The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund is delighted to announce Dr. Haydee Williams Sanchez as the recipient of the 2025 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award.

Dr. Williams Sanchez is a Medical Oncologist and a Clinical Research Fellow in Medical Oncology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She is passionate about advancing treatment strategies that meaningfully improve patient outcomes.

We are proud to support Dr. Williams Sanchez’s research on Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM), an aggressive melanoma subtype that disproportionately affects Hispanic, African, and Asian populations yet remains poorly represented in existing data and clinical studies. By analyzing real-world clinical and molecular information from a diverse patient cohort, this project examines how clinical characteristics and molecular profiles differ across ethnicities and evaluates how these differences influence prognosis. Dr. Williams Sanchez’s goal is to generate evidence that will inform more inclusive, effective therapies tailored to the unique biology of ALM.

“Thank you for your generous support and for creating this meaningful award that plays an essential role in supporting the training and development of clinician-scientists who are committed to improving the lives of patients with cancer. I am truly grateful for this recognition and inspired to continue working toward that mission.” – Dr. Haydee Williams Sanchez

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 who have demonstrated a special interest and research achievements in the field of melanoma.