Released on: April 2, 2008, 6:47 am

Press Release Author: Melanoma Research Foundation

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: 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.

Press Release Body: HILLSBOROUGH, NJ – 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
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 www.melanoma.org.

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

Contact Details: Heather Huhman
202-742-5259
heather@jonespa.com