Join the OHSU Department of Dermatology on Saturday, May 21, at the Collaborative Life Sciences Building for a fun and educational weekend event helping to advance the science of skin cancer prevention and treatment.

OHSU and Portland dermatology providers will be available to provide screenings and sun safety tips about how attendees can monitor their skin health.

Attendees will also learn about the best sunscreens to use and can take a turn playing educational games containing skin cancer facts. Skin checks will be first come, first serve.

OHSU scientists will also be hand to discuss their latest research efforts. Presenters include:

• Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Dermatology and Director, Melanoma & Skin Cancer Research Program, will speak on genetics factors as it pertains to melanoma and skin cancer risk.
• Oliver J. Wisco, DO, FAAD, FACMS, is a fellowship-trained melanoma specialist and skin cancer surgeon at Bend Memorial Clinic. This talk will explore the common question of, “are we are harming ourselves by blocking potentially-beneficial Vitamin D through sun protection?”
• Amanda Lund, PhD, is a cancer immunologist who is working to understand the mechanisms how lymphatic vessels, key communication highways of the immune system, influence the body’s ability to fight skin cancer. She will talk about the development of new strategies to predict who will respond best to therapy and how immunotherapy could turn non-responders into responders.
• Anna Bar, MD is a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at OHSU. Bar is teaming up with Dr. John Vetto, OHSU surgical oncologist, for a Phase 3 clinical trial of POL-103A polyvalent, a melanoma vaccine, to test potential efficacy for melanoma patients who are at a high risk of recurrence.
• Pamela Cassidy, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in OHSU’s Department of Dermatology. She will speak about her studies that are designed to find both the beneficial and harmful effects (if any) of antioxidants that are candidates for use in melanoma prevention.
• Tracy Petrie, PhD, is a computer scientist overseeing the continuing development of the Mole Mapper apps for iPhones and, soon, Android phones. Written by Dan Webster, a cancer biologist, Mole Mapper is a free app that lets you map, measure, and monitor moles over time. Learn about how you can participate in melanoma cancer research while you use the app to help manage your skin care.

Other events such as the 5th annual AIM Melanoma 5K Walk will be taking place as part of the event. Registration info can be found here with all proceeds benefiting the OHSU Melanoma Tissue Bank Consortium.

There’s also a chance for attendees to be a part of history if they are a natural redhead! Redhead Events, a local non-profit, will attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of natural redheads in one place.