This month, Hoosier Cancer Research Network features our member Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Michael B. Atkins, MD, deputy director of the cancer center, William M. Scholl Professor, and vice chair of the Department of Oncology. Dr. Atkins is an international leader in translational and clinical research, with more than 30 years of experience working on melanoma, kidney cancer, and cancer immunotherapy research. He is a member of the HCRN Genitourinary Clinical Trial Working Group and is sponsor-investigator of the HCRN GU16-260 clinical trial. He also serves as chair of the Medical Advisory Panel for the Melanoma Research Alliance and co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee and board member for the Melanoma Research Foundation.

Prior to working at Georgetown, Dr. Atkins worked as a professor at Harvard Medical School and served in multiple leadership roles, including deputy chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, director of the Cancer Clinical Trials Office, leader of the Biologic Therapy and Cutaneous Oncology Programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, co-principal investigator of the Harvard Skin Cancer SPORE, leader of the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center Kidney Cancer Program, and director of the DF/HCC Kidney Cancer SPORE.

Research Interests and Expertise

Dr. Atkins’ research interests include immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, molecular targeted therapy, and predictive biomarker development, particularly in kidney cancer and melanoma. He has published more than 450 research and review articles, four books and has lectured extensively in these areas. He is associate editor of the Journal of Immunotherapy and serves on the editorial board of the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer.

Educational Background

• Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
• Master of Science: Harvard University School of Medicine
• Intern, Resident and Chief Medical Resident: New England Medical Center Hospital
• Research Associate, Hematology/Oncology: New England Medical Center
• Clinical Fellow, Hematology/Oncology: New England Medical Center

Little-Known Facts

• Avid tennis player, snow skier, and water skier
• Father of three
• Former bagel baker, ballpark beer vendor, and college swimmer

About Hoosier Cancer Research Network:

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has conducted more than 210 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 350 publications. More than 8,500 subjects have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.