Melanoma Institute Australia

18/11/2025

It’s National Skin Cancer Action Week!

Our friends at Cancer Council Australia are celebrating 40 years of by reminding Australians to protect themselves from our national cancer.

Even better, Sid the Seagull’s back with his iconic Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide this summer, an important sun safety message for all generations.

Don’t forget – it’s still the same sun 40 years later! ☀️

11/11/2025

Dr Nurudeen Adegoke is a Senior Data Scientist and Biostatistician at Melanoma Institute Australia. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at University of Sydney and an Accredited Statistician with the Statistical Society of Australia. Learn about his latest work analysing immunotherapy resistance plus read his responses to our Q&A in the latest > https://bit.ly/47NVdcN

Nurudeen Adegoke is a Senior Data Scientist and Biostatistician at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA). He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at University of Sydney and an Accredited Statistician with the Statistical Society of Australia. Learn about his latest work analysing immunotherapy resistan...

07/11/2025

Tasmanian motorcycle riders, come hit the road with us in the name of sun safety!

The annual RUN FROM THE SUN event is coming up next Sunday 16 November. Cars can join in too!

Meet us at Margate Tavern, with registration from 10am (cost $10, pay on the day) for a 10:30am kick off. This event is all about raising awareness and funds for melanoma.

It promises to be a fun day with auctions and prize draws.
Any questions, email Ken: kenh@hotmail.com.au

06/11/2025

We were honoured to be invited to Admiralty House for a wonderful event, hosted by the Governor-General of Australia.

30/10/2025

Assoc Prof Alex van Akkooi, Melanoma Surgical Oncologist and member of Melanoma Institute Australia faculty, was honoured to be invited by Melanoma Focus UK to give this year’s Professor Martin Gore CBE Memorial Lecture. The lecture was a key session of the ‘Focus on Melanoma Meeting 2025’, held on the 10th of October at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

The lecture was named in honour of Professor Martin Gore, a forward-thinking inspirational professor at the Institute of Cancer Research and a leading oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital, specialising in melanoma, ovarian cancer, and renal cell carcinoma.

Since its inception in 2020, the lecture has featured speakers with a range of expertise in melanoma. This year Assoc Prof van Akkooi spoke on the topic of ‘Surgery for Melanoma – Its Present and Possible Future Roles’. In 2021 Prof Georgina Long AO, MIA Medical Director, presented this lecture on the topic of ‘Towards Zero Deaths’ about drug therapies.

Collaboration is key as we all work together to improve outcomes for melanoma patients.

29/10/2025

Emma Betts started the 'Love, Emma' online shop 10 years ago to sell care packages and other thoughtful gifts for people impacted by melanoma and other cancers. When Emma passed away from melanoma at just 25 years of age, her parents Leon and Tamra Betts continued the online shop with profits donated to Melanoma Institute Australia to support the Emma Betts Fellowship. It is with a heavy heart that they have now decided to close the online store.

We are so grateful to the Betts' family for continuing Emma's lasting legacy. Thank you too to the 'Love, Emma' community for their support.

The 'Love, Emma' store closes this Friday 31st October, so if you'd like to support the store in its final days, you can do so here > https://bit.ly/4hue9lg

29/10/2025

Diagnosing melanomas can be challenging, but early detection is critical for better patient outcomes. This is why Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) is offering a free online Advanced Dermoscopy Masterclass - so clinicians can learn directly from dermatology experts at MIA, who will share their experience in recognising and managing complex and uncommon skin lesions like nodular melanoma, acral melanoma, scalp melanoma, spitz naevi and more.

Healthcare professionals can access the accredited Masterclass via the Melanoma Education Portal (registration required) > https://bit.ly/4qxlTqN

28/10/2025

Vikki Steel is the Clinical Research Associate Team Leader in the Investigator Led Clinical Trials team at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA). In our Research Life Q&A, we gain an insight into both her professional journey and her life outside of work, including her impressive hidden talent!

Here's a snippet of Vikki telling us about the important work she does in the clinical trials space...

'Over the last decade, results from clinical trials have transformed treatment for Stage III melanoma, with neoadjuvant therapy (treatment where drug therapy is given before surgery) now established as the standard of care. As part of the Investigator Initiated Trials Team, I am currently leading the start-up of the MSLT-3 trial, which takes the next step in exploring this treatment regimen. The study is investigating whether surgery for Stage III melanoma, following neoadjuvant therapy, can be less extensive than the current standard surgery, while still maintaining disease control. If successful, this could mean faster recovery, fewer side effects, and a better quality of life for patients.'

Read on > https://bit.ly/432Ry9H

Vikki Steel is the Clinical Research Associate Team Leader in the Investigator Led Clinical Trials team at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA). In our Research Life Q&A, we gain an insight into both her professional journey and her life outside of work, including her impressive hidden talent! Tell us...

27/10/2025

As melanoma in situ (MIS) diagnoses rise, concerns about overdiagnosis are growing - with real implications for patients, clinicians and the health system.

In this episode of our podcast 'Melanoma Insights for Professionals', experts from dermatology, pathology, psychology and research come together to explore the drivers of overdiagnosis, the psychological impact of an MIS label, and the role of emerging diagnostic tools and data.

This podcast is suitable for multidisciplinary specialist, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Search “Melanoma insights” via your favourite podcast app or listen via the Melanoma Education Portal link here (Clinicians only; free log in required) > https://bit.ly/4hugaOl

27/10/2025

The Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) Annual Congress is underway in The Netherlands.
As part of the SMR Congress, a Pathology Symposium has been held where MIA’s Rob Rawson and Mike Michael Taylor from UCSF have presented on the International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium pathology update. The MIA-led paper on this update has just been accepted in the Annals of Oncology journal.

Over the coming days we will share exciting updates coming from SMR and the MIA team in attendance!

25/10/2025

Our MIA Medical Director, Prof Georgina Long AO, presented the Lambie Dew Oration at The University of Sydney this week.

"Honoured to present the 64th Lambie Dew Oration ‘Courageous Medicine: From Evidence Users to Evidence Creators’. Thought provoking questions from medical students. I feel confident about the future of our medical workforce - people with compassion, reflection and passion to make the world a better place. People who will make the evidence to improve outcomes, not just use evidence that exists." - Prof Georgina Long

23/10/2025

Pacific Boating hosted their annual Charity Challenge Golf Day at Bayview Golf Club, bringing together colleagues, clients, and friends from across the boating industry for a fantastic day on the green in support of Melanoma Institute Australia.

This year’s event was another huge success, combining friendly competition with generosity, and helping to raise over $22,000 for melanoma research, treatment, and education.

Our sincere thanks to Phil at Pacific Boating, The Charity Challenge team, the Boating Industry Association team, and everyone involved for their generosity and continued support of our mission to reach zero deaths from melanoma.