In April and May 2025, we hosted two consumer forums—one in person and one online—focused on the theme “Melanoma Risk: Know It, Check It, Prevent It.”
The forums were led by ACEMID consumer advocate Ms Alison Button-Sloan (Australian Melanoma and Skin Cancer Alliance (AMSCA) and featured speakers including Ms Tamara Dawson (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network), Professor Victoria Mar (Monash University), and Dr Amelia Smit (University of Sydney).
Please view the recording below: This recording is available for 60 days after posting, then on request from acemid@uq.edu.au.
Webinar summary:
Professor Mar provided an update on the ACEMID cohort study, highlighting progress to date and sharing current recruitment figures across all 15 research sites. The ACEMID study has recruited 9,262 participants to date, with and without a history of melanoma, across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
The study remains largely in the data collection phase, where participants receive imaging over 3 years. Given the multiple imaging visits and diverse data types collected—including questionnaires, scarless biopsy, saliva samples, and pathology—analysis in this large cohort is complex and remains ongoing.
Preliminary analysis has commenced on the first 2,585 participants to complete the study over 2 years. As of March 2026, there have been over 350 melanomas, and over 1,000 non-melanoma skin cancers excised in participants. In early results, higher numbers of skin cancers are being seen in Queensland and New South Wales participants, compared to Victoria. The results show most participants are comfortable with using the 3D imaging technology.
The team has been actively developing artificial intelligence (AI) applications to help assess an individual’s risk of developing melanoma. These tools can analyse features such as skin photodamage, freckling patterns, and pigmented freckles within the iris, supporting more accurate risk assessment.
The team is undertaking collaborative work with SunSmart Victoria to incorporate sun safety and prevention strategies into melanoma screening approaches.
Dr Smit provided an overview of melanoma risk information and how it can be used to tailor prevention and early detection strategies. Personal melanoma risk information could also be used to guide skin check frequency, and ongoing research on this topic is informing the development of a roadmap for a potential national targeted melanoma screening roadmap. Within a potential targeted screening program, skin check frequency and recommendations could be based on an individual’s level of risk. A key priority of this work is incorporating community and consumer perspectives to ensure that the strategies used to communicate melanoma risk information are meaningful, trustworthy, and useful in real‑world settings. Dr Smit hosted the interactive polls that were completed by 132 attendees over the two consumer forums. Participants identified convenience, no cost, skin type, and a personal or family history of melanoma as key factors motivating them to attend skin checks.
The questions provided example scenarios of how melanoma risk would be communicated and the ease of understanding this information. If you would like to self-assess your melanoma risk, the following online tool is available: https://www.melanomarisk.org.au/
Some questions that were frequently asked:
Is the technology performing well?
The 3D total body imaging system is not currently using artificial intelligence (AI) for participants in the ACEMID cohort study. Diagnoses remain the responsibility of the reviewing health professionals within the study, who use sequential imaging to help identify and monitor changes over time.
As this is a research study, we encourage all participants to continue regular health checks with their doctor if advised.
Future trials are planned to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence in this setting.
Is melanoma hereditary?
Most (but not all) melanomas are linked to environmental factors (UV exposure).
Some inherited gene variants can increase melanoma risk, but having these genes doesn’t guarantee someone will develop melanoma—it just raises the risk.
Having a first-degree relative (such as a parent, sibling, or child) with melanoma increases an individual’s risk of developing the disease compared to the general population.
Are you still adding participants to the study?
Most sites have concluded recruitment, for a list of recruiting sites, please visit here.
How is genetics incorporated within this research?
We are currently working on integrating genetic risk so that it is included in future risk tools.
Part of our research involves investigating the genetic changes (mutations) that are associated with melanoma risk. We want to find out why certain mutations result in an increased risk to melanoma. We have collected over 1,700 saliva samples to date, results are being prepared and to be provided to participants early 2027.
How do I ensure you receive my pathology results?
If available, please bring copies of any pathology reports for lesions referred by us, as well as any that have been excised outside of our referral, to your nextstudy visit.
