An oncologist specializing in melanoma, Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD, is working to develop innovative ways to use the immune system to treat cancer.
Dr. Wolchok is chief of the Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). His insight and innovation have placed him at the leading edge of cancer immunotherapy in two different roles: An active clinician-scientist exploring innovative immunotherapeutic strategies in laboratory models, and a principal investigator in numerous pivotal clinical trials. His specific research interest is the pre-clinical and early clinical development of novel immunologic therapies. Most recently, Dr. Wolchok has initiated several clinical trials using plasmid DNA vaccines for patients with melanoma. He’s been involved in the development of the DNA vaccine program at every level – from initial studies in mouse models, through all levels of regulatory review, and now as principal investigator of the clinical trials.
Dr. Wolchok has authored numerous articles concerning DNA vaccines, cytokine biology and clinical care of melanoma, and co-authored two chapters in the definitive textbook, Cutaneous Melanoma. Dr. Wolchok is also co-editor of the journal Cytotherapy. Among his leadership positions, he is an associate director of the Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy at MSKCC, an associate member of Ludwig Cancer Research, and the Lloyd J. Old/Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Chair in Clinical Investigation at MSKCC. He is director of the CRI/Ludwig Cancer Vaccine Collaborative Trials Network, and is an associate director of the CRI Scientific Advisory Council. He is also the co-director of the Swim Across America laboratory at MSKCC, one of the foremost immunotherapy and melanoma research groups in the country.
