Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

What Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials does

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Ltd (MASC Trials) is an Australian not-for-profit clinical research organization founded in 1999, headquartered in Melbourne, and structured as a company limited by guarantee with academic affiliation to Monash University (specifically the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Centre within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine). It is the only independent, not-for-profit, multi-site collaborative clinical trials group focused on melanoma and skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand, having delivered 29 clinical trials involving over 7,500 participants since inception. The organization specializes in investigator-initiated clinical trials covering cutaneous melanoma (stage I–IV), basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, Merkel cell carcinoma, and uveal/ocular melanoma, addressing gaps left by industry-driven research particularly in rare cancers.

MASC Trials provides end-to-end clinical trial services spanning research concept development, protocol development, ethics and regulatory submissions, site management, data management, monitoring, biostatistics (via Monash-affiliated statisticians including Professor Rory Wolfe and Dr Alan Herschtal), and publication support. Its core technology extends to evaluating AI-assisted diagnostic tools such as MoleMap AI in the SMARTI trial, validating whole-body digital photography-based lesion assessment against dermatologist judgment. The organization operates special interest groups including AMIGOs (Merkel cell carcinoma, formed 2017) and AOMA (ocular melanoma, formed 2017), and runs consumer education initiatives such as the Self-Skin Checks / No Regrets campaign for regional and rural Australians. TrialHub, celebrating five years in 2025, focuses on expanding trial access to underserved populations.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of tax-deductible public donations, Australian Government grants from Cancer Australia, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the Victorian Government, plus industry partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies (Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Merck, Sanofi, Immunocore, IDEAYA, Medison Pharma, Aura Biosciences), medical device and imaging firms (Canfield Scientific, Bausch + Lomb, MoleMap), and skincare brands (Avène). Pro bono legal, audit, and PR services from King & Wood Mallesons, CharterPoint, and PRX supplement operational capacity. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Professor Mark Shackleton (Director of Oncology at Alfred Health) and includes representatives across dermatology, oncology, surgery, law, policy, and consumer advocacy. It is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Name

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

Legal name

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Ltd

Website

https://masc.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials (MASC Trials) is the only independent Australian and New Zealand not-for-profit, multi-site clinical trials group focused on melanoma and skin cancer. Founded in 1999, it has delivered 29 investigator-initiated trials involving 7,500+ patients across melanoma, skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, and ocular melanoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE), Site Identification & Feasibility (HLAGACAB)

Keywords

• Clinical trial services
• Melanoma research
• Skin cancer trials
• Investigator-initiated studies
• Oncology clinical research

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials is a not-for-profit organization that relies significantly on public donations and fundraising campaigns to fund clinical trials. Donations are tax-deductible for contributions over $2 AUD.
2. Government Grants: Supported by Australian Government via Cancer Australia, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Also receives support from state governments (Victorian Government).
3. Industry Partnerships: Receives support from industry partners including pharmaceutical companies (Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Merck, Sanofi, Immunocore, IDEAYA, Medison Pharma, Aura Biosciences), medical device companies (Canfield, Bausch + Lomb, MoleMap), and skincare brands (Avène).
4. Membership Fees: Offers free membership to healthcare professionals and consumers, with membership influencing federal government support and expanding organizational reach.
5. Academic Affiliation with Monash University: Has an academic affiliation with Monash University, with a dedicated Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Centre within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine supporting research activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials (MASC Trials) is the only independent, not-for-profit, multi-site, collaborative clinical trials group focused exclusively on melanoma and skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand. The organization coordinates investigator-initiated clinical trials from concept development through to publication, covering prevention, early detection, and treatment of cutaneous melanoma, skin cancer (BCC/SCC), Merkel cell carcinoma, and ocular/uveal melanoma. Full-service trial coordination includes protocol development, ethics submissions, site management, data management, monitoring, biostatistics, and publication support.

Product overview

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials is the only independent, not-for-profit, multi-site, collaborative clinical trials group focused on melanoma and skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand. The organization delivers investigator-initiated clinical trials across prevention, early detection, and treatment of melanoma and skin cancer. Their portfolio includes trials for cutaneous melanoma, skin cancer (BCC/SCC), Merkel cell carcinoma, and uveal/ocular melanoma. They provide end-to-end clinical trial services including protocol development, ethics submission, site management, data management, and monitoring. The organization also hosts special interest groups including AMIGOs (Merkel cell carcinoma) and AOMA (ocular melanoma), and conducts consumer education initiatives such as the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign for regional Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Melanoma Clinical Trials

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1999, MASC Trials has delivered 29 clinical trials involving over 7,500 patients, generating evidence that has changed clinical practice.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monash UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelanoma and Skin Cancer Trials has an academic affiliation with Monash University, with a dedicated Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Centre within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Monash provides access to state-of-the-art facilities, leading academics, biostatisticians (Prof Rory Wolfe, Dr Alan Herschtal), and excellent support services that enhance MASC Trials' research activities.
• Cancer AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by the Australian Government via Cancer Australia, which provides funding for MASC Trials' operations and the Supporting People with Cancer Project (Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign).
• Alfred HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlfred Health is a key clinical partner, hosting the Victorian Melanoma Service where many trials are conducted. Professor Victoria Mar serves as Director of the Victorian Melanoma Service at Alfred Hospital.
• Australasian Merkel Cell Carcinoma Interest Group (AMIGOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIGOs is a special interest group of MASC Trials, formed in 2017. A network of specialists across the globe working to advance treatment and care of Merkel cell carcinoma patients through clinical trials, basic and translational research.
• Australasian Ocular Melanoma Alliance (AOMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOMA is a special interest group of MASC Trials, founded in 2017, working to improve care and treatment for ocular melanoma patients in Australia and around the world. Holds annual virtual summits featuring ocular melanoma experts and consumers.
• Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG / GI Cancer Trials)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMASC Trials participates in GI Cancer Trials (formerly AGITG) Annual Scientific Meetings, fostering collaboration in cancer clinical trials across therapeutic areas.
• Melanoma Patients AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Melanoma Patients Australia on the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign targeting regional and rural Australians. Also collaborated on the Uveal Melanoma Registry and patient support initiatives.
• Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSCAN is a consumer-led national charity addressing needs of Australians with skin cancer. Partners on podcasts, patient education, awareness campaigns, and advocacy work including the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets initiative.
• Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging & Diagnosis (ACEMID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEMID is a research partnership focused on melanoma imaging and diagnosis. Partnered on the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign and related research initiatives.
• Melanoma Institute AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey melanoma research institution in Australia, collaborating on research and advocacy initiatives including the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign.
• ClinTrial RefercoreTechnology or IntegrationClinTrial Refer is a mobile app and website platform that shows detailed information about all clinical trials coordinated by MASC Trials. Available to patients, families, and clinicians to find suitable trials.
• PRX (Public Relations Exchange)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMelbourne-based communications consultancy providing pro bono strategic marketing, PR, and communication advice and support to MASC Trials.
• CharterPointminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdrian Kelly FCA, Partner at CharterPoint, provides pro bono auditing services to MASC Trials.
• King & Wood MallesonsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKing & Wood Mallesons provides pro bono expert legal services to MASC Trials.
• Jenny Dawes (Lawyer)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJenny Dawes, lawyer and mediator, provides clinical trial advice and legal review to MASC Trials on a pro bono basis.
• Save Sight InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with University of Sydney, supporting ocular melanoma research and clinical trials.
• Australian Melanoma Cancer AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets campaign and broader melanoma research collaboration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): Europe-wide not-for-profit cooperative group running investigator-initiated cancer clinical trials across multiple disease areas. Closely comparable in mission and cross-border trial coordination, though at significantly greater scale and broader disease coverage.
• NRG Oncology: US-based National Cancer Institute cooperative group running large multi-site investigator-initiated oncology trials. Comparable structure and investigator network but broader disease scope and substantially larger operational scale than MASC Trials.
• Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG): Large, federally-funded Canadian cooperative oncology trials group running international investigator-initiated trials. Comparable in collaborative trial model and academic affiliation, but at a much larger scale and broader oncology scope.

Direct peers

• Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG): ANZ collaborative trials group dedicated to radiotherapy research. Highly comparable structure (multi-site, not-for-profit, academic-linked) and overlapping investigator network in skin cancer and melanoma radiotherapy trials such as WBRTMel and Adj RT.
• Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG): Not-for-profit collaborative trials group running investigator-initiated GI cancer trials across Australia and New Zealand. Operates with the same ANZ multi-site, academic-affiliated structure and consumer engagement model that defines MASC Trials.
• Melanoma Institute Australia: Australia's leading melanoma research institute, conducting translational and clinical research. MASC Trials and MIA collaborate on the Self-Skin Checks/No Regrets campaign and broader melanoma initiatives, sharing the same scientific mission and ANZ footprint.
• Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group: Not-for-profit ANZ collaborative trials group focused on lung cancer. Operates the same investigator-initiated, multi-site, academic-affiliated model and is a peer in the ANZ cooperative trials ecosystem.
• Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG): Not-for-profit, ANZ-based collaborative trials group focused on haematological malignancies. Closely comparable as a specialist, investigator-initiated trials coordinator with member-driven governance and academic partnerships.
• Cancer Trials Australia: Australian collaborative cancer trials group that coordinates multi-site investigator-initiated oncology trials across ANZ. Highly comparable in mission, ANZ footprint, and academic affiliation model; MASC Board Chair Mark Shackleton also serves as Director of Cancer Trials Australia.

Emerging players

• Veracyte: Commercial genomic diagnostics company developing AI-enabled tests for cancer, including dermatology applications. Comparable through the AI diagnostics angle that MASC Trials explored via the MoleMap SMARTI trial, but commercially focused rather than trial-coordinator based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/masc_trials
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/MASCTrials
• Facebookfacebook.com/MASCTrials
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melanoma-and-skin-cancer-trials
• Instagraminstagram.com/masc_trials

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials