Skip to main content
Michael Atkins, MD, Oncology, Washington, DC, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

MichaelB.AtkinsMD

Oncology Washington, DC

Genitourinary Oncology, Melanoma

Deputy Director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; William M. Scholl Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center

Overview of Dr. Atkins

I am an internationally recognized leader in translational and clinical oncology research. I began my career at Tufts Medical Center before moving to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and being appointed Professor at Harvard Medical School where I served as Deputy Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and leader of the Biologic Therapy and Cutaneous Oncology Programs, as well as Co-PI 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. I also was a Charter member of the NCI Extramural IL-2/LAK Cell Working Group and led its offshoot, the Cytokine Working Group for 2 decades. In 2012, I moved to Georgetown where I am the Deputy Director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and William M. Scholl Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Oncology. I lead the Lombardi Immunotherapy Initiative and institutional Pilot Grants Program. My current research focuses on immunotherapy for melanoma and RCC and biomarkers for response and toxicity. I have published over 450 original research and review articles and 5 books and have lectured extensively on these topics. I am past president of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and currently co-Chair of the Melanoma Research Foundation Scientific Advisory Council. I was honored as a Giant in Melanoma Therapy by Onclive in 2021 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from SITC in 2022.

Education & Training

  • Tufts Medical Center
    Tufts Medical CenterFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1984 - 1987
  • Tufts Medical Center
    Tufts Medical CenterResidency, Internal Medicine, 1980 - 1984
  • Tufts University School of Medicine
    Tufts University School of MedicineClass of 1980

Certifications & Licensure

  • DC State Medical License
    DC State Medical License 2012 - 2024
  • MA State Medical License
    MA State Medical License 1982 - 2013
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Lifetime Achievement Award Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 2022
  • Giant in Cancer Care: Melanoma OncLive, 2021
  • Humanitarian Award Melanoma Research Foundation, 2018
  • Join now to see all

Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Publisher Correction: Clinical Activity and Molecular Correlates of Response to Atezolizumab Alone or in Combination with Bevacizumab Versus Sunitinib in Renal Cell Ca...  
    Michael B Atkins, Mario Sznol, Robert J Motzer, Richard W Joseph, Thomas Hutson, John Hainsworth, W Kimryn Rathmell, Brian I Rini, David F McDermott, Toni K Choueiri, ..., Nature
  • Clinical Activity and Molecular Correlates of Response to Atezolizumab Alone or in Combination with Bevacizumab Versus Sunitinib in Renal Cell Carcinoma  
    Michael B Atkins, Thomas Hutson, Mario Sznol, Toni K Choueiri, Sumanta K Pal, Richard W Joseph, John Hainsworth, W Kimryn Rathmell, David F McDermott, Robert J Motzer,..., Nature

Lectures

  • Long-term follow-up of CA209-004: A phase I dose-escalation study of combined nivolumab (NIVO) and ipilimumab (IPI) in patients with advanced melanoma. 
    2019 ASCO Annual Meeting - 6/1/2019
  • Safety and Efficacy Data for Combined Checkpoint Inhibition with Ipilimumab (Ipi) and Nivolumab (Nivo) As Consolidation Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation ... 
    2018 ASH Annual Meeting - San Diego, CA - 12/1/2018

Press Mentions

  • Sequencing Matters – Combination Dabrafenib/Trametinib Versus Nivolumab/Ipilimumab for Advanced BRAF-Mutant Melanoma: The DREAMseq Trial
    Sequencing Matters – Combination Dabrafenib/Trametinib Versus Nivolumab/Ipilimumab for Advanced BRAF-Mutant Melanoma: The DREAMseq TrialMarch 9th, 2023
  • Key Studies Conducted at Georgetown Lombardi Lead to Better Treatment for People with Melanoma
    Key Studies Conducted at Georgetown Lombardi Lead to Better Treatment for People with MelanomaMarch 1st, 2023
  • Treatment Sequence Studied for Advanced BRAF-Mutant Melanoma
    Treatment Sequence Studied for Advanced BRAF-Mutant MelanomaOctober 7th, 2022
  • Join now to see all

Grant Support

  • Biomarkers of efficacy and adverse events due to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitorsNIH/NCI2018–2023
  • Georgetown University, Lombardi Cancer Center Support GrantNIH/NCI2012–2023
  • Using Single Cell Transcriptomics to Understand Tumor and Immune Heterogeneity Driving Resistance and to Rationally Select Immune Therapy in Advanced RCCDOD-CDMRP2018–2021
  • Institutional Research GrantACS2013–2020
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology GroupNational Cancer Institute2002–2012
  • Df/Hcc Kidney Cancer SporeNational Cancer Institute2009–2011
  • Developmental Research ProgramNational Cancer Institute2009–2011
  • Career Development ProgramNational Cancer Institute2009–2011
  • Df/Hcc Renal Cancer SporeNational Cancer Institute2003–2008
  • Biologic Therapy Of Melanoma And Renal Cell CancerNational Cancer Institute2002–2006
  • Core--Clinical Data ManagementNational Cancer Institute2002
  • Trial Of Concurrent Biochemotherapy W/ Cisplatin, Dacarbazine, Vinplastine, IL2National Center For Research Resources1998–1999
  • RH Interleukin 12 Administered Subcutaneously In Patients With CancerNational Center For Research Resources1998–1999
  • IL 2 Administered By IV In Patients With Advanced Malignant MelonomaNational Center For Research Resources1998–1999
  • Phase II Pilot Trial Of Concurrent Biochemotherapy With Cisplatin, DacarbazineNational Center For Research Resources1997
  • Phase I Trial Of High Dose Interleukin 2 With TNF Receptor IGG ChimeraNational Center For Research Resources1996–1997
  • Phase II Study Of Recombinant IL-6 Administered By ONE Hour InfusionsNational Center For Research Resources1996
  • Phase I Dose Escalation Study Of Recombinant Human Interleukin 12National Center For Research Resources1996
  • Multipart Phase I Clinical Trial Of High Dose IL 2 In Combination With IL 1National Center For Research Resources1996

Hospital Affiliations