Atlas of early skin changes that lead to cancer
Official title: Pre-cancer atlas of skin cancer
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11177014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will map molecular and immune changes in early skin lesions to help people at risk for melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,163,730 |
| NIH project number | 4U01CA294536-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with visible precursor skin lesions, a history of frequent skin cancers, or other high-risk features such as immunosuppression.
✕Less likely to help
People without accessible skin lesions or those with cancers unrelated to skin are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will collect samples from visible early skin lesions and nearby normal skin and use non-invasive or minimally invasive sampling when possible. They will perform molecular tests like DNA sequencing and immune cell profiling to track mutations and immune activity over time. By comparing many patients' samples, the team will build a detailed atlas showing how precancerous skin changes evolve into melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The work emphasizes how the immune system interacts with emerging tumors to find signals that could guide earlier detection or prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier detection of dangerous skin cancers and inform immune-based prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has mapped mutations and immune features in established skin cancers, but a comprehensive pre-cancer atlas that follows early lesions is a newer and more ambitious effort.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shain, Alan Hunter — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Shain, Alan Hunter
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.