, who this year submitted a record number of proposals for
funding," said Linda Pilkington, Executive Director, Melanoma Research Foundation.
"Every donation we receive makes a difference as we try to increase the available
funding to support world-class melanoma research."

MRF is the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United
States, and is a leading force in the efforts to increase federal funding. The MRF
Research Grant Program supports promising medical research that furthers the goal of
developing an effective treatment and possible cure for malignant melanoma, while
encouraging scientists and clinicians to join in this mission. The grants are
awarded through a scientific peer-review system paneled by leading clinical and
basic melanoma researchers. The Foundation is not affiliated with any specific
hospital or research institution and thus awards grants to applicants that have the
best combination of scientific merit, appropriately skilled researchers, the
greatest likelihood for success and the highest benefit for the melanoma patient
community.

"Donations are crucial to ensuring that we can continue to push the envelope on
research, and further support our education and advocacy efforts," said Randy Lomax,
Chairman, Board of Directors, Melanoma Research Foundation. "Each year, we are able
to provide emerging and establish investigators with highly sought-after grants that
allow them to explore new avenues in melanoma biology and treatment. We ask people
to consider a charitable gift that will allow us to support more research, and make
a difference in the lives of those with melanoma."

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

About 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. This
year, MRF was a sponsor of the Society for Melanoma Research Congress, which
achieved record attendance levels. The MRF website is the premiere source for
melanoma information seekers. More information is available at www.melanoma.org.

Web Site: http://www.melanoma.org

Contact Details: Heather R. Huhman
202-742-5259
Heather@JonesPA.com