Overview
Background
Associate Professor Mitchell Stark is a molecular biologist and Group Leader (Principal Research Fellow) from the Dermatology Research Centre (DRC) based at the Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland (UQ; Brisbane, Australia). He leads the pre-melanoma genomics program at the Frazer Institute and his group has extensive experience in the use of next-generation sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, 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 to greater understand melanoma progression from naevi and early invasive melanoma, with a goal to discover novel predictive biomarkers that offer increased precision to the clinical management of patients.
He has been engaged in melanoma and nevus research for 25+ years (with 9-years post PhD) and over this time he has been working towards understanding the aetiology of melanoma, studying gene dysregulation during tumor progression along with predisposition to melanoma in families with high risk for melanoma development. Dr Stark has a total of 97 career publications including 1 book chapter, 83 journal articles, 12 reviews/perspectives and 1 patent (WO/2016/029260) which have been cited a total of 7,053/10,208 times (Scopus/Google; h-index: 38/42) and has published in respected journals such as Nature, Nature Genetics, Cancer Research, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology. He has been awarded a career total of ~$10M as an Investigator (PI/co-PI/co-Investigator) including a prestigious NHMRC Peter Doherty Early Career Research Fellowship (2016-2019) and a recent NHMRC Investigator award (2025-2029), along with several research grants as Principal Investigator (e.g., Advance QLD Innovation Partnership, Department of Defence CDMRP – Melanoma Research Program).
Availability
- Associate Professor 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
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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.”
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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
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) 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) ljac037, 5-5. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljac037
2022
Journal Article
Genome-scale DNA methylation analysis identifies repeat element alterations that modulate the genomic stability of melanocytic nevi
Muse, Meghan E., Bergman, Drew T., Salas, Lucas A., Tom, Lisa N., Tan, Jean-Marie, Laino, Antonia, Lambie, Duncan, Sturm, Richard A., Schaider, Helmut, Soyer, H. Peter, Christensen, Brock C. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2022). Genome-scale DNA methylation analysis identifies repeat element alterations that modulate the genomic stability of melanocytic nevi. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 142 (7), 1893-1902.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.11.025
2022
Journal Article
Current trends in circulating biomarkers for melanoma detection
Huang, Nancy, Lee, Katie J. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2022). Current trends in circulating biomarkers for melanoma detection. Frontiers in Medicine, 9 873728, 873728. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.873728
2022
Journal Article
In Vivo Melanoma Cell Morphology and Tumor Aggressiveness: The Promise of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in Reducing Unnecessary Excisions
Lee, Katie J. and Stark, Mitchell S. (2022). In Vivo Melanoma Cell Morphology and Tumor Aggressiveness: The Promise of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in Reducing Unnecessary Excisions. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 142 (8), 2053-2054. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.01.011
2022
Journal Article
The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma
Lee, Katie J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Stark, Mitchell S., Janda, Monika, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Caffery, Liam J., Gillespie, Nicole, Yanes, Tatiane and Soyer, H. Peter (2022). The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma. Frontiers in Medicine, 8 818096, 818096. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.818096
2021
Journal Article
An integrated microfluidic‐SERS platform enables sensitive phenotyping of serum extracellular vesicles in early stage melanomas
Wang, Jing, Kao, Yung‐Ching, Zhou, Quan, Wuethrich, Alain, Stark, Mitchell S., Schaider, Helmut, Soyer, H. Peter, Lin, Lynlee L. and Trau, Matt (2021). An integrated microfluidic‐SERS platform enables sensitive phenotyping of serum extracellular vesicles in early stage melanomas. Advanced Functional Materials, 32 (3) 2010296, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202010296
2021
Journal Article
The deacylase SIRT5 supports melanoma viability by influencing chromatin dynamics
Giblin, William, Bringman-Rodenbarger, Lauren, Guo, Angela H., Kumar, Surinder, Monovich, Alexander C., Mostafa, Ahmed M., Skinner, Mary E., Azar, Michelle, Mady, Ahmed S.A., Chung, Carolina H., Kadambi, Namrata, Melong, Keith-Allen, Lee, Ho-Joon, Zhang, Li, Sajjakulnukit, Peter, Trefely, Sophie, Varner, Erika L., Iyer, Sowmya, Wang, Min, Wilmott, James S., Soyer, H. Peter, Sturm, Richard A., Pritchard, Antonia L., Andea, Aleodor A., Scolyer, Richard A., Stark, Mitchell S., Scott, David A., Fullen, Douglas R., Bosenberg, Marcus W. ... Lombard, David B. (2021). The deacylase SIRT5 supports melanoma viability by influencing chromatin dynamics. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 131 (12) e138926, 1-19. doi: 10.1172/jci138926
2021
Journal Article
Genetic analysis of multiple primary melanomas arising within the boundaries of congenital nevi depigmentosa
Fuiten, Allison M., Fankhauser, Reilly G., Smit, Darren J., Stark, Mitchell S., Enright, Trevor F., Wood, Mary A., DePatie, Nicholas A., Pivik, Karla, Sturm, Richard A., Berry, Elizabeth G. and Kulkarni, Rajan P. (2021). Genetic analysis of multiple primary melanomas arising within the boundaries of congenital nevi depigmentosa. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 34 (6) pcmr.12979, 1123-1130. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12979
2021
Journal Article
Circulating biomarkers for early stage non-small cell lung carcinoma detection: supplementation to low‐dose computed tomography
Kan, Chin Fung Kelvin, Unis, Graham D., Li, Luke Z., Gunn, Susan, Li, Li, Soyer, H. Peter and Stark, Mitchell S. (2021). Circulating biomarkers for early stage non-small cell lung carcinoma detection: supplementation to low‐dose computed tomography. Frontiers in Oncology, 11 555331, 555331. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.555331
2021
Journal Article
The distinctive genomic landscape of giant congenital melanocytic nevi
Stark, Mitchell S., Tell-Martí, Gemma, Martins da Silva, Vanessa, Martinez-Barrios, Estefania, Calbet-Llopart, Neus, Vicente, Asunción, Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter, Puig, Susana, Malvehy, Josep, Carrera, Cristina and Puig-Butillé, Joan A. (2021). The distinctive genomic landscape of giant congenital melanocytic nevi. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 141 (3), 692-695. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.07.022
2021
Journal Article
On naevi and melanomas: two sides of the same coin?
Lee, Katie J., Janda, Monika, Stark, Mitchell S, Sturm, Richard A. and Soyer, H. Peter (2021). On naevi and melanomas: two sides of the same coin?. Frontiers in Medicine, 8 635316, 635316. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.635316
2021
Journal Article
MicroRNA expression is associated with human papillomavirus status and prognosis in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Emmett, S.E., Stark, M.S., Pandeya, N., Panizza, B., Whiteman, D.C. and Antonsson, A. (2021). MicroRNA expression is associated with human papillomavirus status and prognosis in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oral Oncology, 113 105136, 105136. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105136
2020
Journal Article
CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk
McMeniman, E. K., McInerney-Leo, A. M., Peach, E., Lee, K. J., Yanes, T., Jagirdar, K., Stark, M. S., Soyer, H. P., Duffy, D. L. and Sturm, R. A. (2020). CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 34 (12) jdv.16627, e797-e798. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16627
2020
Journal Article
Mutation signatures in melanocytic nevi reveal characteristics of defective DNA repair
Stark, Mitchell S., Denisova, Evgeniya, Kays, Trent A., Heidenreich, Barbara, Rachakonda, Sivaramakrishna, Requena, Celia, Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter, Nagore, Eduardo and Kumar, Rajiv (2020). Mutation signatures in melanocytic nevi reveal characteristics of defective DNA repair. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 140 (10), 2093-2096.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.02.021
2020
Journal Article
Germline and somatic albinism variants in amelanotic/hypomelanotic melanoma: increased carriage of TYR and OCA2 variants
Rayner, Jenna E., Duffy, David L., Smit, Darren J., Jagirdar, Kasturee, Lee, Katie J., De’Ambrosis, Brian, Smithers, B. Mark, McMeniman, Erin K., McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Schaider, Helmut, Stark, Mitchell S., Soyer, H. Peter and Sturm, Richard A. (2020). Germline and somatic albinism variants in amelanotic/hypomelanotic melanoma: increased carriage of TYR and OCA2 variants. PLoS ONE, 15 (9) e0238529, e0238529. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238529
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Mitchell Stark is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Novel genomic predictors of survival in thin and thick melanomas
Australian domestic 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 Frazer Institute.
Project summary: Early-stage melanoma at high risk of recurrence explains the majority of melanoma deaths. The incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) has increased rapidly over the past few decades. Although the large majority (>80%) of melanomas are diagnosed and surgically treated at an early stage when limited to the skin, an estimated 13.4% of patients will experience recurrence within 2 years and ultimately represent the majority of deaths from melanoma. Recent progress in adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy of cutaneous melanoma brings new hope that patients at high risk of recurrence can be effectively treated prophylactically to avoid the further spread of the disease and mortality. Thus, the most viable strategy for improving melanoma survival is to identify the few patients at high risk of recurrence amongst the many patients who will survive long-term after their melanoma is excised. This proposal will provide, for the first time, the means to identify high-risk patients among those with early-stage disease. This has the potential to improve melanoma survival rates by identifying patients who will most benefit from earlier intervention to adjuvant immunotherapy.
The candiadte will have access a collection of thin and thick melanoma tissues with matching clinical information, and will involve genomic analysis of panel sequencing data to validate existing biomarkers.
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
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Precision diagnostics for early melanoma detection
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Snehlata Kumari
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Spatial molecular profiling of melanoma and correlation with dermoscopic patterns
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer
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Doctor Philosophy
Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for melanoma progression (BioMEL)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
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Doctor Philosophy
Deep learning analysis of spatial-omics and histopathological images to predict prognosis in gastrointestinal cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen
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Doctor Philosophy
Nanotechnology-Enhanced Sensing Platforms for Early Detection of Cancer Progression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Dr Alain Wuethrich
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing Epigenetic Plasticity to Develop Effective Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Recurrent Melanoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jason Lee
Completed supervision
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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
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2018
Master Philosophy
Dermoscopic and molecular correlation of melanocytic naevi
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Mitchell Stark directly for media enquiries about:
- Cancer Biomarker
- Early melanoma detection
- Genomics
- Melanoma
- microRNA
- Naevi
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