Dr. Jean Gariépy was originally trained as a peptide chemist and biophysicist at the University of Alberta (Ph.D.), and as a peptide/protein engineer at Stanford University, in the areas of bacterial toxins and infectious diseases (as a postdoctoral fellow). He is the Director of the Molecular Targeting and Therapeutics Laboratory at the Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), and the SRI Research Chair in Biomolecular Engineering. Dr. Gariépy has had a long standing interest in developing new technologies in the field of biotherapeutics, being cited as an inventor or co-inventor on multiple granted patents and on more than 20 patent applications. He co-founded and was a director [2000-2008] and CSO [2000-2009] of Molecular Templates, Inc. (MTI; MTEM; www.moleculartemplates.com; Austin, Texas), a well-funded, NASDAQ-listed company that focuses on the development of protein-based biotherapeutics (Engineered Toxin Bodies) in the area of Oncology. Dr. Gariépy more recently switched his research focus towards the development of biological therapeutics directed towards combatting cancer and inflammation. His interest in immunotherapy is exemplified by his most recent start-up venture, D5Pharma, where he is the co-founder, CSO, and director.