Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of PathologyCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Immuno-oncology Laboratory
Contact Info
Appointments
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.
Appointments
Pathology
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryMedical Oncology and Hematology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Human and Translational Immunology Program
- 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
ORCID
0000-0001-5692-4833- View Lab Website
Schalper Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
David Rimm, MD, PhD
Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD
Hongyu Zhao, PhD
Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil
Michael Cecchini, MD
Scott Gettinger, MD
Breast Neoplasms
Publications
2026
Leveraging multi-modal foundation models for analysing spatial multi-omic and histopathology data
Liu T, Huang T, Ding T, Wu H, Humphrey P, Perincheri S, Schalper K, Ying R, Xu H, Zou J, Mahmood F, Zhao H. Leveraging multi-modal foundation models for analysing spatial multi-omic and histopathology data. Nature Biomedical Engineering 2026, 1-18. PMID: 41644824, DOI: 10.1038/s41551-025-01602-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study presents spEMO, an AI framework integrating histopathology images and spatial multi-omics data to improve biological discovery, disease prediction, and medical reporting.
2025
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer: Standards for Reporting of Multiplex Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence Assays (STORMI)
Sater S, Bifulco C, Rodriguez-Canales J, Yeong J, Akturk G, Angelo M, Ballesteros-Merino C, Bankhead P, Basu S, Blando J, Brajkovic S, Cassano M, Chen B, Coskun A, Cottrell T, De Andrea C, Edwards R, Egelston C, Engle L, Ernstoff M, Fan R, Feldman M, Fox B, Galon J, Gartrell R, Gnjatic S, Green B, Gulley J, Hellebust A, Hewitt S, Hollmann T, Horn L, Howat W, Hoyt C, Jensen S, Kulasinghe A, Lassoued W, Lott S, Mansfield J, Marwitz S, Netto G, Page D, Parra E, Rimm D, Rodig S, Salgado R, Schapiro D, Schalper K, Sunshine J, Surace M, Szalay A, Thurin M, Villasboas J, Wharton K, Wistuba I, Yearley J, Yuan Y, Zaki G, Ziai J, Taube J. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer: Standards for Reporting of Multiplex Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence Assays (STORMI). Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2025, 13: e012280. PMID: 41423269, PMCID: PMC12718562, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2025-012280.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSociety for Immunotherapy of CancerSociety for ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy of cancerPractice guidelinesTumor microenvironmentMultiplex immunofluorescenceConsensus checklistBiomarker discovery effortsAntibody-based technologiesCell clustersInfectious diseasesBiomarkersAnalytical validationCross-study comparisonsMET (c-Met) protein overexpression is an emerging protein biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer
Tsao M, Sholl L, Shiller M, Illei P, Wistuba I, Beasley M, Schalper K, Simmons A, Ansell P, Beruti S, Mino-Kenudson M. MET (c-Met) protein overexpression is an emerging protein biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer. Npj Precision Oncology 2025, 9: 369. PMID: 41266553, PMCID: PMC12635195, DOI: 10.1038/s41698-025-01144-9.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerIHC-based biomarkersCell lung cancerClinically relevant biomarkersAntibody-drug conjugatesProtein biomarkersPrognostic valueGenomic aberrationsLung cancerProtein overexpressionC-MetMet proteinRelevant biomarkersBiomarkersMetSOverexpressionImmunohistochemistryProteinCancerClinicSpatial 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.Molecular 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, 20: 1594-1614. PMID: 40633839, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2025.07.009.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricConceptsMolecular 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 phenotypeIL-4 mediated TAP2 downregulation is a dominant and reversible mechanism of immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer
Ranjan K, Rajendran B, Deen I, Costantini A, de Rodas M, Desai S, Scallo F, Gianino N, Ferrone S, Schalper K. IL-4 mediated TAP2 downregulation is a dominant and reversible mechanism of immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. Molecular Cancer 2025, 24: 80. PMID: 40091029, PMCID: PMC11912681, DOI: 10.1186/s12943-025-02276-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates IL-4's role in TAP2 downregulation as a reversible mechanism of immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer, highlighting potential therapeutic strategies to restore TAP2 expression and enhance treatment efficacy.
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Determining Mechanisms of Sensitivity and Resistance to Anti-Cancer Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer
IRB ID1603017333RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/16/2036Recruiting Participants
News
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News
- 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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