Ira J Dunkel MD
Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Pediatric Solid Tumor Oncology
Attending Pediatrician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College
1275 York AvenueNew York, NY 10065
Overview of Dr. Dunkel
Dr. Ira Dunkel is a pediatric oncologist based at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, NY, and has served as the Chair of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC), an NCI-sponsored earlly phase clinical trial group, since 2016. He completed his medical education and residency at Duke University, followed by a fellowship at MSKCC/New York Presbyterian Hospital. His clinical research focuses on developing better and safer treatments for children and young adults with brain tumors, retinoblastoma, melanoma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. He has published more than 200 papers in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Dunkel has developed and conducted many clinical trials. He has been recognized by Castle Connolly as one of America's Top Doctors and Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area across several years.
Education & Training
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)Fellowship, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 1989 - 1992
Duke University HospitalResidency, Pediatrics, 1985 - 1989
Duke University School of MedicineClass of 1985
Certifications & Licensure
FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
NY State Medical License 1989 - 2028
NJ State Medical License 2022 - 2027
NC State Medical License 1988 - 1999
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2009-2014
- Top Doctors: New York Metro Area Castle Connolly, 2007-2014
- New York Magazine: Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2005-2014
Clinical Trials
- Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Retinoblastoma Start of enrollment: 1995 May 01
- High-Dose Thiotepa Plus Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Refractory Solid Tumors Start of enrollment: 1997 Sep 01
- Thalidomide and Cyclophosphamide in Treating Children With Recurrent or Refractory Childhood Cancers Start of enrollment: 1998 Sep 01
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium phase 1 study of CD40 agonist sotigalimab in pediatric and young adult patients with recurrent CNS tumors and newly-diagnosed DIPG.Holly B Lindsay, Catherine A Billups, Mehmet Kocak, Tyler J Alban, Tina Young Poussaint
Clinical Cancer Research. 2026-06-30 - Clinical, Imaging, Pathological, and Molecular Details of an Unusual Uveal Melanocytic Tumor of Childhood.David H Abramson, Ira J Dunkel, Klaus J Busam, Chad Vanderbilt, Sofia Haque
Ocular Oncology and Pathology. 2026-05-09 - A Single Institutional Experience Using Romiplostim to Treat Therapy-Related Thrombocytopenia in Pediatric Solid Tumor Patients.Melanie D Degliuomini, Katherine Armstrong, Michael Curry, Audrey Mauguen, Shakeel Modak
Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2025-11-01
Journal Articles
- Total Retinal Detachments Due to Retinoblastoma: Outcomes Following Intra-Arterial chemotherapy/ophthalmic Artery ChemosurgeryIra J Dunkel, Jasmine H Francis, Y Pierre Gobin, Scott E Brodie, David H Abramson, PLoS One
Press Mentions
NIH Grant Terminations Force More Than 74,000 Patients Out of Trials: StudyNovember 25th, 2025
Children’s Hospitals, Cancer Centers Lose Funding for Brain Tumor TrialsAugust 29th, 2025
Grant Support
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium A multi-institutional consortium devoted to novel phase I and II clinical evaluations of experimental treatment approaches for pediatric CNS tumorsST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL1999–2027
Professional Memberships
- Member
Insurance Accepted
- Aetna Choice POS II
Aetna HMO
BCBS Blue Card PPO
CIGNA HMO
CIGNA Open Access
Empire BCBS HMO
Empire BCBS PPO
GHI PPO
Great West PPO
Humana ChoiceCare Network PPOLovelace Health Plan PPO
Multiplan PHCS PPO
Multiplan PPO
MVP Healthcare PPO
Oxford Health Freedom
Oxford Health Liberty
QualCare HMO
QualCare PPO
United Healthcare - Direct Choice Plus POS
United Healthcare - Direct Options PPO - Please verify your coverage with the provider's office directly when scheduling an appointment
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