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John C. Cambier, Ph.D., DFAAI
Emeritus Chair and Distinguished Professor
Department of Immunology and Microbiology
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus
Editor-in-Chief: Immunological Reviews
Distinguished Fellow: American Association of Immunologists
The remarkable pace of drug discovery by biotech and pharma owes much to the contributions of venture capitalists. 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.
John C. Cambier,
Ph.D.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
AURORA, COLORADO
ADVISOR SINCE 2024
John C. Cambier, Ph.D., is Emeritus Chair and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was the founding Director of the University of Colorado Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative and is Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Immunological Reviews.
Best known for his research on B cell biology, Dr. Cambier is recognized for his identification and characterization of the signaling function of B cell antigen receptor components CD79A and B. In related studies, his group defined mechanisms of inhibitory signaling by FcγRIIB, the first described checkpoint receptor, and were first to clone the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING), now a therapeutic target in cancer. Dr. Cambier has authored more than 350 publications focused primarily on B cell antigen receptor structure and transmembrane signaling and its regulation by inhibitory “checkpoint” receptors.
Dr. Cambier received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. After completing his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Jonathan Uhr at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Cambier joined the faculty at Duke University in 1978. In 1983, he was recruited to National Jewish Health, where in 1999, he became the founding Chairman of the Integrated Department of Immunology. In 2014, he moved to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he became Chairman of the then newly merged Department of Immunology and Microbiology.
Dr. Cambier has received recognition as a Distinguished Professor at Missouri State University, his undergraduate alma mater, as well as the University of Iowa, National Jewish Health, and the University of Colorado. A member of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) since 1978, Dr. Cambier was a member of the inaugural class of AAI Distinguished Fellows. In 2024, he was recognized by the AAI with the AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award for lifetime achievement in the field of B cell biology.