Michael R. Sargen, M.D.

Biography

Dr. Sargen earned his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 2013. He then completed a dermatology residency at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, followed by a fellowship in dermatopathology at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. He is board-certified in both dermatology and dermatopathology. After completing his clinical training in 2018, Dr. Sargen completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Genetics Branch where he investigated familial melanoma syndromes and received specialized training in genetic and epidemiologic methods to investigate cancer etiology. In 2021, Dr. Sargen was appointed to the position of Assistant Clinical Investigator based on his research achievements. In this role, he developed innovative research programs focused on pediatric cutaneous melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In recognition of this work, Dr. Sargen was promoted into the highly prestigious role of Lasker Clinical Research Scholar in 2024. Since 2018, Dr. Sargen has served as an attending physician at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, where he manages melanoma-prone families enrolled in the NCI’s Familial Melanoma Study and provides expert consultation on biopsies of atypical melanocytic neoplasms collected as part of his natural history studies (see below for details). 

Genetic Epidemiology of Skin Cancer, Postdoctoral Fellowship

Fellowship to investigate the etiology of aggressive skin cancer types using epidemiologic and molecular approaches.

Research Interests

Dr. Sargen leads cohort, case-control, and family-based studies that integrate genomic and epidemiologic methods to identify genetic, host, and environmental factors that contribute to the development and progression of skin cancer.  He aims to leverage these insights to develop strategies for early detection and disease prevention, aligning with key goals of the United States National Cancer Plan.  

Pediatric Melanoma 

The diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in pediatric patients is challenging because benign and malignant melanocytic tumors in this age group can share similar clinicopathologic features. Pediatric cutaneous melanomas often develop from precursor lesions, with the highest risk of malignant transformation associated with atypical spitzoid tumors and large/giant congenital melanocytic nevi (LGCMN). In 2022, Dr. Sargen established the NCI's natural history study for atypical spitzoid tumors to better understand their clinicopathologic characteristics and explore the genetic factors contributing to their development and progression to melanoma. In 2024, Dr. Sargen, in collaboration with the NCI Pediatric Oncology Branch, began enrolling patients with LGCMN in the NCI My Pediatric and Adult Rare Tumor (MyPART) study. LGCMN are moles that form during fetal development, grow proportionately with the child, and eventually exceed 20 cm in diameter. These natural history studies aim to identify novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers to improve disease management and inform preventive strategies. In 2024, Dr. Sargen led a multidisciplinary effort through the Children’s Oncology Group to establish recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of pediatric cutaneous melanoma and atypical melanocytic neoplasms. These guidelines aim to help standardize care for this patient population. 

Familial Melanoma 

Dr. Sargen is actively studying over 100 melanoma-prone families, comprising more than 1,900 examined family members, as part of the NCI Familial Melanoma Study. Established in 1976, this study aims to investigate hereditary factors contributing to cutaneous melanoma in families with multiple cases. Some families have been prospectively followed for five decades, spanning multiple generations of participants. Over the years, the study has contributed to the identification of several moderate and high-penetrance melanoma susceptibility genes, including CDKN2A, CDK4, and POT1. Dr. Sargen is leveraging this unique resource, in collaboration with the GenoMEL Melanoma Genetics Consortium, a global network of researchers who study melanoma-prone families, to investigate novel melanoma susceptibility genes and determine their spectrum of cancer risk. 

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer 

Dr. Sargen is actively studying genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of non-melanoma skin cancers, with a particular focus on sebaceous carcinoma – an aggressive skin cancer originating from the sebaceous oil glands. He has established a comprehensive multiomics dataset of benign and malignant sebaceous tumors to explore genetic factors involved in the malignant transformation of benign sebaceous neoplasms. Additionally, Dr. Sargen is using this unique resource to identify potential biomarkers that could be targeted for therapy and disease prevention. Dr. Sargen is also collaborating with Dr. Douglas Stewart from the NCI Clinical Genetics Branch to investigate hereditary factors contributing to the development of non-melanoma skin cancers. Their research leverages large population genomic databases, including the UK Biobank, Geisinger MyCode, and All of Us, to explore genetic factors associated with skin cancer formation.