The inspiring story of Emma Betts premieres on Australian Story
16 April 2018
Emma Betts was only 22 years old when she learned that she had stage 4 melanoma. Emma shared her story with many by documenting her experience with melanoma on her blog Dear Melanoma. She sadly passed away at the age of 25 in April, 2017.
Australian Story's 'Dear Emma' is a tribute to the life and times of a young woman determined to raise awareness about melanoma. A true tear-jerker, the segment will explore how Emma and her husband Serge dealt with her heartbreak and how her parents Tamra and Leon, are continuing Emma’s legacy of encouraging others to contribute to life-saving research.
Although Emma was not a patient of Melanoma Institute Australia, she cared very deeply about people with melanoma and people at risk of melanoma around the country. She did everything she could to get the word out and raised a lot of funds for research at MIA - which reveals the complexity of the drivers of melanoma in younger people. It's not only about sun damage.
We're committed to weaving Emma's loving legacy into the work we'll be undertaking to draw attention to melanoma in young Australians and the research, treatment and education strategies we need to stop losing them to this disease.
Emma Betts started the national conversation about melanoma that Australia has to have. To continue Emma’s legacy, we need to keep that conversation going.
You can honour Emma's passion for life-saving research by making a donation here.
Watch Australian Story's Dear Emma on Monday, 16 April at 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
Developing a simple test to ensure advanced melanoma patients get the right drug for their disease
Almost $9 million of new funding was awarded to 13 ground-breaking cancer research projects at the 2019 Cancer Council NSW Research Awards. The chosen world-class research teams are leading the charge towards a cancer free future by investigating new ways to diagnose and treat the disease. Melanoma Institute Australia researchers, including Co-Medical Directors Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, Associate Professor Matteo Carlino and Dr James Wilmott, have been awarded Cancer Council NSW Funding of $425,095.
Making a difference to many
Georgina V. Long is co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research. She is the first woman president of the Society for Melanoma Research.
Aussie icon Sophie Monk calls on Australians to get behind Melanoma March
Quintessential Aussie girl and media personality Sophie Monk has been announced as a National Ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and its national awareness and fundraising campaign, Melanoma March.
Melanoma breakthrough paves way for personalised treatment for all cancer patients
Australian researchers have for the first time identified specific cells and receptors in the immune system which predict how a patient will respond to treatment with immunotherapies, potentially paving the way for the development of personalised therapy for all cancer patients.
Melanoma March announces 2019 Principal Partner
Melanoma March is thrilled to introduce Ricky as our official Principal Partner for 2019!
Swimming champion Cate Campbell spearheads national campaign to save lives from melanoma
World record holder, Olympian and Australian swimming champion Cate Campbell has been announced as National Ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and its national awareness and fundraising campaign, Melanoma March.
MIA experts collaborate on groundbreaking research
MIA's expertise was essential to a recent Nature publication spearheaded by Perth’s Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Melbourne.
World-leading pathologist Associate Professor Michael Tetzlaff visits MIA
MIA is delighted to be hosting the MD Anderson pathologist on his first ever trip to Australia.
Possible PBS listing for dabrafenib and trametinib
Clinicians, patients and other stakeholders in the cancer community are invited to make submissions in support of the PBS listing for dabrafenib and trametinib.
Arden Anglican School wins SunSafe Ambassador competition
Three students from Arden Anglican School in Epping have won Melanoma Institute Australia’s (MIA) inaugural SunSafe Student Ambassador Award.
DON'T CLOUD THE SUN-SAFE MESSAGE
Mark Whittaker’s ‘Here comes the sun; Defending our summer rays’ (GW 24 Nov) clouds the sun-safe message – which could have disastrous consequences.
Professor Georgina Long named as one of world's most highly cited researchers
Professor Georgina Long is among only 12 researchers from the University of Sydney to be named in the 2018 Highly Cited Researchers List.
Aussies need to protect themselves from 'everyday' sun damage
‘Wearing sunscreen should be as automatic as wearing a seatbelt. Both are potential life savers.’
The Poche Centre to host 3D total-body imaging system as part of world-first initiative to save lives from melanoma
A prestigious $10 million Australian Cancer Research Foundation grant has been awarded to ACEMID, an initiative that aims to use 3D total-body imaging and a remote medicine network to improve the detection and diagnosis of early-stage melanoma.
Major award for world-leaders in melanoma research
Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer have been recognised as world leaders in melanoma research for their ground-breaking work that has changed the diagnosis and treatment landscape of melanoma world-wide, and tripled the life-expectancy of advanced melanoma patients.
Melanoma Institute Australia shines at prestigious Cancer Research Awards
Leading researchers from Melanoma Institute Australia have taken out the top accolades at the NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.
Women of MIA lead the way in melanoma research at SMR
An impressive contingent of female delegates from Melanoma Institute Australia have presented findings across the whole spectrum of melanoma research at the Society for Melanoma Research 2018 Congress in Manchester, England.
Immune cell research presented at SMR
Over 800 researchers and clinicians from around the world were welcomed to Manchester for the 15th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research (SMR). Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) has again sent an impressive number of delegates to present both oral presentations and posters with the latest in translational research.
Professor Georgina Long makes history as the first woman and first Australian to lead the Society for Melanoma Research
Professor Georgina Long makes history as the first woman and first Australian to lead the world’s most prestigious international melanoma research association.
Patients to benefit from updated skin tumour publications
Two publications co-edited by MIA Co-Medical Director Professor Richard Scolyer are now available to healthcare professionals. They aim to provide assistance in the care and management of patients with skin cancer, including melanoma.