Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Epithelial Cell Biology (in Dermatology, Pathology and Cell Biology and Dental Medicine)

Dr. Owens conducted his PhD training in the field of skin carcinogenesis at N.C. State University in Raleigh, NC. Afterwards, Dr. Owens trained as a postdoctoral scientist in the field of epithelial stem cell biology in the lab of Fiona Watt at the Cancer Research Institute in London.
The overall focus of Dr. Owens’ research is to determine the contributions of stem cells and differentiated cells to the development of normal and neoplastic skin. Specific areas of investigation include: (1) identifying and characterizing cells of origin for epithelial and neuroendocrine lineages in the adult skin and (2) defining the role of the tumor microenvironment in the survival and metastasis of neoplastic epithelial cells.
Email: do2112@columbia.edu
Departments and Divisions
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology
- Department of Dermatology
Education and Training
- PhD, 1996 Toxicology, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Centers / Institutes / Programs
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology (CCTI)
Links
Contact Info
- (212) 851-4544
Research Interests
- The contributions of stem cells and differentiated cells to epidermal cancer
NIH Grants
NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER: A MODEL FOR IMPACT OF AGING ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE (Federal Gov)
Sep 15 2016 - Aug 31 2021
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SKIN DISEASE RESOURCE-BASED CENTER (EPICURE) (Federal Gov)
Aug 1 2016 - Jul 31 2021
ROLE OF EPITHELIAL STEM CELLS IN AGERELATED LOSS OF TACTILE ACUITY (NY State Gov)
Aug 1 2018 - Jul 31 2021
MECHANISMS OF MECHANOSENSORY TRANSDUCTION IN MERKEL CELLS (Federal Gov)
Jul 1 2016 - Jun 30 2021
PERIPHERAL MECHANISMS GOVERNING TACTILE ENCODING DURING NORMAL TARGET REMODELING (Federal Gov)
Sep 15 2010 - Jul 31 2017
PERIPHERAL MECHANISMS GOVERNING TACTILE ENCODING DURING NORMAL TARGET REMODELING (Federal Gov)
Sep 15 2010 - Jul 31 2017
PERIPHERAL MECHANISMS GOVERNING TACTILE ENCODING DURING NORMAL TARGET REMODELING (Federal Gov)
Sep 15 2010 - Jul 31 2017
THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF INTRINSIC T CELL SUPPRESSION DURING ANTI-TUMOR IMMUNITY (Private)
Jul 1 2015 - Jun 30 2017
A CELLULAR BASIS FOR AGE-RELATED IMPAIRED TACTILE ACUITY (Federal Gov)
Jan 15 2014 - Dec 31 2015
A CELLULAR BASIS FOR AGE-RELATED IMPAIRED TACTILE ACUITY (Federal Gov)
Jan 15 2014 - Dec 31 2015
ROLE OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION IN MERKEL CELL CARCINOGENESIS (Federal Gov)
Apr 8 2011 - Sep 30 2013
TUMORIGENESIS AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HUMAN KERATOACANT HOMAS (Private)
Mar 23 2012 - Mar 22 2013
ROLE OF ANTHRAX TOXIN RECEPTORS IN ANGIOGENESIS AND ENDOTHEL IUM (Federal Gov)
Dec 15 2007 - Nov 30 2012
ROLE OF ALPHA6BETA4 INTEGRIN IN EPIDERMAL CARCINOGENESIS (Federal Gov)
Sep 1 2006 - Jul 31 2011
CONTRIBUTIONS OF STEM CELLS TO SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF TH E SKIN (Private)
Jan 1 2009 - Dec 31 2010
EPITHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS AS TARGETS FOR CUTANEOUS NEOPLAS IA (NY State Gov)
Jan 1 2009 - Dec 31 2010
REGULATION OF IMMUNE PRIVILEGE IN METASTATIC SQUAMOUS CELL C ARCINOMA (Federal Gov)
Jul 1 2008 - Jun 30 2010
ROLE OF L-3 PHOSPHOSERINE PHOSPHATASE IN EPIDERMAL APOPTOS AND CARCINOGENESIS (Federal Gov)
Apr 6 2008 - Apr 5 2009