![Dr Mitchell Stark](/sites/default/files/profiles/12961.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Mitchell Stark is a molecular biologist and Group Leader/Senior Research Fellow from the Dermatology Research Centre (DRC) based at the Frazer Institute. His group has extensive experience in microRNA biology and biomarker discovery, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and functional analysis for a variety of applications. The Stark Lab’s major research streams include: miRNA biomarkers for melanoma progression and the development a Genomics Atlas of pre-skin cancer lesions, which aim to provide insight into the early progression of melanoma and keratinocyte cancer, to aid in preventing invasive skin cancer formation and offer increased precision to the clinical management of patients.
Dr Stark completed his PhD (2015) in melanoma microRNA biomarkers at The Queensland University of Technology based at the QIMR Berghofer (QIMRB) Medical Research Institute. Prior to commencing his PhD, he worked as Senior Research Assistant (since 1999) and was trained and mentored in the Hayward lab (QIMRB) where he contributed to and led some seminal findings in the melanoma genetics/genomics field. Dr Stark joined the DRC in 2015 and in 2016 he was awarded a prestigious NHMRC Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship to lead a pre-melanoma genomics program. Dr Stark has a career total of 80+ publications (h-index 35) including 1 patent and has published in respected journals such as Nature, Nature Genetics, Cancer Research, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Availability
- Dr Mitchell Stark is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Applied Science, Queensland University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
-
MicroRNA Biomarkers
Current projects relate to melanoma progression microRNA biomarkers to aid in increased diagnostic precision of “ambiguous” melanocytic lesions as well as “real-time” monitoring of melanoma disease progression using a “liquid biopsy.”
-
Genomics Atlas of pre-skin cancer lesions
Current projects involve using overlapping genomics datasets (e.g. exome, mRNA and miRNA transcriptome, methylation) as well as Spatial Profiling to greater understand the early hallmarks of pre-skin cancer development.
Works
Search Professor Mitchell Stark’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Whole-exome sequencing of acquired nevi identifies mechanisms for development and maintenance of benign neoplasms
Stark, Mitchell S., Tan, Jean-Marie, Tom, Lisa, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Lambie, Duncan, Schaider, Helmut, Soyer, H. Peter and Sturm, Richard A. (2018). Whole-exome sequencing of acquired nevi identifies mechanisms for development and maintenance of benign neoplasms. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 138 (7), 1636-1644. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.02.012
2024
Journal Article
Uncovering molecular mechanisms for amelanotic/hypopigmented primary cutaneous melanoma
Sturm, Richard A., Smit, Darren J., Duffy, David L., McLean, Catriona, Scolyer, Richard A., McArthur, Grant A., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Stark, Mitchell S., Soyer, H. Peter and Mar, Victoria J. (2024). Uncovering molecular mechanisms for amelanotic/hypopigmented primary cutaneous melanoma. British Journal of Dermatology ljae336. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae336
2024
Journal Article
Challenging the lymph node progression model of melanoma
Kao, Yung-Ching and Stark, Mitchell S (2024). Challenging the lymph node progression model of melanoma. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.04.021
2024
Journal Article
POT1 and multiple primary melanomas: the dermatological phenotype
Maas, Ellie J., DeBortoli, Emily, Nathan, Vaishnavi, Freeman, Ned P., Mothershaw, Adam, Smit, Darren J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Aoude, Lauren G., Stark, Mitchell S., Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2024). POT1 and multiple primary melanomas: the dermatological phenotype. Journal of Medical Genetics, 61 (9) jmg-2023-109637, 1-4. doi: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109637
2024
Conference Publication
Assessment of precision melanoma diagnostics: Circulating microrna expression to monitor late-stage treatment
Harris, Teresa, Zaenker, Pauline, McEvoy, Ashleigh C., Soyer, H. Peter, Khattak, Muhammad A., Ziman, Melanie, Millward, Michael, Gray, Elin S. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2024). Assessment of precision melanoma diagnostics: Circulating microrna expression to monitor late-stage treatment. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-7626
2024
Journal Article
MicroRNA expression profiling of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and precursor lesions
Hossain, Akbor, Tom, Lisa N., Melati‐Rad, Ala, Yamada, Miko, Hammerlindl, Sabrina, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Prow, Tarl W., Soyer, H. Peter and Stark, Mitchell S. (2024). MicroRNA expression profiling of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and precursor lesions. Skin Health and Disease, 4 (3) e360, e360. doi: 10.1002/ski2.360
2024
Journal Article
Terahertz <i>in vivo</i> imaging of human skin: Toward detection of abnormal skin pathologies
Qi, X., Bertling, K., Torniainen, J., Kong, F., Gillespie, T., Primiero, C., Stark, M. S., Dean, P., Indjin, D., Li, L. H., Linfield, E. H., Davies, A. G., Brünig, M., Mills, T., Rosendahl, C., Soyer, H. P. and Rakić, A. D. (2024). Terahertz in vivo imaging of human skin: Toward detection of abnormal skin pathologies. APL Bioengineering, 8 (1) 016117, 016117. doi: 10.1063/5.0190573
2024
Journal Article
Assessing the genetic risk of nodular melanoma using a candidate gene approach
Stark, Mitchell S., Sturm, Richard A., Pan, Yan, Smit, Darren J., Kommajosyula, Varsha, Lee, Katie J., Jagirdar, Kasturee, McLean, Catriona, Duffy, David L., Soyer, H. Peter and Mar, Victoria J. (2024). Assessing the genetic risk of nodular melanoma using a candidate gene approach. British Journal of Dermatology, 190 (2), 199-206. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad365
2023
Journal Article
The skin molecular ecosystem holds the key to nevogenesis and melanomagenesis
Lee, Katie J., Soyer, H. Peter and Stark, Mitchell S. (2023). The skin molecular ecosystem holds the key to nevogenesis and melanomagenesis. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 144 (3), 456-465. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.09.271
2023
Journal Article
BRAF variant allele fraction-A predictor of response to targeted therapy?
Stark, Mitchell S., Harris, Teresa, Grossman, Douglas and Judson-Torres, Robert (2023). BRAF variant allele fraction-A predictor of response to targeted therapy?. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology., 37 (10), 1945-1946. doi: 10.1111/jdv.19389
2023
Journal Article
One step closer to improving melanoma diagnosis and prognosis with liquid biopsies
Vergara, Ismael A. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2023). One step closer to improving melanoma diagnosis and prognosis with liquid biopsies. British Journal of Dermatology, 189 (3), 255-256. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad185
2023
Journal Article
GOLM1: expanding our understanding of melanoma susceptibility
Maas, Ellie J., Wallingford, Courtney K., DeBortoli, Emily, Smit, Darren J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Aoude, Lauren G., Stark, Mitchell S., Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2023). GOLM1: expanding our understanding of melanoma susceptibility. Journal of Medical Genetics, 60 (9) jmg-2023-109348, 1-3. doi: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109348
2023
Journal Article
Spatial Randomness in the distribution of acquired melanocytic naevi of the back in a population-based sample
Jayasinghe, Dilki, Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Stark, Mitchell S., Soyer, H. Peter and Janda, Monika (2023). Spatial Randomness in the distribution of acquired melanocytic naevi of the back in a population-based sample. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 143 (6), 1108-1111.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.11.013
2023
Conference Publication
203 Automated skin surface phenotype for melanoma risk assessment
Betz-Stablein, B. D., Rutjes, C., Kahler, S., Mothershaw, A., Jayasinghe, D., Stark, M., Janda, M. and Soyer, H. (2023). 203 Automated skin surface phenotype for melanoma risk assessment. 1st International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023), Tokyo, Japan, 10 - 13 May 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.205
2023
Conference Publication
Automated photodamage assessment from 3D total body photography for an objective assessment of melanoma risk
Kahler, Sam, Rutjes, Chantal, Yan, Siyuan, Mothershaw, Adam, Yu, Zhen, Jayasinghe, Dilki, Ge, Zongyuan, Stark, Mitchell, Janda, Monika, Soyer, Peter and Betz-Stablein, Brigid (2023). Automated photodamage assessment from 3D total body photography for an objective assessment of melanoma risk. Australasian College of Dermatologists 55th Annual Scientific Meeting, Engage, Enhance, Elevate, Virtual, 27-29 May 2023. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
2023
Conference Publication
275 Spatial transcriptomics of early invasive melanomas reveals molecular determinants of patient survival
Zhou, C., Tan, S. X., Kao, Y., Claeson, M., Brown, S., Lambie, D., Whiteman, D., Soyer, H., Stark, M., Nguyen, Q. and Khosrotehrani, K. (2023). 275 Spatial transcriptomics of early invasive melanomas reveals molecular determinants of patient survival. 1st International Societies for Investigative Dermatology Meeting (ISID 2023), Tokyo, Japan, 10 - 13 May 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.279
2023
Conference Publication
Distinct HOX gene family DNA methylation profiles in histologically normal skin dependent on dermoscopic pattern of adjacent nevi
Muse, Meghan E., Schaider, Helmut, Oey, Harald, Soyer, H. Peter, Christensen, Brock C. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2023). Distinct HOX gene family DNA methylation profiles in histologically normal skin dependent on dermoscopic pattern of adjacent nevi. 114th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Orlando Fl, Apr 14-19, 2023. PHILADELPHIA: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-6000
2023
Journal Article
Distinct HOX gene family DNA methylation profiles in histologically normal skin dependent on dermoscopic pattern of adjacent nevi
Muse, Meghan E., Schaider, Helmut, Oey, Harald, Soyer, H. Peter, Christensen, Brock C. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2023). Distinct HOX gene family DNA methylation profiles in histologically normal skin dependent on dermoscopic pattern of adjacent nevi. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 143 (9), 1830-1834. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.1653
2023
Journal Article
Terahertz imaging of human skin pathologies using laser feedback interferometry with quantum cascade lasers
Qi, Xiaoqiong, Bertling, Karl, Stark, Mitchell S., Taimre, Thomas, Kao, Yung-Ching, Lim, Yah Leng, Han, She, O'Brien, Blake, Collins, Angus, Walsh, Michael, Torniainen, Jari, Gillespie, Timothy, Donose, Bogdan C., Dean, Paul, Li, Lian He, Linfield, Edmund H., Davies, A. Giles, Indjin, Dragan, Soyer, H. Peter and Rakic, Aleksandar D. (2023). Terahertz imaging of human skin pathologies using laser feedback interferometry with quantum cascade lasers. Biomedical Optics Express, 14 (4) ARTN 480615, 1393-1410. doi: 10.1364/boe.480615
2023
Journal Article
Deficiencies in mismatch DNA repair: providing the soil for large-to-giant congenital melanocytic naevus development
Stark, Mitchell S. (2023). Deficiencies in mismatch DNA repair: providing the soil for large-to-giant congenital melanocytic naevus development. The British journal of dermatology, 188 (1), 5-5. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljac037
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mitchell Stark is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
PhD projects available
Australian domestic or on-shore International student applicants only.
The Stark Lab is seeking talented and highly motivated PhD student(s) to join their team at The Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute. Various projects are available relating to 2 major research streams: microRNA biomarkers for melanoma progression and the development a Genomics Atlas of pre-skin cancer lesions.
If you are interested to hear more about the projects, please send your current CV, Academic Transcript, and Cover Letter to m.stark@uq.edu.au
Living stipend scholarships and Tuition Scholarships are available for application from the UQ Graduate School which are currently a Base Stipend of $28,854 per annum tax free (2022 rate), indexed annually, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Top-up Scholarships (tax-free) may also be available.
Applications for scholarships close 17 July 2022 (International) and 25 September (Domestic) for commencement in RQ1 and RQ2 2023.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial molecular profiling of melanoma and correlation with dermoscopic patterns
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harald Oey, Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Brigid Betz-Stablein
-
Doctor Philosophy
The genomic architecture of suspicious lesions and skin in photodamaged and non-photodamaged areas (PhotoMelanoma)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Brigid Betz-Stablein
-
Doctor Philosophy
Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for melanoma progression (BioMEL)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
-
Doctor Philosophy
Precision diagnostics for early melanoma detection
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Snehlata Kumari
-
Doctor Philosophy
A nano-map of cytokines in skin: Personalising treatment of skin inflammation by a digital nanotechnology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Dr Alain Wuethrich
-
Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing Epigenetic Plasticity to Develop Effective Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Recurrent Melanoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jason Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing nanotechnology to unravel the phenotypic heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Dr Abu Sina, Dr Alain Wuethrich
-
Doctor Philosophy
Deep learning analysis of spatial-omics and histopathological images to predict prognosis in gastrointestinal cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen
Completed supervision
-
2020
Master Philosophy
Identification of clinically useful plasma miRNA as minimally invasive biomarkers for early stage Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Dermoscopic and molecular correlation of melanocytic naevi
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rick Sturm, Professor Peter Soyer
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Mitchell Stark directly for media enquiries about:
- Cancer Biomarker
- Early melanoma detection
- Genomics
- Melanoma
- microRNA
- Naevi
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: