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Assoc. Prof. Roland C. Schelker is Head of the Translation Group “T-Cell Fitness” at the Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) in Regensburg, Germany, where he leads translational research to develop genetically enhanced T-cell therapies that boost antitumour immunity and improve clinical impact.
He trained as a physician in Internal Medicine, Haematology, and Oncology at the University Hospital Regensburg, later undertaking a DFG-funded research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, working under pioneers such as Luca Gattinoni. In 2025, Schelker earned his second doctoral degree (PhD with summa cum laude) for research into the transcriptional regulator LMO4 and its role in enhancing CD8⁺ T-cell stemness and antitumour function, work published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
At LIT, Schelker’s team focuses on improving T-cell fitness, developing and validating genetically enhanced T cells that persist longer, resist exhaustion, and have improved antitumour efficacy, with programs moving toward early-phase clinical trials such as ESOSTEM155 (a NY-ESO-1 TCR-modified stem-like T-cell therapy).
He also explores fundamental transcriptional networks that govern T-cell memory formation, aiming to unlock clinical potential for durable cell therapies.
Schelker’s scholarly work spans peer-reviewed research on T-cell biology, immunotherapy, and translational engineering. His Google Scholar profile lists numerous publications on T-cell differentiation, metabolic fitness, and engineered immune cells.
A landmark publication: LIM-domain-only 4 (LMO4) enhances CD8+ T-cell stemness and tumor rejection by boosting IL-21-STAT3 signaling (2025), illustrating how gene activators can enhance T-cell durability.
Schelker also contributes as a reviewer to high-impact journals, including Nature Communications, reflecting his influence across the broader immunotherapy research landscape.
In October 2025, Schelker was featured as “Immunologist of the Month 2025” on Immunopaedia, a global immunology education platform, where he shared insights into his path from clinical practice to translational research and offered advice to early-career scientists in immunotherapy.
He has also been interviewed on the “Wirkstoffradio” podcast, discussing T-cell biology and engineered therapies with broader scientific audiences.