Dr. Cambier is Emeritus Chair and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of Immunological Reviews. A pioneer in B cell biology, Dr. Cambier is renowned for his groundbreaking research, including the discovery of key B cell receptor signaling mechanisms and the cloning of STING, a major therapeutic target in cancer. He has authored over 350 publications and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award for lifetime achievement in B cell biology.

Dr. Cambier earned his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, completed postdoctoral training at UT Southwestern, and held faculty positions at Duke University and National Jewish Health before joining the University of Colorado. Dr. Cambier is a member of the inaugural class of AAI Distinguished Fellows and has been honored by multiple institutions throughout his career.

“The remarkable pace of drug discovery by biotech and pharma owes much to the contributions of venture capitalists,” said Dr. Cambier. “Indeed, real-world conditions that threaten conventional funding sources will likely render venture capital an ever more critical source of support for drug discovery. The acuity of venture capitalists will become more critical as well. In our discussions of investment opportunities, I have been impressed by the depth of knowledge of the RiverVest team, particularly in the areas of immunology, molecular biology, and medicine, and I am excited to contribute my expertise as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board.”

Gary DeCrescenzo is an independent consultant with 40 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development. He partners with pharmaceutical, biotech, and venture capital firms, specializing in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery strategies, safety mitigation, and early-stage chemical development. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical R&D at Aclaris Therapeutics, advancing multiple assets through proof-of-concept clinical trials. He has also held leadership roles at BioMed Valley Discoveries, Pfizer, and Pharmacia, guiding numerous programs from discovery to early clinical development across inflammation, cardiovascular, infectious diseases, and oncology.

An inventor or co-inventor on over 100 patents, including those for Agenerase and Prezista, Mr. DeCrescenzo’s work spans protease inhibitors, kinases, nuclear hormone receptors, and antibody-drug conjugates. He has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Central Florida.

“The discovery and development of novel therapeutics is both challenging and inspiring, requiring perseverance and tenacity,” said Mr. DeCrescenzo. “The RiverVest team has developed a diverse, high-quality portfolio that continues to evolve in exciting new directions, all in the quest to improve the quality of human health and patient care.”