Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of PathologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
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Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Biography
I trained as cell biologist, surgical pathologist and served in clinical molecular diagnostics. In addition, during my postdoctoral work at Yale I focused in developing strategies to objectively and quantitatively measure key immunotherapy related biomarkers in immune cells and cancer tissues. Most of this work has been performed in close collaboration with other Yale researchers and published in peer-reviewed journals. Recently, I was appointed to lead the Translational Immuno-Oncology Laboratory (T.I.L.) in the Yale Cancer Center, that aims to produce and support high quality translational research in immuno-oncology through standardized analyses of biomarkers and cross-integration with other Yale resources.
Last Updated on April 07, 2025.
Appointments
Pathology
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryMedical Oncology and Hematology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology and Hematology
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Pathology
- Pathology and Molecular Medicine
- Pathology Research
- Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
- Schalper Lab
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative
Education & Training
- PhD
- Universidad Catolica de Chile (2008)
- MD
- San Sebastian University (2003)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Breast Neoplasms; Pathology
ORCID
0000-0001-5692-4833- View Lab Website
Schalper Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Kurt Schalper's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Kurt Schalper's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Kurt Schalper is interested in exploring.
David Rimm, MD, PhD
Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD
Scott Gettinger, MD
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Miguel López de Rodas Gregorio, MD
Harriet Kluger, MD
169Publications
9,890Citations
Breast Neoplasms
Publications
2025
Spatial signatures for predicting immunotherapy outcomes using multi-omics in non-small cell lung cancer
Aung T, Monkman J, Warrell J, Vathiotis I, Bates K, Gavrielatou N, Trontzas I, Tan C, Fernandez A, Moutafi M, O’ Byrne K, Schalper K, Syrigos K, Herbst R, Kulasinghe A, Rimm D. Spatial signatures for predicting immunotherapy outcomes using multi-omics in non-small cell lung cancer. Nature Genetics 2025, 57: 2482-2493. PMID: 41073787, PMCID: PMC12513832, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02351-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerTumor immune microenvironmentCell lung cancerLung cancerPredictive of poor outcomeResponse to immunotherapyCD4 T cellsProliferating tumor cellsResponse signatureImmunotherapy outcomesPrecision immunotherapyImmune microenvironmentT cellsPatient selectionNon-smallFavorable outcomeTumor cellsPoor outcomeImmunotherapyMulti-omics approachM1/M2 macrophagesBiomarkersMulti-OmicsCancerOutcomesHigh MGMT expression identifies aggressive colorectal cancer with distinct genomic features and immune evasion properties
Zhang J, Rajendran B, Desai S, Gibson J, DiPalermo J, LoRusso P, Kong Y, Zhao H, Cecchini M, Schalper K. High MGMT expression identifies aggressive colorectal cancer with distinct genomic features and immune evasion properties. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2025, 13: e011653. PMID: 40935566, PMCID: PMC12506448, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2025-011653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study shows that high MGMT expression in colorectal cancer is linked to aggressive behavior, distinct genomic features, immune evasion, and shorter survival, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for prognosis and therapeutic targeting.TRLS-11 UNCOVERING ANTIGEN-SPECIFICITY OF INTRATUMORAL CD8+ T CELLS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER BRAIN METASTASES
Lu B, Yahsi B, Gu J, Coburn J, Kasbe M, Arnal-Estape A, Sohn K, Whitehead K, Mosharraf M, Nguyen D, Zhao H, Lucca L, Schalper K, Chiang V, Hafler D, Lee M. TRLS-11 UNCOVERING ANTIGEN-SPECIFICITY OF INTRATUMORAL CD8+ T CELLS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER BRAIN METASTASES. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2025, 7: ii36-ii36. PMCID: PMC12342607, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf123.134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerCD8+ T cellsIntratumoral T cellsPatient lung tumorsT cellsBrain metastasesAntigen-SpecificTumor reactivityClonal repertoireNon-small cell lung cancer brain metastasisIntratumoral CD8+ T cellsPublic antigensTumor-infiltrating T cellsCD8+ T cellsAntitumor T-cell functionDegree of clonal expansionT-cell receptor (TCR) sequencingT-cell therapyImmune-modulating therapiesTumor-associated antigensCell lung cancerT cell functionAntigenic reactivitySomatic single-nucleotide variantsResected tumorMolecular Tumor Boards: A consensus statement from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Aldea M, Rotow J, Arcila M, Hatton M, Sholl L, Rolfo C, Tagliamento M, Radonic T, Schalper K, Subbiah V, Malapelle U, Roden A, Manochakian R, Tsao M, Linardou H, Hui R, Novello S, Greystoke A, Saqi A, Lantuejoul S, Hwang D, Nevins K, Wynes M, Waqar S, Han Y, Yatabe Y, Chang W, Hayashi T, Kim T, Hofman P, Tavora F, Hirsch F, Denninghoff V, Leighl N, Drilon A, Cooper W, Dacic S, Mohindra P, Pavlakis N, Lopez-Rios F. Molecular Tumor Boards: A consensus statement from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2025 PMID: 40633839, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2025.07.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsMolecular tumor boardInternational Association for the Study of Lung CancerStudy of Lung CancerLung cancerMultidisciplinary meetingCase selectionMolecular diagnosticsBiomarker test resultsLevel of evidencePersonalized cancer careClinicopathological dataPersonalized treatment recommendationsTherapy ratesTumor typesTreatment optionsMedical oncologistsTumor boardPatient managementConsensus recommendationsTreatment recommendationsConsensus statementBiomarker findingsCancerInstitutional expertiseModified Delphi MethodspEMO: Leveraging Multi-Modal Foundation Models for Analyzing Spatial Multi-Omic and Histopathology Data
Zhao H, Liu T, Huang T, Ding T, Wu H, Humphrey P, Perincheri S, Schalper K, Ying R, Xu H, Zou J, Mahmood F. spEMO: Leveraging Multi-Modal Foundation Models for Analyzing Spatial Multi-Omic and Histopathology Data. 2025 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6941589/v1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInformation retrieval capabilitiesMedical report generationMulti-modal alignmentSingle-modal dataDownstream tasksLanguage modelModel architectureComputer systemsAI systemsSpatial domain identificationData modalitiesHistopathological imagesReport generationEvaluation taskMultimodal representationsTaskMulti-omics dataFoundation modelMulti-omics technologiesDataSpatial biologyMulti-OmicsTissue contextDomain identificationInformationSITC vision: Opportunities for deeper understanding of mechanisms of anti-tumor activity, toxicity, and resistance to optimize cancer immunotherapy
Sullivan R, Cillo A, Ferris R, Jenkins R, Kluger H, Kok M, Lipson E, Paruzzo L, Redmond W, Ruella M, Schalper K, Thommen D, Tolley K, Yarchoan M, Garnett-Benson C. SITC vision: Opportunities for deeper understanding of mechanisms of anti-tumor activity, toxicity, and resistance to optimize cancer immunotherapy. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2025, 13: e011929. PMID: 40562704, PMCID: PMC12198810, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2025-011929.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSociety for ImmunotherapyCancer immunotherapyManagement of cancerSociety for Immunotherapy of CancerMechanisms of anti-tumor activityCancer immunotherapy developmentImmunotherapy of cancerAnti-tumor activityMechanisms of resistanceImmunotherapy developmentMechanism of actionImmunotherapySide effectsCancerAdverse effectsPatient perspectiveToxicityAgentsMalignancyPatientsKnowledge gapsTumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer impairs immune cell function among people with HIV
Desai S, Salahuddin S, Yusuf R, Ranjan K, Gu J, Osmani L, Lin Y, Mehta S, Talmon R, Kang I, Kluger Y, Zhao H, Schalper K, Emu B. Tumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer impairs immune cell function among people with HIV. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2025, 135: e177310. PMID: 40459946, PMCID: PMC12259253, DOI: 10.1172/jci177310.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerTumor microenvironmentImmune cellsLung cancerCohort of non-small cell lung cancerExpression of PD-1Impairs anti-tumor responsesTumor-infiltrating CD8+Tumor-specific immune responsesCD4+ T cellsHIV-associated tumorsInfiltrating CD8+Expression of immunoregulatory moleculesAnti-tumor responsesTumor-associated macrophagesCell lung cancerImmune cell functionNSCLC cell linesPD-1Tumor killingBlocker therapyCD8+LAG-3Immune landscapeImmunoregulatory phenotypeClinical features associated with an exceptional response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Nie Y, Wurtz A, Li F, Schalper K, Duffield E, Rowen E, Gerrish H, Chiang A, Goldberg S, Wilson F, Kim S, Grant M, Sabbath K, Talsania A, Lasala J, Russo A, Politi K, Herbst R, Gettinger S. Clinical features associated with an exceptional response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 8544-8544. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.8544.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancerMonocyte-to-lymphocyte ratioAbsolute lymphocyte countPre-treatment absolute lymphocyte countResponse to immunotherapyCell lung cancerExceptional respondersLiver metastasesImmunotherapy responseAdvanced non-small cell lung cancerLung cancerTumor PD-L1 expressionPresence of brain metastasesInfluence immunotherapy responsivenessPD-L1 expressionSubsets of patientsTumor microenvironment analysisYale Cancer CenterTumor tissue analysisIRB-approved protocolLong-term survivalConcurrent chemotherapyBrain metastasesClinicopathological predictorsA phase 2 study of olaparib in IDH1 and IDH2 mutant advanced chondrosarcomas and other solid tumors.
Costa P, Pilat M, Rodon Ahnert J, Burgess M, Tinoco G, Close J, Groisberg R, Subbiah V, Powers B, Haddox C, Grilley-Olson J, Keedy V, Li J, Ivy S, Patel A, Shapiro G, Ishizuka J, Schalper K, LoRusso P. A phase 2 study of olaparib in IDH1 and IDH2 mutant advanced chondrosarcomas and other solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 3087-3087. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.3087.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalSolid tumorsOverall survivalClinical benefitOpen-label phase II clinical trialSolid tumors refractory to standard treatmentMedian progression-free survivalRefractory to standard treatmentIDH mutant tumorsPhase II clinical trialBRCA-mutated cancersEfficacy of olaparibPhase 2 studyPhase II trialFollow-up timePre-clinical dataII clinical trialsPre-clinical evidenceImpaired homologous recombinationClinical Trials NetworkAdvanced chondrosarcomaMedian OSII trialIDH1/2 mutationsMedian ageA phase 2 study of the olaparib and AZD6738, an ATM/ATR inhibitor, in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant solid tumors.
Costa P, Hafez N, Pilat M, Kalyan A, Azad N, Gore S, Shields A, Al Hallak M, Jin N, Malalur P, Hays J, Rodon Ahnert J, Schalper K, LoRusso P. A phase 2 study of the olaparib and AZD6738, an ATM/ATR inhibitor, in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 3089-3089. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.3089.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalSolid tumorsOverall survivalClinical benefitOpen-label phase II clinical trialSolid tumors refractory to standard treatmentMedian progression-free survivalRefractory to standard treatmentNational Clinical Trials NetworkPhase II clinical trialCombination of olaparibEfficacy of olaparibLow-grade tumorsLower-grade tumorsPhase 2 studyNCI's National Clinical Trials NetworkFollow-up timePre-clinical dataII clinical trialsIsocitrate dehydrogenase mutationPre-clinical evidenceClinical Trials NetworkMedian OSStable diseaseImpaired homologous recombination repair
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Determining Mechanisms of Sensitivity and Resistance to Anti-Cancer Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer
HIC ID1603017333RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/20/2026Recruiting Participants
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- November 12, 2025
Twenty-Seven YSM Faculty Members Recognized for Highly Cited Research
- October 10, 2025
‘Google Maps’ Approach to Revolutionize Lung Cancer Treatment
- October 08, 2025
Yale Cancer Experts to Present This Week at Top International Oncology Conference
- May 23, 2025
Rimm Lab Marks 30 Years of Research, Innovation, Training at Yale Pathology
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789 Howard Avenue, Ste FMP, Rm 117
New Haven, CT 06519
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