On Oct. 10, 2006, Yale Cancer Center was awarded a SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence) grant for translational research in skin cancer from the National Cancer Institute.

The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Skin Cancer grant to Yale supported multidisciplinary research that extends from the laboratory bench to cancer patients in need. Ruth Halaban, senior research scientist in the Department of Dermatology and Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center member, was principal investigator of the multi-faceted project.

Basal and squamous cell carcimomas are the most common skin cancers diagnosed in the United States and melanoma is the most devastating type of skin cancer with little effective therapy available once it has spread beyond the primary site.