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 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 102 career publications including 1 book chapter, 88 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: 38/44) 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
2014
Journal Article
POT1 loss-of-function variants predispose to familial melanoma
Robles-Espinoza, Carla Daniela, Harland, Mark, Ramsay, Andrew J, Aoude, Lauren G, Quesada, Víctor, Ding, Zhihao, Pooley, Karen A, Pritchard, Antonia L, Tiffen, Jessamy C, Petljak, Mia, Palmer, Jane M, Symmons, Judith, Johansson, Peter, Stark, Mitchell S., Gartside, Michael G, Snowden, Helen, Montgomery, Grant W, Martin, Nicholas G, Liu, Jimmy Z, Choi, Jiyeon, Makowski, Matthew, Brown, Kevin M, Dunning, Alison M, Keane, Thomas M, Lopez-Otin, Carlos, Gruis, Nelleke A, Hayward, Nicholas K, Bishop, D Timothy, Newton-Bishop, Julia A and Adams, David J (2014). POT1 loss-of-function variants predispose to familial melanoma. Nature Genetics, 46 (5), 478-481. doi: 10.1038/ng.2947
2013
Journal Article
Melanomas of unknown primary have a mutation profile consistent with cutaneous sun-exposed melanoma
Dutton-Regester, K., Kakavand, H., Aoude, L.G., Stark, M.S., Gartside, M.G., Johansson, P., O'Connor, L., Lanagan, C., Tembe, V., Pupo, G.M., Haydu, L.E., Schmidt, C.W., Mann, G.J., Thompson, J.F., Scolyer, R.A. and Hayward, N.K. (2013). Melanomas of unknown primary have a mutation profile consistent with cutaneous sun-exposed melanoma. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research, 26 (6), 852-860. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12153
2013
Journal Article
Smchd1 regulates a subset of autosomal genes subject to monoallelic expression in addition to being critical for X inactivation
Mould, Arne W., Pang, Zhenyi, Pakusch, Miha, Tonks, Ian D., Stark, Mitchell, Carrie, Dianne, Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Seidel, Annica, Ellis, Jonathan J., Deakin, Janine, Wakefield, Matthew J., Krause, Lutz, Blewitt, Marnie E. and Kay, Graham F. (2013). Smchd1 regulates a subset of autosomal genes subject to monoallelic expression in addition to being critical for X inactivation. Epigenetics and Chromatin, 6 (19) 19, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/1756-8935-6-19
2013
Journal Article
Defective decatenation checkpoint function is a common feature of melanoma
Brooks, Kelly, Chia, Kee Ming, Spoerri, Loredana, Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Wigan, Matthew, Stark, Mitchell, Pavey, Sandra and Gabrielli, Brian (2013). Defective decatenation checkpoint function is a common feature of melanoma. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134 (1), 150-158. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.264
2013
Conference Publication
Distinct profiles for lung cancer and its major subtypes
Wright, C. M., Francis, S. M. Savarimuthu, Sriram, K. B., Stark, M. S., Hayward, N. K., Yang, I. A., Bowman, R. V. and Fong, K. M. (2013). Distinct profiles for lung cancer and its major subtypes. Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand and the Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science 2013 Annual Scientific Meetings, Darwin, NT, Australia, 22-27 March 2013. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/resp.12045
2012
Journal Article
Identification of TFG (TRK-fused gene) as a putative metastatic melanoma tumor suppressor gene
Dutton-Regester, Ken, Aoude, Lauren G., Nancarrow, Derek J., Stark, Mitchell S., O'Connor, Linda, Lanagan, Cathy, Pupo, Gulietta M., Tembe, Varsha, Carter, Candace D., O'Rourke, Michael, Scolyer, Richard A., Mann, Graham J., Schmidt, Christopher W., Herington, Adrian and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2012). Identification of TFG (TRK-fused gene) as a putative metastatic melanoma tumor suppressor gene. Genes Chromosomes and Cancer, 51 (5), 452-461. doi: 10.1002/gcc.21932
2012
Journal Article
MicroRNA regulation of melanoma progression
Bonazzi, Vanessa F., Stark, Mitchell S. and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2012). MicroRNA regulation of melanoma progression. Melanoma Research, 22 (2), 101-113. doi: 10.1097/CMR.0b013e32834f6fbb
2012
Journal Article
Frequent somatic mutations in MAP3K5 and MAP3K9 in metastatic melanoma identified by exome sequencing
Stark, Mitchell S., Woods, Susan L., Gartside, Michael G., Bonazzi, Vanessa F., Dutton-Regester, Ken, Aoude, Lauren G., Chow, Donald, Sereduk, Chris, Niemi, Natalie M., Tang, Nanyun, Ellis, Jonathan J., Reid, Jeffrey, Zismann, Victoria, Tyagi, Sonika, Muzny, Donna, Newsham, Irene, Wu, YuanQing, Palmer, Jane M., Pollak, Thomas, Youngkin, David, Brooks, Bradford R., Lanagan, Catherine, Schmidt, Christopher W., Kobe, Bostjan, MacKeigan, Jeffrey P., Yin, Hongwei, Brown, Kevin M., Gibbs, Richard, Trent, Jeffrey and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2012). Frequent somatic mutations in MAP3K5 and MAP3K9 in metastatic melanoma identified by exome sequencing. Nature Genetics, 44 (2), 165-169. doi: 10.1038/ng.1041
2011
Journal Article
A novel recurrent mutation in MITF predisposes to familial and sporadic melanoma
Yokoyama, Satoru, Woods, Susan L., Boyle, Glen M., Aoude, Lauren G., MacGregor, Stuart, Zismann, Victoria, Gartside, Michael, Cust, Anne E., Haq, Rizwan, Harland, Mark, Taylor, John C., Duffy, David L., Holohan, Kelly, Dutton-Regester, Ken, Palmer, Jane M., Bonazzi, Vanessa, Stark, Mitchell S., Symmons, Judith, Law, Matthew H., Schmidt, Christopher, Lanagan, Cathy, O'Connor, Linda, Holland, Elizabeth A., Schmid, Helen, Maskiell, Judith A., Jetann, Jodie, Ferguson, Megan, Jenkins, Mark A., Kefford, Richard F. ... Brown, Kevin M. (2011). A novel recurrent mutation in MITF predisposes to familial and sporadic melanoma. Nature, 480 (7375), 99-103. doi: 10.1038/nature10630
2011
Journal Article
Genome-wide association study identifies a new melanoma susceptibility locus at 1q21.3
MacGregor, Stuart, Montgomery, Grant W., Liu, Jimmy Z., Zhao, Zhen Zhen, Henders, Anjali K., Stark, Mitchell, Schmid, Helen, Holland, Elizabeth A., Duffy, David L., Zhang, Mingfeng, Painter, Jodie N., Nyholt, Dale R., Maskiell, Judith A., Jetann, Jodie, Ferguson, Megan, Cust, Anne E., Jenkins, Mark A., Whiteman, David C., Olsson, Hakan, Puig, Susana, Bianchi-Scarra, Giovanna, Hansson, Johan, Demenais, Florence, Landi, Maria Teresa, Debniak, Tadeusz, Mackie, Rona, Azizi, Esther, Bressac-de Paillerets, Brigitte, Goldstein, Alisa M. ... Hayward, Nicholas K. (2011). Genome-wide association study identifies a new melanoma susceptibility locus at 1q21.3. Nature Genetics, 43 (11), 1114-1118. doi: 10.1038/ng.958
2011
Journal Article
Cross-platform array screening identifies COL1A2, THBS1, TNFRSF10D and UCHL1 as genes frequently silenced by methylation in melanoma
Bonazzi, Vanessa F., Nancarrow, Derek J., Stark, Mitchell S., Moser, Ralf J., Boyle, Glen M., Aoude, Lauren G., Schmidt, Christopher and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2011). Cross-platform array screening identifies COL1A2, THBS1, TNFRSF10D and UCHL1 as genes frequently silenced by methylation in melanoma. PLoS One, 6 (10) e26121, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026121
2011
Journal Article
Melanoma cell invasiveness is regulated by miR-211 suppression of the BRN2 transcription factor
Boyle, Glen M., Woods, Susan L., Bonazzi, Vanessa F., Stark, Mitchell S., Hacker, Elke, Aoude, Lauren G., Dutton-Regester, Ken, Cook, Anthony L., Sturm, Richard A. and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2011). Melanoma cell invasiveness is regulated by miR-211 suppression of the BRN2 transcription factor. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research, 24 (3), 525-537. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2011.00849.x
2011
Conference Publication
Mapping the lung cancer methylome
Wright, C. M., Francis, S. M. S., Sriram, K. B., Quinn, K. R., Stark, M. S., Hayward, N. K., Yang, I. A., Bowman, R. V. and Fong, K. M. (2011). Mapping the lung cancer methylome. 3rd Australian Lung Cancer Conference (ALCC), Melbourne VIC, Australia, 6-9 October 2010. Philadelphia PA, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
2010
Journal Article
WebFOG: A web tool to map genomic features onto genes
Tyagi, Sonika, Stark, Mitchell S., Hayward, Nicholas K., Whiteman, David C. and Nancarrow, Derek J. (2010). WebFOG: A web tool to map genomic features onto genes. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 401 (3), 447-450. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.09.077
2010
Journal Article
Association of MC1R variants and host phenotypes with melanoma risk in CDKN2A mutation carriers: A GenoMEL study
Demenais, F., Mohamdi, H., Chaudru, V., Goldstein, A. M., Newton Bishop, J. A., Bishop, D. T., Kanetsky, P. A., Hayward, N. K., Gillanders, E., Elder, D. E., Avril, M. F., Azizi, E., van Belle, P., Bergman, W., Bianchi-Scarra, G., Brassac-de Paillerets, B., Calista, D., Carrera, C., Hansson, J., Harland, M., Hogg, D., Hoiom, V., Holland, E. A., Ingvar, C., Landi, M. T., Lang, J. M., Mackie, R. M., Mann, G. J., Ming, M. E. ... Melanoma Genetics Consortium (2010). Association of MC1R variants and host phenotypes with melanoma risk in CDKN2A mutation carriers: A GenoMEL study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 102 (20), 1568-1583. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djq363
2010
Journal Article
Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with reduced risk for esophageal cancer is independent of environmental and genetic modifiers
Whiteman, D.C., Parmar, P., Fahey, P., Moore, S.P., Stark, M., Zhao, Z.Z., Montgomery, G.W., Green, A.C., Hayward, N.K., Webb, P.M., Australian Cancer Study and Aoude, Lauren (2010). Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with reduced risk for esophageal cancer is independent of environmental and genetic modifiers. Gastroenterology, 139 (1), 73-83. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.04.009
2010
Journal Article
Transcriptional pathway signatures predict MEK addiction and response to selumetinib (AZD6244)
Dry, Jonathan R., Pavey, Sandra, Pratilas, Christine A., Harbron, Chris, Runswick, Sarah, Hodgson, Darren, Chresta, Christine, McCormack, Rose, Byrne, Natalie, Cockerill, Mark, Graham, Alexander, Beran, Garry, Cassidy, Andrew, Haggerty, Carolyn, Brown, Helen, Ellison, Gillian, Dering, Judy, Taylor, Barry S., Stark, Mitchell, Bonazzi, Vanessa, Ravishankar, Sugandha, Packer, Leisl, Xing, Feng, Solit, David B., Finn, Richard S., Rosen, Neal, Hayward, Nicholas K., French, Tim and Smith, Paul D. (2010). Transcriptional pathway signatures predict MEK addiction and response to selumetinib (AZD6244). Cancer Research, 70 (6), 2264-2273. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-1577
2010
Journal Article
Characterization of the melanoma miRNAome by deep sequencing
Stark, Mitchell S., Tyagi, Sonika, Nancarrow, Derek J., Boyle, Glen M., Cook, Anthony L., Whiteman, David C., Parsons, Peter G., Schmidt, Christopher, Sturm, Richard A. and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2010). Characterization of the melanoma miRNAome by deep sequencing. PLoS One, 5 (3) e9685, e9685-1-e9685-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009685
2008
Journal Article
Identification of ARHGEF17, DENND2D, FGFR3, and RBI mutations in melanoma by inhibition of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay
Bloethner, Sandra, Mould, Arne, Stark, Mitchell and Hayward, Nicholas K. (2008). Identification of ARHGEF17, DENND2D, FGFR3, and RBI mutations in melanoma by inhibition of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, 47 (12), 1076-1085. doi: 10.1002/gcc.20598
2008
Journal Article
Common sequence variants on 20q11.22 confer melanoma susceptibility
Brown, K. M., MacGregor, S., Montgomery, G. W., Craig, D. W., Zhao, Z. Z., Iyadurai, K., Henders, A. K., Homer, N., Campbell, M. J., Stark, M., Thomas, S., Schmid, H., Maskiell, J. A., Jetann, J., Ferguson, M., Stephan, D. A., Cust, A. E., Whiteman, D. C., Green, A., Olsson, H., Puig, S., Ghiorzo, P., Hansson, J., Demenais, F., Goldstein, A. M., Gruis, N. A., Elder, D. E., Newton Bishop, J., Kefford, R. F. ... Hayward, N. (2008). Common sequence variants on 20q11.22 confer melanoma susceptibility. Nature Genetics, 40 (7), 838-840. doi: 10.1038/ng.163
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Mitchell Stark is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose 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
Predictive and prognostic biomarkers for melanoma progression (BioMEL)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
-
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial molecular profiling of melanoma and correlation with dermoscopic patterns
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel genomic predictors of survival in thin and thick melanomas
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
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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
-
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, Associate Professor 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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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic architecture of skin the vicinity of previous melanoma, in photodamaged and non-photodamaged areas
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Professor Peter Soyer
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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, Honorary Professor Li Li
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Nanotechnology-Enhanced Sensing Platforms for Early Detection of Cancer Progression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau, Associate Professor Alain Wuethrich
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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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