Jan Melenhorst

Jan Joseph (Jos) Melenhorst is a distinguished immunologist and researcher with extensive experience in cellular therapies and cancer immunology. He has held several prominent positions throughout his career, including roles at the University of Pennsylvania and Cleveland Clinic.12

Career Highlights

At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Melenhorst served as:

• Director of Product Development & Correlative Sciences
• Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
• Senior member of Dr. Carl June's Center for Cellular Immunotherapies

During his time at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Melenhorst played a crucial role in advancing cell therapies, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, from research to patient care.2

Current Position

Dr. Melenhorst has recently moved to Cleveland Clinic, where he holds the following positions:

• Director of the Cell Therapy and Immuno-Engineering Program
• Vice Chair of the Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology

In these roles, he leads efforts to translate research into novel cellular therapies for patients and works to advance personalized cellular immunotherapy.2

Research Focus

Dr. Melenhorst's research spans basic and translational immunology, with an emphasis on:

• Developing next-generation immuno-oncology treatments
• Studying the immunobiology of CAR-T cell therapies
• Improving the safety and efficacy of cancer-targeting therapies

Education

Dr. Melenhorst obtained his Ph.D. from Leiden University in the Netherlands, focusing on the immune etiology of Aplastic Anemia.1

Throughout his career, Dr. Melenhorst has made significant contributions to the field of cancer immunology and cellular therapies, playing a key role in the development and approval of groundbreaking treatments like Kymriah, the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapy.1