Ton Schumacher - Curriculum Vitae#

Training:

• 1988 University of Amsterdam, Medical Biology. M.Sc. (honors)
  
• 1992 Free University of Amsterdam, Biochemistry. Ph.D. (honors)
  

Current academic and other positions:

• Senior member The Netherlands Cancer Institute
  
• Professor of Immunotechnology, Leiden University
  
• Chief Scientific Office Kite Pharma EU (0.2 FTE)
  

Key discoveries:

1). Developed technologies to measure which fragments from (tumor) antigens bind to MHC molecules. These technologies have subsequently been adopted world-wide; Used these technologies to describe the ligand preference of MHC molecules (selected references: Schumacher, Cell 1990; Schumacher, Nature 1991).

2). Provided the first in vivo proof of principle for the potential value of T cell receptor gene therapy to induce defined tumor-specific T cell responses; Described potential safety issues, and described technology to develop collections of TCR genes that can be used for clinical development (selected references: Kessels, Nat Immunol 2001; Bendle, Nat Med 2010; Linnemann, Nat Med 2013; Strønen, Science 2016).

3). Developed the concept of cellular barcoding to reveal single immune cell behavior in vivo; Used this technology to reveal fundamental aspects of immune responses (selected references: van Heijst, Science 2009; Naik, Nature 2013; Gerlach, Science 2013; Perié, Cell 2015).

4). Developed high-throughput technology to measure T cell responses to patient-specific T cell antigens; Demonstrated how T cell responses against patient-specific neo-antigens are common in melanoma patients and can be enhanced by immunotherapy (selected references: Toebes, Nat Med 2006; Hadrup, Nat Methods 2009; van Rooij, J Clin Oncol 2013; Rizvi, Science 2015; Linnemann, Nat Med 2015; Verdegaal, Nature 2016).