The PanAmerican Society for Pigment Cell Research (PASPCR) is dismayed by recent events highlighted by the injustices concerning Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others. These acts of violence highlight the persistence of racism and systemic injustices against Black people. PASPCR is a scientific community that welcomes members from all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions and cultures.

By John D’Orazio, MD/PhD, PASPCR President-Elect

I’ve been thinking about what PASPCR represents and what the Society has meant to me in my journey as a pigment cell biologist. Thanks to all of you and to those who came before us, the PASPCR is a robust group of collaborative scientists united by all things “pigment.” We study melanin chemistry, melanin regulation, melanocyte development melanocyte biology, melanocyte response to environmental stressors, diseases of disordered pigmentation and, of course, melanoma. We appreciate that melanocytes and pigmentation can be excellent model systems to study general processes of cell biology. We’re a small Society, yet there is hardly a meeting I enjoy more than our annual meeting to catch up with old friends, explore new collaborations and see each other grow in our careers.

But to me, the biggest gift PASPCR has given me has been the gift of mentorship.

“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Siamese cats were critical to our understanding of how pigment is important for development of the visual system. Read more about the story here and the genetic defects in these animals here.

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• Read more about the history of the PASPCR on page 34 of our April 2008 newsletter.
• The PASPCR is part of the International Federation of Pigment Cell Socities. Read more about the IFPCS here.
• Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research is the official journal of the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies.

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Please support our annual meeting with a tax-exempt donation. 

Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like your contribution used towards a specific aspect of the meeting such as a speaker invitation, a social event or travel for new investigators.

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The PASPCR is part of International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies (IFPCS) along with our three sister societies, the Asian Society for Pigment Cell Research (ASPCR), the European Society for Pigment Cell Research (ESPCR) and the Japanese Society for Pigment Cell Research (JSPCR).

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