David Schaffer
CO-FOUNDER & SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD CO-CHAIR
Immunotherapy
IGNITE Immunotherapy
United States of America
Biography
Dr. Schaffer is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering, and Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also serves as the Director of the Berkeley Stem Cell Center. He holds 15 years experience in therapeutic viruses & gene therapeutics. He invented the “directed evolution” discovery platform for the discovery of novel AAV gene therapy vectors. This technology led to “Therapeutic Vector Evolution”, the proprietary vector discovery platform being developed at 4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT), which he co-founded with Dr. David Kirn. He currently serves as acting CSO & Co-Chairman at 4DMT. At UC Berkeley, Dr. Schaffer applies engineering principles to enhance stem cell and gene therapy approaches for neuroregeneration, work that includes novel approaches for molecular engineering and evolution of new viral vectors as well as new technologies to investigate and control stem cell fate decisions.
Research Interest
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering
