Michael M. Shen

Michael M. Shen is the Arthur J. Antenucci Professor of Medical Sciences at Columbia University, with appointments in the Departments of Medicine, Genetics and Development, and Urology. He is affiliated with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Systems Biology Initiative. Dr. Shen has led groundbreaking research in mammalian development and cancer for over 27 years.

• Education: BA in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University (1984), PhD in Genetics from Cambridge University (1988), postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School (1994).

Dr. Shen's research spans developmental biology and oncology, focusing on prostate and bladder cancer mechanisms. His work on EGF-CFC co-receptors, Nodal signaling, and epithelial lineage specification has transformed understanding of tumor origin and plasticity. Recent projects integrate single-cell analysis and organoid biobanking for translational studies.

Publications highlight his contributions to prostate cancer origin, tumor evolution, and drug resistance mechanisms. His lab developed novel organoid culture systems for patient-derived tumors, enabling studies of epigenetic regulation and lineage transdifferentiation.

• Scientific Awards
  • AAAS Fellow (2021)
  • BCAN Bladder Cancer Research Award (2018)

As Co-Leader of the Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Shen drives collaborative research into tumor microenvironment interactions. His work bridges fundamental developmental biology with clinical oncology, emphasizing systems biology approaches to cancer progression.