The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund is proud to celebrate Ashley Flaman, MD, FRCPC, as the recipient of the 2021 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award.

Dr. Flaman is a clinical fellow training in dermatopathology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto. Dr. Flaman’s research focuses on characterizing the gene mutations that drive the growth and spread of melanoma that arise in the rectum and anus. These melanomas are rare and typically carry different gene mutations than melanomas found in other parts of the body. As a result, typical treatment options are not available. These patients have a very poor prognosis, with an average five-year survival rate from 0-26% depending on the spread of the disease at time of diagnosis. By characterizing the mutations of their tumours, Dr. Flaman hopes to help inform treatment choices and potentially spur additional research into new therapies.

“In my last few months of training as a dermatopathologist, I have seen both the devastation that melanoma can bring to patients and their families, as well as the renewed hope that has come from new therapies currently in use. I am honoured to be at the forefront of expanding our knowledge and understanding of this disease and its treatment.”

The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award was established in 2015 at the University of Toronto in David Cornfield’s memory. Jointly funded by the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund and the University of Toronto, this $100,000 endowed award supports excellence in melanoma research. The award is available to residents and fellows in the Department of Medicine and students at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health who have demonstrated special interest and research achievements in the field of melanoma.