I usually write my blogs on Sundays, but will be busy, so I am writing on Saturday evening.
I just returned from San Diego, which is hosting the annual meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. On Friday evening, SITC held a black-tie reception and dinner at the iconic Hotel del Coronado to introduce and celebrate its third class of members of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology. The Academy now has 33 members, with six new inductees, including our own Mike Atkins. He was honored for his innumerable contributions in translating immunology into immunotherapy advances, starting with the development of high-dose IL-2 therapy in the 1980s, continuing to the present day, where he has led the charge to identify the proper way to combine immunotherapy with signaling inhibitors in advanced melanoma.
Mike is in very good company, attesting to the way in which immunotherapy has transformed cancer research and cancer care. Fellows of the Academy include luminaries such as Jim Allison and Tasuku Honjo (immune checkpoints; 2018 Nobel laureates), Mark Davis (T cell receptor structure and function), Lisa Coussens (tumor microenvironment and immune function), Olivera Finn (cancer immunoprevention), Zelig Eshhar (concept of CAR-T cells),Gordon Freeman and Arlene Sharpe (PD-L1 and immune checkpoints), Steve Rosenberg (IL-2, TIL, CAR-T therapies), Carl June (CAR-T therapy for leukemias and lymphomas), Ron Levy (monoclonal antibody therapy) and Bob Schreiber (immune editing), among others. I was honored to be elected to the second class of Fellows last year for my work in monoclonal antibody therapeutics — one of the greatest honors of my career.
Mike accepted his very well-deserved award with grace and humility. I am so lucky to have access to his talent, expertise and perspective on a daily basis, even though he roots for the Boston sports teams! I am better for having him as a colleague and dear friend for more than 30 years, and I know that he makes our cancer center a better place. Congratulations, Mike, for what you have done, for what you do, and for how you will continue to shape a better future for cancer patients.
Stay safe and be well.
Lou
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