The Melanoma Institute Australia is a non-profit organization based at the Poche Centre in North Sydney, Australia which focuses on prevention of and cure for melanoma through research, treatment and education programs. The institute is affiliated with The University of Sydney and St Vincent’s and Mater Health Sydney. It relies on funding from individuals, organisations and government grants.
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History
In 1957, a paper in the Medical Journal of Australia showed the link between sunlight and melanoma. This led the late Professor Gerald Milton to set up the Sydney Melanoma Clinic at Sydney Hospital. In 1983 the clinic moved to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and was renamed the Sydney Melanoma Unit. In 2007, the Sydney Melanoma Unit became Melanoma Institute Australia and in 2010, the Institute moved into the Poche Centre, which was funded by a $40 million donation from Greg Poche.
Research
Research at the Melanoma Institute Australia aims to increase understanding of the genetic and molecular causes of melanoma. Researchers have access to the contents of BioSpecimen Bank, a collection of over 1,800 tissue samples and 4,000 blood samples that were collected from consenting people with melanoma and other types of skin cancer across New South Wales. The Bank also contains information about the health and treatment of these donors.