Dr. Roland Kolbeck is Chief Scientific Officer of Spirovant and is responsible for leading the company’s research efforts. He delivers more than 20 years of research and executive leadership experience, specializing in respiratory and autoimmune sciences. Previously Dr. Kolbeck held executive roles of increasing responsibility and leadership at MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics organization. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Head of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune research (RIA) and a member of the MedImmune Research Leadership Team as well as the Early Stage Portfolio Committee. During his tenure there, he set the scientific vision for more than 80 scientists; led the advancement of eight novel candidates into the clinic, including FASENRA®, AstraZeneca’s first biological for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma; and contributed to the spinout of five pre/clinical-stage autoimmune assets. Prior to that, he held senior scientific roles at Peptimmune and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Kolbeck conducted his postdoctoral research in the Department of Neurobiochemistry at the Max-Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Munich. He earned a PhD from the University of Regensburg and Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich. Dr. Kolbeck has authored more than 100 publications and is co-inventor on 6 pending or granted patents.