Aim at melanoma is globally engaged and locally invested in advancing the battle against melanoma through innovative research, legislative reform, education, and patient and caregiver support. Founded in 2004, aim at melanoma is the largest international melanoma foundation seeking the cure for melanoma. We believe that the cure for melanoma will be found more quickly by bringing together leading global researchers and funding their collaborative research. Our three paradigm-shifting global research initiatives, including the melanoma tissue bank consortium, are poised to reshape the future of melanoma. We are the respected voice of melanoma across the nation. When drugs are approved, legislation is drafted, and research is assessed, aim is at the table, speaking loudly and clearly on behalf of patients and their families. We are trusted advisors for pharmaceutical companies, medical boards, and government agencies on critical topics that affect melanoma patients.

Cancer

Websiteaim at melanoma ("aim") is an international organization engaged in a wide variety of patient advocacy initiatives. Among these is the maintenance of the most comprehensive us website on melanoma (www. Aimatmelanoma. Org). In 2016, aim completed building its new website so it would better be able to meet the needs of the melanoma community. This included making it easier for users to locate pertinent information to assist them in better understanding their melanoma diagnosis, determining their treatment options, and understanding follow-up care. The organization continues to use various tools such as search engine optimization and distributing brochures to healthcare providers throughout the us to educate melanoma patients about the website's resources. The website is also updated regularly for medical accuracy. The us website alone, had more than 800,000 unique visitors each month. Patient advocacyaim provided a free nurse on call service. Throughout the year, melanoma patients, caregivers, and families reached out to aim's oncology nurse to ask questions about, among other things, their/or their loved one's melanoma diagnosis, treatment options, and follow-up care as well as questions regarding prevention and early detection of the disease. Aim also coordinated numerous patient advocacy events, which include eight patient and caregiver symposia led by nationally recognized melanoma oncologists at major cancers such as md anderson, columbia medical center. Ucla, and ucsf. Aim also videotaped and edited these symposiums, which were then uploaded onto youtube so that they could be viewed by individuals in the u. S. And worldwide. Aim also provided support groups for patients, families, and survivors. Aim maintained a facebook page, which now has over 20,000 followers and a twitter account of over 5. 600 followers in order to provide other sources of information for the melanoma community. Aim continued to represent patients on the us fda odak committee, the two largest us cooperative oncology groups, swog and ecog, the nccn, and the melanoma world society. Aim also presented on the melanoma patient perspective at numerous meetings both in the u. S. And throughout the world. Global advocacyaim's patient advocacy was a global effort. Aim continued to host country specific, fully translated melanoma websites in germany, france, united kingdom, spain, italy, and australia. In 2016, aim supported and mentored patient advocacy groups in the united kingdom, portugal, germany, france, italy, spain, israel, latin america, and brazil. Aim also began its support and mentoring of additional patient advocacy groups, which included israel and east europe. Aim made it possible for the patient advocates to attend international melanoma meetings where they met with key opinion leaders in the melanoma community, and where they presented the patient perspective to relevant groups. Aim assisted in the development of some of their respective websites providing not only technical support but also material for the sites. Aim continued to search for additional patient advocacy groups that it could support in 2016. Imwgin april 2006, aim formed the international melanoma working group (imwg). The imwg is based on the premise that melanoma requires a focused, multi-disciplinary effort among the world's leading melanoma investigators in order to provide for a better understanding of the biology of melanoma, to accelerate the quest for more effective therapies, and eventually to develop a cure for the disease. The imwg provides a think tank atmosphere for the world's leading melanoma experts to gather away from large meetings. Since its inception, the imwg has undertaken several key projects as a result of collaboration among its members and continues to work on additional efforts that will lead to the development of more effective treatment options for melanoma patients. Imwg members, which consist of over forty melanoma experts from th