The future of melanoma research is promising. Specific mechanisms leading to oncogenic transformation in melanoma development have been identified, and are likely to produce new targets for melanoma therapy. Also, advances in melanoma research will result from melanoma investigators co-opting approaches used to study other malignancies in which progress has been made more rapidly. Systematic roadblocks limiting advances in melanoma research relative to other malignancies are being addressed in a formal manner. The public and public officials are increasingly becoming aware of the need for more dedicated efforts to address the challenges of research on this malignancy.