Ingo Mellinghoff Named Chair of MSK’s Department of Neurology

NEW YORK CITY, October 29, 2020 — Neuro-oncologist Ingo K. Mellinghoff, MD, has been appointed Memorial Sloan Kettering’s (MSK) new Chair of the Department of Neurology.     

Dr. Mellinghoff currently holds the Evnin Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology and runs a research lab in the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program. He is also Professor of Neurology and Professor of Neuroscience in the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Mellinghoff previously served as Chief of the MSK Brain Tumor Service and Vice Chair of Research in MSK’s Department of Neurology.

“An accomplished leader, physician, researcher, and mentor, Dr. Mellinghoff is the ideal person to lead MSK’s distinguished Department of Neurology into the future,” said Lisa DeAngelis, MD, Physician-in-Chief and Chief Medical Officer of MSK.  

He is a renowned physician-scientist whose work focuses on the characterization of signaling pathways altered in primary brain tumors and on early phase clinical trials with novel drugs targeting these pathways. He has made significant contributions to our understanding of the epidermal growth factor receptor in glioblastoma, the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation in low‐grade gliomas, and the B cell receptor signaling axis in central nervous system lymphoma. More recently, Dr. Mellinghoff expanded his work to the development of biomarkers, such as cell‐free DNA in cerebrospinal fluid and various imaging approaches.

Since fall 2018, Dr. Mellinghoff has served alongside Edward Avila, DO, as the Acting Co-Chair of the Department of Neurology, a role he stepped into when Dr. DeAngelis, the former Chair of Neurology, was named Physician-in-Chief.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have had the experience of leading the department in partnership with an outstanding colleague, Dr. Avila,” said Dr. Mellinghoff. “Our department is blessed with exceptional talent and a deep commitment to improve the lives of patients with cancers of the central nervous system. I am excited take on this new leadership role.”

Dr. Mellinghoff joined MSK in 2007. He received his medical degree from the Technical University Munich School of Medicine and completed training in internal medicine, oncology, and molecular biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the recipient of an NIH Outstanding Investigator Award, the Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award, and the Advanced Clinical Research Award in Glioma from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Society of Neuro-Oncology and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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About Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK):

As the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, Memorial Sloan Kettering has devoted more than 135 years to exceptional patient care, influential educational programs, and innovative research to discover more effective strategies to prevent, control, and ultimately, cure cancer. MSK is home to more than 20,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff united by a relentless dedication to conquering cancer. Today, we are one of 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, with state-of-the-art science and technology supporting groundbreaking clinical studies, personalized treatment, and compassionate care for our patients. We also train the next generation of clinical and scientific leaders in oncology through our continually evolving educational programs, here and around the world. Year after year, we are ranked among the top two cancer hospitals in the country, consistently recognized for our expertise in adult and pediatric oncology specialties. www.mskcc.org