I have been an active clinical investigator vested in the immune-based therapy of melanoma. This has led to my role in the clinical development of initially Interleukin-2 and more recently anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1/PDL-1. While checkpoint therapy has been a great breakthrough in cancer treatment, additional immune-based strategies are still critically needed. Efforts to identify mechanisms of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors and approaches to overcome de novo and acquired resistance are one of my major interest. In addition I have ongoing efforts in the personalized therapy of melanoma with well-defined targets (BRAF v600, NRAS mutations, CKIT mutations). I co-lead the Northwestern Cancer Center Translational Research in Solid Tumors (TRIST) program which is critical to the success of the Cancer Center. In this role, I am working to bring translational studies including immunotherapy based trials to all solid tumors. The development of translational studies that will provide a better understanding to sensitivity and resistance to both immune checkpoint therapy and targeted therapy is my highest priority. As Co-Leader of TRIST program, I am determined to bring creative immune based trials to cancers .