New treatments and biomarker tests for melanoma

Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · YALE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11181034

Testing immunotherapy combinations and new biomarker tests to better treat people with advanced or metastatic melanoma.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorYALE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11181034 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

The Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer brings together clinicians and laboratory teams to create new drug combinations and lab tests aimed at treating melanoma that has spread. The program focuses on boosting PD‑1 immune checkpoint drugs by also targeting other parts of the immune system and on developing predictive biomarkers to help choose the best therapy for each person. Work combines laboratory studies, animal models, single‑cell tumor profiling, digital pathology, and clinical translation at Yale to move promising approaches into patient care. The overall goal is to increase long‑term survival and reduce deaths from advanced melanoma.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with advanced or metastatic melanoma—including some who have not yet received PD‑1 checkpoint inhibitors—are the most likely candidates to participate.

Not a fit: People with early-stage melanoma cured by surgery, non-melanoma skin cancers, or those unable to travel to Yale or undergo biopsies or experimental treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could lead to more effective immunotherapy combinations and tests that match patients to treatments most likely to help, potentially increasing long‑term survival.

How similar studies have performed: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have already improved survival in melanoma and prior combination and biomarker studies show promise, though many specific approaches in this program are novel and still being tested.

Where this research is happening

NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.