New Collaborative Grant Aims to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Melanoma Patients

A New Hope in Melanoma Treatment: The ICRF-CRI Grant

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) are taking significant steps in the fight against melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. On January 22, 2026, these two organizations unveiled the ICRF-CRI Immunotherapy Collaborative Project Grant, awarded to Dr. Asaf Madi, PhD, from Tel Aviv University, aimed at developing more effective treatments for patients battling advanced melanoma. The grant, amounting to $180,000 over three years, is focused on advancing tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and addressing the critical issue of drug resistance.

Melanoma is notorious for its aggressive nature and challenging treatment landscape, with over 100,000 cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. alone. Many patients with advanced melanoma do not respond to conventional treatments, making innovative solutions essential. Dr. Madi's research seeks to refine the effectiveness of TIL therapy, which utilizes the patient's immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. However, this approach does not always yield consistent results; some patients show no response, while others develop resistance over time.

Dr. Madi’s research is centered around discovering predictive biomarkers that can help identify which patients are likely to respond to TIL therapy. Moreover, it aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms behind tumor resistance. To enhance treatment efficacy, the research will focus on optimizing the selection and expansion of TILs.

The methodology involves an in-depth examination of the gene circuits regulating immune cell function, particularly T cells, within the tumor environment. By understanding the behavior of T cells post-immunotherapy, researchers hope to determine the reasons behind the varying responses; why certain T cells continue to exhibit anti-tumor activity while others become ineffective.

Insights gained from this research may lead to better TIL populations capable of sustained tumor targeting, ultimately forming a long-term immune memory that minimizes the chances of cancer coming back.

Commenting on this partnership, Alan Herman, Executive Director of ICRF, expressed, “We are honored to partner once again with CRI, a leader in immunotherapy research. Dr. Madi’s endeavor holds the potential to create personalized treatment avenues that may provide hope to many melanoma patients.”

Alicia Zhou, CEO of CRI, further emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “This project epitomizes progress in immunotherapy, uniting various partners and discoveries to confront resistance directly. Dr. Madi’s research aims to clarify why some immune cells endure and foster effective treatments that offer lasting solutions.”

Dr. Madi holds a Ph.D. in computational immunology from Tel Aviv University, where he collaborated with the Weizmann Institute of Science. Following his postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute, where he specialized in T-cell differentiation and cancer immunology, he now leads a team focused on developing novel anti-cancer therapies at Tel Aviv University.

The ICRF is committed to supporting groundbreaking cancer research in Israel and has contributed over $100 million in the last several decades. On the other hand, CRI has been dedicated to advancing immunotherapy research since its inception in 1953, focusing exclusively on fostering therapies that harness the body’s immune system to combat cancer.

As the need for personalized cancer treatments becomes increasingly critical, collaborative efforts such as the one between ICRF and CRI shine a light on the potential advancements in the realm of melanoma treatment, paving the way for innovative therapies that could change the lives of countless patients worldwide.