Dr. Atkinson obtained his first bachelors’ degree in Biomedical Science at Kingston University, UK in 1993 and his second from the University of the West of England, UK in 1998 in cellular pathology. He completed his doctoral studies in 2004, also at the University of the West on England, UK, in the field of transplant immunology. During his PhD studies Dr. Atkinson was Chief Biomedical Scientist in the Department of Pathology at Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, UK. Upon completion of his doctoral studies Dr. Atkinson relocated to Medical University of South Carolina, USA to work with the eminent complement biology researcher Dr. Stephen Tomlinson. In 2006 Dr. Atkinson moved onto faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina and was appointed Associate Professor in 2012.