My primary research interest is in cancer immunotherapy, particularly the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors. My contributions to the field include the first human trials of ipilimumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and, later, the phase III registration study of the same agent. Subsequently, I have continued as a key investigator in the clinical development of the second family of checkpoint inhibitors, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1.

A primary focus of my work now involves combinatorial approaches to treatment, combining immune checkpoint blockade with other therapies, including targeted therapies, cytokine therapies and angiogenesis inhibitors. Further, a Phase III trial I led with Jedd Wolchok of Ludwig MSK recently led to the approval of a checkpoint combination, which pairs anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 therapy for the treatment of melanoma.

I am director of the Melanoma Center and the Center for Immuno-Oncology at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and an Assistant Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. I received my MD from Cornell University Medical College in 1992, and completed my training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and my medical oncology training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where I joined the faculty in 1995.