About SKMRC
The Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC) aims to establish world-class resources to investigate melanoma, with the goal of pinpointing the genetic and environmental causes of the disease.
While research to date has been able to establish some of the key environmental and individual risk factors for melanoma (including exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation, having a pale complexion and the presence of moles on the skin), much more work needs to be undertaken in order to understand which genetic factors may be linked to the deadly skin cancer and how they interact with other factors.
There have been few new breakthroughs in the treatment of the disease once it is established in patients and the SKMRC hopes to deliver those vital breakthroughs. In order to do this, the SKMRC will establish a number of internationally-significant resources, including a bank of blood samples from melanoma patients. These resources will enable a range of scientists from different disciplines to undertake critical research.
No other state in Australia, and very few countries internationally, have the capacity to build such an integrated melanoma resource. This is because WA is one of only a few locations in the world with a large number of unique population-based data sets that are already established, and which are ideal for this type of research.
Ultimately, research made possible by the SKMRC has the potential to increase our understanding of the causes of melanoma, and therefore revolutionise the treatment and diagnosis of the disease.
Some of the specific outcomes the SKMRC will work to deliver include:
- The identification of specific genes affecting susceptibility to melanoma
- Enhanced understanding of the relationship between genetic, individual and environmental factors affecting melanoma
- Determine possible genetic causes of moles and how they relate to melanoma
- The creation of a blood test that could help diagnose melanoma cases earlier than is currently possible
- Improved detection and prevention programs
- A reduction in the cost to the public health system of treating melanoma
