AIM at Melanoma Celebrating 20 Year Anniversary
Source: News Wire, January 2024
RICHMOND, Calif., January 11, 2024 (Newswire.com) – Twenty years ago, the AIM at Melanoma Foundation was established by a determined woman with a relentless drive to find the cure for melanoma while improving the lives of those it affects.
Recognizing the urgent need for research after losing her 26-year-old daughter, Charlie Guild, to melanoma, Valerie Guild, the late founder of AIM at Melanoma, took it upon herself to make a difference. With dedication and passion, Val established an organization that would become a beacon of hope for patients with melanoma and their loved ones.
For the past two decades, AIM has been unwaveringly committed to finding a cure for melanoma as part of its mission. One of the significant contributions made by the foundation is the establishment of the International Melanoma Tissue Bank Consortium (IMTBC). This consortium consists of multiple sites and researchers who collect fresh frozen primary melanoma tissues, hailed as the “holy grail of resources” for researchers. These tissues provide invaluable insights into the nature and progression of melanoma, with the goal of finding more effective treatments and, ultimately, the cure for melanoma. The IMTBC has amassed nearly 200 melanoma tissues, along with the corresponding patient data (anonymized) and blood samples—an extremely valuable combination of information for researchers.