Research and Therapy Special Interest Group
Connecting minds and sharing knowledge to improve outcomes
The Skin Cancer Research and Therapy Special Interest Group brings together clinicians and researchers from across New Zealand to tackle the big challenges in skin cancer care.
This group aims to:
- Reach consensus on current issues and turn solutions into action
- Raise standards of care by promoting and driving melanoma research
Next meeting
11.00 am - 12.00 noon
Saturday 20 June 2026
To be held as part of the New Zealand Skin Cancer Summit
This meeting will explore real patient cases in a multidisciplinary format. Discussions will highlight recent advances in neoadjuvant melanoma treatment and BRAF-mutated melanoma, and how these developments influence surgical management and clinical decision-making.
Past meetings
9 October 2025
Dunedin - in conjunction with NZ Society of Oncology conference
Topics discussed:
- Age against the Machine: understanding melanoma in the context of the aging human bodies
Dr Ashani Weeraratna, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Cancer Biology, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
7 October 2024
Auckland - in conjunction with the NZ Society of Oncology conference
Topics discussed:
- Cutaneous cancer clinical trials: pearls, pitfalls and possibilities
Dr Gareth Rivalland, Medical Oncologist, Auckland - Management of immune checkpoint inhibitor induced colitis
Dr Vicki Cho, Medical Oncology Registrar, Wellington
21 September 2023
Hawke's Bay - in conjunction with the NZ Society of Oncology conference
Topics discussed:
- Adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy and contemporary melanoma surgery
Associate Professor Alex van Akkooi, Surgical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute of Australia - Real-world outcomes of immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases in New Zealand
Niamh Walsh, Research Student (MB ChB), University of Otago, Wellington
4 November 2022
Online
Topics discussed:
- Improving access to clinical trials in New Zealand
Michelle Ingram, Ministry of Health
Nisha Nair, Cancer Control Agency
Gabrielle Byars, MASC Trials
Professor Peter Shepherd, University of Auckland - Research into DNA and RNA signatures associated with melanoma resistance to Keytruda
Professor Mike Eccles, University of Otago
26 June 2020
Online
Topics discussed:
- National melanoma immunotherapy database
Vanessa Wong, Research Fellow, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research - Pharmac Special Authority criteria: Temporary removal of specified dose regimen for nivolumab and pembrolizumab during COVID crisis
Discussion - Collaborative use of new genomic technologies to monitor melanoma
Professor Cris Print, University of Auckland
27 November 2020
Online
Topics discussed:
- Pharmac changes to funding criteria for pembrolizumab and nivolumab for advanced melanoma
Jody Jordan, Medical Oncologist, Hawke's Bay - An update from MASC Trials
Professor Mark Shackleton, Chair MASC Trials
Associate Professor David Gyorki, MelMarTii Trial Committee
Associate Professor Victoria Mar, Principal Investigator, SMARTI Trial
14 June 2019
Auckland
Topics discussed:
- Increasing clinical trials in New Zealand and improving access
Chris Higgins, CEO, New Zealands for Health Research - Auditing and standardisation of immune checkpoint inhibitor data
Dr Mike McCrystal, Medical Oncologist, Auckland
8 November 2019
Auckland
- Pharmac changes to funding criteria for pembrolizumab and nivolumab for advanced melanoma
Danae Staples-Moon, Senior Therapeutic Group Manager, Pharmac
Olivia Fenwick, Senior Medical Science Liaison Oncology, MSD - National immunotherapy database
Discussion