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Hunter Shain

@shainlab.bsky.social
531 followers 345 following 272 posts

UCSF, Department of Dermatology. Part of HTAN. Cancer, genomics, melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, dermatology, somatic mutations, tumor evolution, spatial transcriptomics, single-cell

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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Clippers get the harshest punishment for a team in NBA history. Kawhi Leonard's uncle get banned from the NBA. Meanwhile Kawhi Leonard is not suspended and he keeps 20 million in laundered money? How does this dude get off scot-free?
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Why can't water-intensive agriculture be moved to places with water? Grow the alfalfa in Texas and ship it cattle in the Colorado river basin. Every other natural resource has figured out how to distribute itself through supply chains.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
My recommendation to CSR... If a grant mechanism has a single digit success rate, allow the applicants to submit Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animals with their JIT documents instead of with the full application.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I’m noticing an uptick in desperate emails seeking volunteer labor from faculty. It feels like a symptom of the soft-money system reaching its breaking point. What’s striking is how often list-wide requests for unpaid faculty effort go out before remuneration is even considered.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I love drafting detailed budgets and inclusion/enrollment reports for grants with a 6% funding rate!
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The regulatory burden for awards with a less than 10% success rate is a pure waste. Initial submissions should just be aims and research strategy. Invite discussed applications to submit all the other stuff in a 2 week window after learning that they will be discussed.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I think this is actually good. Application length more than doubles with all these boilerplate letters
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Move over zebrafish. Welcome catfish. The newest model organism in the melanoma field. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Brown bullhead catfish melanoma represents a novel transmissible cancer - Nature
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of tumour and matched non-tumour host tissues of the brown bullhead catfish reveals a type of naturally occurring transmissible cancer.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
I am being asked to review a lot of papers/grants on topics where I have not published yet, but I do have active research. My theory is that AI is recommending me to editors. If correct, it is creepy that it seems to know so much about our behind-the-scenes work
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
I was just asked to review. The mail came from a "no-reply@" address. The only way to decline was to create a 2-factor login, fill in a dozen required fields, and navigate through a user portal. If this was a predatory, no-name entity, I would ignore it, but this was a serious request
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Major preprint from our group is out. Feedback welcome! We built the largest molecular atlas of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) to date – linking somatic mutations and gene expression patterns to metastatic outcome. A thread 🧵 www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
medrxiv.org
Comprehensive molecular characterization of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma reveals determinants of metastatic progression
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of cancer worldwide. While most cSCCs are not life-threatening, 2-5% of patients develop metastases. To better understand what c...
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Lebron should just lean into the hoopla and do "The Decision 2.0"
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I asked my echo to play classic rock, and it started playing Creed. I feel old!
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Richard Scolyer, Cancer Expert Who ‘Became His Own Subject,’ Dies at 59 www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/s...
nytimes.com
Richard Scolyer, Cancer Expert Who ‘Became His Own Subject,’ Dies at 59
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
At my institution, if you are a day late taking an online training module, there is no courtesy warning -- just an email straight to your boss (for me, Dept. Chair).
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I heard the sad news on LI that Richard Scolyer passed away. He was a wonderful melanoma researcher and pathologist. He was a co-author on my first big paper in the field, describing the genomic landscape of desmoplastic melanoma. He was so kind and collaborative www.linkedin.com/posts/melano...
linkedin.com
It is with a heavy heart that we share the deeply sad news that our cherished colleague Prof Richard Scolyer AO passed away yesterday 7th June 2026. Richard was a renowned pathologist and a world… | ...
It is with a heavy heart that we share the deeply sad news that our cherished colleague Prof Richard Scolyer AO passed away yesterday 7th June 2026. Richard was a renowned pathologist and a world aut...
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Visiting the National Cancer Institute with my colleague, Iwei Yeh, to learn about the cool science being carried out by the #HTAN project.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Apparently, my institution has a committee on committees, and they are seeking members. While I have a soft spot for service, I might pass on this one
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Reposted by Hunter Shain
Nature Cell Biology @natcellbio.nature.com · 18/05/2026
☕ @shainlab.bsky.social , @bishaltandukar.bsky.social & co dissect the mutational, gene expression and morphological features of adult human skin melanocytes at single-cell resolution. bit.ly/4wzMyX0
bit.ly
Somatic mutations distinguish melanocyte subpopulations in human skin - Nature Cell Biology
Tandukar et al. dissect the mutational, gene expression and morphological features of adult human skin melanocytes at single-cell resolution.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Celebrating 4 oral presentations from our team at the Society of Investigative Dermatology Meeting in Chicago! Loes Hollestein @sharmaharsh.bsky.social Bárbara Rentroia Pacheco and myself with support from Arne Van Hoeck and Domenico Bellomo of SkylineDx BV. Look out for new prognostic tests in cSCC
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Why is it so painful to update your CV?
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
STmut can now operate on Atera data from 10X Genomics. Here is a breast cancer that was profiled on the Atera platform
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
www.latimes.com/science/stor...
latimes.com
RFK Jr. clears path for minors' use of tanning beds, much to the dismay of dermatologists
Indoor tanning is associated with a 75% increase in melanoma risk. A proposed FDA rule intended to protect children is now gone.
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Bishal Tandukar @bishaltandukar.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Excited to share our latest work from @shainlab.bsky.social lab, now out in Nature Cell Biology: “Somatic mutations distinguish melanocyte subpopulations in human skin.” We find evidence that melanocyte stem cell dynamics shape human skin homeostasis and UV response. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Excited to share that our paper, “Somatic mutations distinguish melanocyte subpopulations in human skin,” is now out in Nature Cell Biology. Reposting the thread below ⬇️
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Rita Strack @ritastrack.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
For the fourth time in my ~12 year editorial career I was able to accept (in principle) a paper after one round of review. 🥳
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
@marinelab.bsky.social rocks it in the opening plenary of #AACR26, describing how to harness cellular plasticity to combat minimal residual disease. And I love the shoutout to STmut! Congrats Chris on all your success.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Why does Dillon Brooks have the Wikipedia logo tattooed on his arm
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Kicking off the the #AACR26 strong with a great lineup of speakers. Myself, Irene Ghobrial, Li Ding, and Indu Kohaar (left to right). #HTAN
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Reposted by Hunter Shain
Nuria Lopez-Bigas @nlbigas.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Tumor promotion through the lens of evolution This review grew out of many long conversations, shared ideas, and lively discussions It has been a real pleasure to think together with Allan, Paul, Eve, and Abel about how tumours develop and how carcinogens shape cancer risk rdcu.be/fdC2J
rdcu.be
Tumour promotion through the lens of evolution
Nature - This Review revisits tumour initiation and promotion in light of clonal diversity and the presence of cancer driver mutations in normal tissues, aiming to understand mechanisms that enable...
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
When they are healthy, the Warriors are still a great team
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Inigo Martincorena @imartincorena.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Excited to share our latest work in Nature. Applying single-molecule and single-cell DNA sequencing methods, we uncover an extraordinary landscape of somatic mutations in immune checkpoint genes in autoimmune B cells, suggesting that somatic mutations may be key to autoimmunity [1/n] rdcu.be/fdqbr
rdcu.be
Polyclonal selection of immune checkpoint mutations in thyroid autoimmunity
Nature - Polyclonal selection of immune checkpoint mutations in thyroid autoimmunity
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I am looking forward to attending #AACR26. I will be chairing an educational session describing work done by the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) on Friday at 3pm.
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The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 15/04/2026
Erica Schwartz is expected to be selected by the Trump administration to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pending approval from President Trump.
on.wsj.com
Trump Administration Eyes Erica Schwartz to Lead CDC
The health agency is facing leadership turmoil and controversy over vaccine guidance.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
On route to the Final Four. Easiest packing for a trip ever. Let’s go Illini!
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-cre...
thebulwark.com
RFK Jr., Creature of the Tanning Salon, Throws the Industry a Bone
The HHS secretary has crispy, orange-toned skin in the game.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Here is my haul from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting. One of the higher yield exhibition halls of any meeting that I attend.
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Reposted by Hunter Shain
Illini Hoops @illinihoops.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
For the 2nd time in 3 years: Your Illinois Fighting Illini are going to the Elite 8!! I-L-L!
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Once you get over the learning curve, ScienCV is not terrible. However, it is extremely inconvenient if you want to collaborate with people who do not routinely submit NIH grants, such as clinicians or foreign researchers.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Dead Pubmed, if I am 7th till last author on a manuscript, then it probably should not be the top hit when searching by "best match"
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Is it still ok to bold your name on the biosketch, making it easier for reviewers to see where you are on an author list? And can you add asterisks to denote co-authorships? Or are edits not allowed after printing from ScienCV?
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Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Very sad to hear of the passing today of our UCSF colleague Mike Bishop at the age of 90. A legendary and inspiring figure. He also led UCSF as Chancellor. Have a listen to his Nobel lecture. youtube.com/watch?v=CDv7...
youtube.com
Michael Bishop, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1989: Official Lecture
YouTube video by Nobel Prize
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
www.npr.org/2026/03/19/n...
npr.org
FDA backs off stricter tanning bed rules with RFK Jr.'s support
Health officials with the Trump administration have backed away from an effort to more heavily regulate indoor tanning — despite protests from medical groups that warn of the dangers of skin cancer.
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Reposted by Hunter Shain
Alex Rubinsteyn @alexr.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
The good and bad thing about bsky is that there’s no dog mRNA mania on here
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Got a grant review back and the main concerns from reviewer 1 were exactly the same as what Chat GPT said. Maybe AI is really that good, but I am worried the tail is wagging the dog with reviewers parroting AI and not the other way around.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Snow in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pictured here is Mount Diablo
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Daniela Robles-Espinoza @daniela-oaks.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
We are very happy to see our study finally appear online @nature.com! This has been work of nearly 10 years in collaboration with the National Institute of Genome Medicine 🇲🇽, the National Cancer Institute 🇲🇽, the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social and others ⬇️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Ancestry and somatic profile indicate acral melanoma origin and prognosis - Nature
Analysis of the somatic and transcriptomic profile of 123 acral melanoma samples from Mexican patients helps understand tumour origins and prognosis, and highlights the importance of including samples...
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Blue sky needs to improve its suggested accounts feature. Now that the starter packs have dried up, there is no easy way to find scientists with dozens to hundreds of followers. All my suggestions are for large media accounts.
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
I found the prime use for AI tools -- understanding tax law!
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Hunter Shain @shainlab.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
marginalrevolution.com
I Regret to Inform You that the FDA is FDAing Again - Marginal REVOLUTION
I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom. Instead, what we are getting is paternalism with different...
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