A Cure In Sight and UT Southwestern Bring the Ocular Melanoma Community Together at Eye Believe in Dallas

• Harbour Lab Tour: Attendees stepped inside UT Southwestern’s lab to meet the scientists studying ocular melanoma.
• HEPZATO Demonstration: Drs. Chandrasekaran and Shannon led a closer look at liver-directed treatment for metastatic disease.
• Expert Medical Program: Sessions covered surveillance, biomarkers, adjuvant therapy, treatment sequencing, and emerging therapies.
• Patient & Caregiver Support: Programming addressed mental health, caregiving, insurance, advocacy, and financial assistance.
• 2027 Announcement: Next year’s Eye Believe heads to Northwell in Manhattan with Dr. Carvajal and Dr. Materin.

DALLAS, October 6, 2026 — A Cure In Sight (ACIS), in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center, brought patients, caregivers, physicians, researchers, and advocates together for the 2026 Eye Believe Survivorship Seminar in Dallas. Held October 2–3, with a welcome reception on October 1, the event combined education about ocular melanoma care and research with practical support and opportunities to connect with others navigating the disease.

Hosted with J. William “Bill” Harbour, MD, Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern, and Sanjay Chandrasekaran, MD, of UT Southwestern’s Division of Hematology and Oncology, Eye Believe offered in-person and virtual participation. The program addressed the needs of patients and caregivers from initial diagnosis through survivorship and metastatic disease.

A highlight of the weekend was a tour of the Harbour Lab at UT Southwestern, bringing attendees into the research setting where scientists study ocular melanoma. The visit offered a closer look at the work behind efforts to improve understanding of the disease and advance patient care.

“This was an amazing experience for all of us. The scientists were equally overjoyed to see and chat with us. It was like putting the puzzle all together,” said H. McMenamin, reflecting on the Harbour Lab tour.

Attendees also joined a HEPZATO tour and educational demonstration at UT Southwestern, led by Sanjay Chandrasekaran, MD, and Adrienne Shannon, MD. The demonstration introduced attendees to a liver-directed treatment approach and connected the seminar’s discussions of metastatic uveal melanoma care with the clinical setting.

The medical program explored surveillance testing, biomarkers and precision diagnostics, adjuvant therapy, treatment sequencing and combinations, liver-directed therapies, and emerging immunotherapy and targeted therapy strategies. Sessions also addressed complications and symptom management following treatment of the eye.

Patient and caregiver programming focused on mental health after diagnosis, caregiver support, community connection, and navigating insurance, advocacy, and financial assistance. Patient roundtables and an INSIGHT Registry workshop complemented the educational sessions, making room for questions, shared experiences, and participation in the broader ocular melanoma community.

“Eye Believe brings patients and caregivers into the conversation with the physicians and researchers working to improve their care,” said Melody Burchett, Founder and President of A Cure In Sight. “The Harbour Lab tour and HEPZATO demonstration made those connections especially meaningful. We are grateful to UT Southwestern, our speakers, and our sponsors for helping us create a place where families can learn, ask questions, and find support.”

Featured speakers and affiliations

• J. William “Bill” Harbour, MD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Sanjay Chandrasekaran, MD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Zelia Correa, MD, PhD — Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Marcus Butler, MD — Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network; University of Toronto
• Alexander Shoushtari, MD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Jose Lutzky, MD — Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Sunandana “Su” Chandra, MD, MS — Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Gino In, MD, MPH — Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
• Adrienne Shannon, MD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Sophie Cantu — Ocular melanoma patient speaker
• Carol McColl, MA, LPC — Carol Floch McColl Counseling, private practice
• Allie Dashow, PsyD — InPractice Psychology
• Ashley Neduvelil, PhD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Susan Yoon, Esq. — Triage Cancer
• Christa Teller — Natera
• Claudia Scheckel — Oncobit

By bringing clinical expertise, research, and lived experience into one program, Eye Believe connected the science of ocular melanoma with the daily realities of living with the disease. The Dallas event reflected ACIS’s commitment to helping patients and families access education, support, and meaningful connections throughout their care.

A Cure In Sight thanks Dr. Harbour, Dr. Chandrasekaran, the UT Southwestern team, all speakers, and the patients and caregivers whose participation made the event possible.

The 2026 Eye Believe Survivorship Seminar was supported by presenting sponsor Castle Biosciences, along with sponsors Immunocore, Delcath Systems, Aura Biosciences, IDEAYA Biosciences, TrilliumBio, and Novelwise. ACIS thanks these partners for supporting education and connection for the ocular melanoma community.

Looking ahead, the 2027 Eye Believe Survivorship Seminar will be held with Dr. Carvajal and Dr. Materin at Northwell in Manhattan, New York. Additional event details will be announced by A Cure In Sight.