HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Ocular melanoma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in just five out of every one million people a year. However, there have been 12 cases reported in the last decade in Huntersville.

Recently, the state gave the town a $100,000 grant to figure what could be causing this cluster.

In a town meeting Monday night, commissioners voted to release a geospatial database that investigates whether patients came in contact with an environmental toxin or if they have any unique mutations.

Dr. Michael Brennan is leading the investigation and is set to update town commissioners and community members about the progress of the study. Brennan said they've used about half of the funding and, thus far, the testing hasn't shown a genetic reason for the unusually high number of cases.

Stay with Spectrum News for the latest from Dr. Brennan's presentation plus reaction from those who have been directly affected by this rare eye cancer.