Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section

Isaac Brownell, M.D., Ph.D.

    Overview

    Research Areas (IRP Lab Groups)

    Cancer Biology,
    Computational Biology,
    Skin Biology

    The Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section studies the signaling pathways such as Hedgehog signaling that regulate the development and maintenance of normal skin and the changes in these signals that occur during the formation of skin cancer. 

    Our investigations include studying the specification and maintenance of cell lineages in the skin, studying the regulation of stem cells in the skin, and using mouse genetics to model carcinogenesis in the skin.

    A current focus for our research is investigating the neuro-cutaneous interface and the regulation of neuroendocrine cells (Merkel cells) in the skin. We are also analyzing Merkel cell carcinomas and are developing pre-clinical mouse models for this uncommon but aggressive skin cancer.

    Related NIAMS Labs

    Scientific Advances

    Mutations in a Gene Related to Hearing Loss Could Lead to Defective Merkel Cell Touch Sensors in the Skin
    Younger People With Merkel Cell Carcinoma Often Carry Genetic Risk Factors for Other Cancers
    Understanding How Skin Cancer Presentation and Survival Differs by Racial and Ethnic Groups
    Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

    Core Research Facilities

    Labs at the NIAMS are supported by the following state-of-the-art facilities and services:

    Image & Media Gallery

    Brownell Lab group photo.
    Brownell Lab
    Brownell lab members posing in the hall.
    Brownell Lab Group Photo
    Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section group photo
    Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section group photo
    2 Scientists discuss over on the computer lab
    CDCS Lab
    2 scientists demonstration a machine
    Medical equipment demonstration

    Career Opportunities

    We are seeking outstanding, highly motivated postdoctoral fellows to join our lab. There are open positions investigating skin cancer and/or skin stem cells. We conduct basic and translational studies using mouse genetics, tissue culture, mouse xenografts, and patient samples. Multiomic high-throughput technologies are applied including FACS-seq, scRNA-seq, ChIP-seq, HiChIP, functional genomics screening, and small molecule screening. Experience with cancer biology, developmental biology, or stem cell biology preferred.

    General Requirements

    Applicants should have a Ph.D. or M.D. with relevant biomedical research experience; Peer-reviewed publications; Strong oral and written communication skills; Strong ability to work collaboratively and independently.

    Please send a cover letter with statement of research interests, a CV with a publication list, and the contact information of three references to Dr. Brownell ([email protected]).

    Scientific Publications

    Selected Recent Publications

    Spontaneous tumor regression and immunotherapy response demonstrate clonal T-cell expansion in Merkel cell carcinoma.

    Hallaert P, Roman JW, Baker M, Hill NT, Marte JL, Gulley JL, Logemann N, Hudgens CW, Reuben A, Brownell I
    NPJ Precis Oncol.
    2025 Jul 1;
    9(1).
    doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00987-6
    PMID: 40594889

    Risk of Superficial Fungal Infections in WHIM Syndrome.

    Strong J, Adhanom R, Kim CS, Saito Y, Meltzer JC, Hallaert P, Martinez S, Salancy A, Kong HH, Cowen EW, Castelo-Soccio L, Murphy PM, McDermott DH, Brownell I
    Dermatol Ther (Heidelb).
    2025 May;
    15(5).
    doi: 10.1007/s13555-025-01396-0
    PMID: 40178760

    High-throughput screening identifies Aurora kinase B as a critical therapeutic target for Merkel cell carcinoma.

    Gelb T, Garman KA, Urban D, Coxon A, Gryder B, Hill NT, Miao L, Lee T, Lee O, Chakka S, Braisted J, Jarvis JE, Glavin R, Raj TS, Xiao Y, Difilippantonio S, Wang AQ, Shen M, Cheng KC, Lal-Nag M, Hall MD, Brownell I
    Nat Commun.
    2025 Feb 12;
    16(1).
    doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56504-7
    PMID: 39939315

    Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

    Strong J, Hallaert P, Brownell I
    Hematol Oncol Clin North Am.
    2024 Oct;
    38(5).
    doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.05.013
    PMID: 39060119

    POU4F3 Is Necessary for Normal Merkel Cell Formation, whereas POU4F1 Is Dispensable.

    Jarvis JE, Miao L, Hallaert P, Martin MR, Collado L, Hill NT, Brownell I
    J Invest Dermatol.
    2025 Jan;
    145(1).
    doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.06.1284
    PMID: 39009281

    Mycophenolate mofetil inhibits Merkel cell carcinoma growth.

    Garman KA, Thoreson N, Strong J, Hallaert P, Gelb T, Shen M, Hall MD, Brownell I
    Br J Dermatol.
    2024 Mar 15;
    190(4).
    doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae018
    PMID: 38266271

    ATOH1, TFAP2B, and CEACAM6 as Immunohistochemical Markers to Distinguish Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Small Cell Lung Cancer.

    Vilasi SM, Nguyen J, Wang CJ, Miao L, Daily K, Eid M, Song JS, Jiang H, Ylaya K, Busam KJ, Gaiser MR, Hewitt SM, Brownell I
    Cancers (Basel).
    2024 Feb 15;
    16(4).
    doi: 10.3390/cancers16040788
    PMID: 38398178

    Mycophenolate mofetil inhibits Merkel cell carcinoma growth.

    Garman KA, Thoreson N, Strong J, Hallaert P, Gelb T, Shen M, Hall MD, Brownell I
    Br J Dermatol.
    2024 Mar 15;
    190(4).
    doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae018
    PMID: 38266271

    Differences in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Presentation and Outcomes Among Racial and Ethnic Groups.

    Mohsin N, Martin MR, Reed DJ, Vilasi SM, Miao L, Hill NT, Brownell I
    JAMA Dermatol.
    2023 May 1;
    159(5).
    doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.0061
    PMID: 36920369

    Distinct Signatures of Genomic Copy Number Variants Define Subgroups of Merkel Cell Carcinoma Tumors.

    Hill NT, Kim D, Busam KJ, Chu EY, Green C, Brownell I
    Cancers (Basel).
    2021 Mar 6;
    13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/cancers13051134
    PMID: 33800889

    Robust Production of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Oncogene Specific T Cells From Healthy Donors for Adoptive Transfer.

    Davies SI, Barrett J, Wong S, Chang MJ, Muranski PJ, Brownell I
    Front Immunol.
    2020;
    11().
    doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.592721
    PMID: 33362774

    Avelumab in patients with previously treated metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: long-term data and biomarker analyses from the single-arm phase 2 JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial.

    D'Angelo SP, Bhatia S, Brohl AS, Hamid O, Mehnert JM, Terheyden P, Shih KC, Brownell I, Lebbé C, Lewis KD, Linette GP, Milella M, Georges S, Shah P, Ellers-Lenz B, Bajars M, Güzel G, Nghiem PT
    J Immunother Cancer.
    2020 May;
    8(1).
    doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000674
    PMID: 32414862

    Key Publications

    High-throughput screening identifies Aurora kinase B as a critical therapeutic target for Merkel cell carcinoma. 

    Gelb T, Garman KA, Urban D, Coxon A, Gryder B, Hill NT, Miao L, Lee T, Lee O, Chakka S, Braisted J, Jarvis JE, Glavin R, Raj TS, Xiao Y, Difilippantonio S, Wang AQ, Shen M, Cheng KC, Lal-Nag M, Hall MD, Brownell I
    Nat Commun.
    2025 Feb 12;
    16(1).
    doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56504-7
    PMID: 39939315

    Genetic Risk Factors for Early-Onset Merkel Cell Carcinoma. 

    Mohsin N, Hunt D, Yan J, Jabbour AJ, Nghiem P, Choi J, Zhang Y, Freeman AF, Bergerson JRE, Dell'Orso S, Lachance K, Kulikauskas R, Collado L, Cao W, Lack J, Similuk M, Seifert BA, Ghosh R, Walkiewicz MA, Brownell I
    JAMA Dermatol.
    2024 Feb 1;
    160(2).
    doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.5362
    PMID: 38170500

    Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer. 

    Silk AW, Barker CA, Bhatia S, Bollin KB, Chandra S, Eroglu Z, Gastman BR, Kendra KL, Kluger H, Lipson EJ, Madden K, Miller DM, Nghiem P, Pavlick AC, Puzanov I, Rabinowits G, Ruiz ES, Sondak VK, Tavss EA, Tetzlaff MT, Brownell I
    J Immunother Cancer.
    2022 Jul;
    10(7).
    doi: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004434
    PMID: 35902131

    The biology and treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma: current understanding and research priorities. 

    Harms PW, Harms KL, Moore PS, DeCaprio JA, Nghiem P, Wong MKK, Brownell I, International Workshop on Merkel Cell Carcinoma Research (IWMCC) Working Group
    Nat Rev Clin Oncol.
    2018 Dec;
    15(12).
    doi: 10.1038/s41571-018-0103-2
    PMID: 30287935

    Avelumab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: a multicentre, single-group, open-label, phase 2 trial. 

    Kaufman HL, Russell J, Hamid O, Bhatia S, Terheyden P, D'Angelo SP, Shih KC, Lebbé C, Linette GP, Milella M, Brownell I, Lewis KD, Lorch JH, Chin K, Mahnke L, von Heydebreck A, Cuillerot JM, Nghiem P
    Lancet Oncol.
    2016 Oct;
    17(10).
    doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30364-3
    PMID: 27592805

    A Cascade of Wnt, Eda, and Shh Signaling Is Essential for Touch Dome Merkel Cell Development. 

    Xiao Y, Thoresen DT, Miao L, Williams JS, Wang C, Atit RP, Wong SY, Brownell I
    PLoS Genet.
    2016 Jul;
    12(7).
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006150
    PMID: 27414798

    Neural Hedgehog signaling maintains stem cell renewal in the sensory touch dome epithelium. 

    Xiao Y, Thoresen DT, Williams JS, Wang C, Perna J, Petrova R, Brownell I
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
    2015 Jun 9;
    112(23).
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.1504177112
    PMID: 26015562

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    Last Updated: February 2026
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