The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund is delighted to announce Dr. Scott Strum as the recipient of the 2023/2024 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award. We are proud to support Dr. Strum’s research project: Interrogating circulating tumor DNA signatures of primary versus acquired resistance to immunotherapy resistance to immunotherapy in advanced cancer patients.

Dr. Strum is a Canadian board-certified Medical Oncologist who is currently completing a Clinical Research Fellowship at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Strum’s focus is on melanoma, translational research, and phase 1 clinical trials. Dr. Strum’s research project aims to interrogate if there are DNA-based signatures in the blood that can identify why certain patients with melanoma fail on immune therapy. Results from this work are positioned to allow better selection of patients who are likely to benefit from this treatment, while sparing those that are less likely to benefit from potential toxicity. It may simultaneously reveal mechanistic insights into the biological drivers of therapeutic resistance.

“I am very grateful to be the recipient of this incredible award. Not only will the DCMF Award help to move my project forwards, but it will also help me gain invaluable skills that will allow me to further contribute to the field of melanoma research for years to come. In the future, I aim to leverage my clinical passion in melanoma and skin-based malignancies with my scientific interests to pursue a career in academic medicine. My goal is to make an impactful contribution towards the control of disease in patients with advanced melanoma, and help improve cure rates in those with localized disease” – Dr. Scott Strum.

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.