The Parkman Lab at Weber State University investigates the genetic regulators of cutaneous melanomagenesis—how genes and signaling pathways cooperate to initiate and drive the development and progression of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Our team focuses on dissecting molecular effectors (notably the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway) that govern melanoma initiation, survival, and invasion. Melanoma remains a serious public health issue despite therapeutic advances: nationwide in the U.S., the incidence has risen to around 22.5 new cases per 100,000 people per year. In Utah, particularly, the incidence reaches approximately 40 new cases per 100,000 annually, nearly double the national average.