Awards & Honors

The following awards are presented annually at the Society for Melanoma Research Congress.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made major and impactful contributions to melanoma research throughout their career

2012 - Nicholas K. Hayward, PhD

2011 - David Fisher, MD

2010 - Meenhard Herlyn, DVM, DSc

2009 - Ruth Halaban, MD

Estella Medrano Memorial Lecture Award

This award was established in 2010 in memory of Estella Medrano. Estella was a leader in the study of TGFb-related signaling in melanoma as well as senescence. She was also an active participant in SMR activities and was about to become the new secretary/treasurer for SMR. Estella was tragically killed in an automobile accident in August 2010. Although originally given to the keynote lecturer at the Society for Melanoma Research annual international congress, in 2013, an ad hoc review committee recommended that specific consideration be given to a woman who has made major contributions in the fight against melanoma to fully honor Estella's memory.

2012 - Michael Stratton, MD, PhD

2011 - Richard Marais, PhD

2010 - Keith T. Flaherty, MD

Young Investigator Award

This award is presented to an individual who is an independent researcher, in the junior stage (typically within first 5 years) of their career and who has made contributions in the area of melanoma research that significantly exceed the average for this career stage.

2006 - Pam Pollock, Translational Genomics Research Institute and
Ashani Weeraratna - National Institute on Aging, NIH

Outstanding Research Award

Established in 2013 this award is presented to an individual or group for highly impactful, major discoveries in the field of melanoma within the last 5 years.

Discretionary Awards

The following awards are presented at the discretion of the Steering Committee for outstanding contributions by individuals or groups working closely with the Society for Melanoma Research in expanding education, sponsoring legislation and supporting the overall mission of SMR.

Skin Cancer Prevention Leadership Award

This award is given to an individual or group whose work has been at the forefront of skin cancer prevention.

2009 - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro, CT

Partnership Award

This award is presented to individuals or groups that have provided outstanding support to the Society for Melanoma Research in the delivery of the organization's mission.

2009 - Melanoma Research Foundation
accepted by Randy Lomax, President

Advocate for Progress

This award is presented to individuals or groups that have done outstanding work in advocacy or education for the advancement in the fight for melanoma prevention and treatment.

2012 - California State Senator Ted W. Lieu, California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, and AIM at Melanoma Foundation

2011 - Connie Mack III, United States Senate, FL

2009 - Marty Tenenbaum, PhD, Founder and Chairman, Cancer Commons