Hunter Shain

Hunter Shain, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. His laboratory focuses on understanding skin cancer biology through advanced genomic approaches, with primary emphasis on melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Dr. Shain's academic training includes a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois (2006), a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford University (2012), and postdoctoral training at UCSF (2017).

• BS: Biochemistry, University of Illinois (2006)
• PhD: Cancer Biology, Stanford University (2012)
• Postdoctoral Fellow: UCSF (2017)

His research integrates DNA/RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and single-cell technologies to investigate driver genes, mutational processes, precursor lesions (nevi/actinic keratoses), cellular origins (melanocytes/keratinocytes), and tumor microenvironment dynamics. By mapping cancer progression from single cells to metastases, his work has enhanced diagnostic staging and informed skin cancer prevention strategies. Current projects focus on early tumorigenesis events and pre-cancer atlas development.

Analysis of Dr. Shain's recent publications reveals a dominant focus on genetic evolution in skin cancers, particularly acral melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. His work consistently applies multi-omics approaches to dissect tumor heterogeneity, with growing emphasis on spatial and single-cell resolution. Key themes include driver mutation identification, computational tool development (e.g., STmut), and translation of genomic findings into clinical applications for early detection.

Dr. Shain has received significant recognition:

• NCI K22 Career Development Award (2016)
• AACR Next Generation Stars (2018)
• Society of Melanoma Research Young Investigator Awards (2018, 2021)
• LEO Foundation Award for skin cancer research (2024)
• HTAN leadership in Pre-cancer Atlas project (2024)

As principal investigator of the Shain Laboratory within UCSF's Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, he directs research supported by the NCI K22 award and HTAN funding. His lab trains researchers in cancer genomics with future work prioritizing pre-cancer lesion characterization and clinical translation. Dr. Shain maintains active collaborations with UCSF clinical dermatology and melanoma research groups.