Meet the Team
An Elite Team with Proven Value Creation
Fabien Dépis, Ph.D.
Founder, President & CEO
Dr. Fabien Dépis is an immunologist, drug hunter, and biotech entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of experience in antibody and immune-modulating therapies for autoimmune diseases and oncology. As Founder & CEO of TregShield Bio, he is pioneering next-generation biologics targeting regulatory and effector T cells through a transformative precision medicine platform, aiming to develop safer and more effective treatments for immune and inflammatory (I&I) diseases. His expertise spans early discovery, preclinical development, and early translational research, with a proven track record of advancing breakthrough immunotherapies from concept to clinical translation.
Previously, Dr. Dépis was the Program Team Leader and Co-Inventor of GS-1811, a first-in-class Tumor-Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 antibody, leading its development from target inception to pre-IND at Jounce Therapeutics. His leadership contributed to a $120M upfront licensing deal with Gilead in 2020, with a potential total of $700M in milestones, and GS-1811 is now in Phase 1 clinical trials. Beyond GS-1811, he has played a key role in multiple antibody programs, including MM-401 (TNFR2, Merrimack), Paradiprubart (TLR4, NovImmune), CEL83 (TREM1, Celsius), and novel anti-CD3-based immunotherapies (Foralumab, NovImmune).
As Director of Discovery Research at GentiBio, he built and led early Treg cell therapy programs, including GNTI-823, an allogeneic Treg product for inflammatory diseases. He also served as Head of Translational Science at Dualyx, where he contributed to evaluation of early immune-modulating biologics, further reinforcing his expertise in Treg-targeted therapies.
Dr. Dépis earned his Ph.D. in Immunology at NovImmune, where he published and co-invented next-generation combination therapies with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies in collaboration with the University of Geneva. During this time, he generated and characterized a murine surrogate mimicking the latest generation of anti-CD3 antibodies, including Teplizumab and Foralumab, contributing to advancements in T-cell modulation and immunotherapy development. He holds multiple patents on immunomodulatory targets and has authored numerous publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, further demonstrating his impact in the field.
A recognized thought leader, Dr. Dépis is the Chairman of the Annual Treg Summit in Boston (2023-2025) and serves as a guest review editor for a Treg series in Frontiers in Immunology, reinforcing his leadership in Treg-targeted therapies and his ability to bridge cutting-edge immunology with drug development. His career is defined by a proven ability to lead cross-functional biotech teams and drive therapeutic innovations from concept towards clinic.
Maureen Deehan, Ph.D.
Independent Board Member
Senior Advisor in Corporate Development, Business Strategy, and Licensing
Dr. Maureen Deehan is an experienced biotech executive specializing in corporate strategy, business development, pharmaceutical partnerships, and licensing transactions. With over 25 years of experience in drug development and commercialization, she has successfully led deal-making efforts spanning CNS, oncology, immunology, cardiovascular, and women’s health.
She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Vivtex, a biotech company pioneering next-generation drug delivery solutions. Previously, she held senior corporate development roles at Novimmune SA and Nordic Nanovector ASA, where she played a pivotal role in securing major licensing transactions and partnerships with Genentech, Shire, and other leading pharmaceutical companies. Earlier in her career, Dr. Deehan led high-throughput screening and drug discovery initiatives at Organon Laboratories before transitioning into business development.
Her experience spans the entire drug development cycle, from discovery to commercialization, successfully navigating biotech-pharma collaborations, licensing deals, and investment strategies that have contributed to the growth of multiple biotech companies.
Dr. Deehan holds a Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine at Glasgow University and spent eight years in academic research before moving into the biopharmaceutical industry.
Olivier Léger, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor, Antibody Engineering and Company creation
Dr. Olivier Léger is a distinguished antibody engineer with over 30 years of experience in biologics discovery, optimization, and commercialization. A serial entrepreneur and key innovator, he has played a pivotal role in developing three FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies and multiple clinical-stage assets.
Since November 2022, Dr. Léger has served as SVP of Biologics Engineering at Tridek-One, a biotech company developing first-in-class CD31 checkpoint agonists for autoimmune diseases. He is also the co-founder of Deeptope, a CRO specializing in antibody characterization and optimization through yeast display; Kekkan Biologics, advancing first-in-class biologics for severe neovascular and fibrotic disorders, and first-in-class biologics in oncology. For the past eight years, Dr. Léger has also worked as an independent consultant, advising biotech companies at various stages of development and contributing his expertise in antibody discovery, humanization, and lead optimization.
Dr. Léger’s impact extends across both biotech and pharma, where he has led antibody engineering teams at Pierre Fabre, NovImmune, Merck Serono, and Vetoquinol. As Group Leader at MRC Technology in the UK, he led the humanization of Natalizumab (Tysabri®), one of the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies for autoimmune diseases. His contributions as co-inventor of Bavencio® (Avelumab), a pioneering anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy, and Gamifant® (Emapalumab), the first IFNγ-neutralizing antibody for primary HLH, further underscore his expertise in translating scientific innovation into marketed products.
Beyond approved biologics, Dr. Léger has played a significant role in the development of Sonelokimab, a next-generation IL-17A/F-targeting Nanobody® in Phase 2 trials, Foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in clinical development, and CALY-002, a humanized IL-15-neutralizing antibody acquired by Novartis in 2024. His extensive patent portfolio includes over 40 inventions, and he has co-authored 18 scientific publications.
Dr. Léger holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology from the University of London, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, UK, and remains a driving force in antibody engineering, drug discovery, and company formation.
Changyun Hu, Ph.D.
Advisor, Antibody Engineering & Immunology
Dr. Changyun Hu is a seasoned antibody engineer and immunologist, bringing expertise in bioinformatics-driven antibody discovery, immunology-guided screening, and emerging AI-based design approaches. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has contributed to the discovery, engineering, and preclinical development of antibody-based therapies in oncology and autoimmunity. His expertise in antibody generation, engineering, and optimization is complemented by his deep knowledge of immune mechanisms and disease biology, enabling the design of fit-for-purpose screening assays aligned with the ultimate therapeutic objectives.
As Co-founder and CSO of Adept Therapeutics, Dr. Hu leads scientific strategy and antibody discovery. Previously, as Principal Scientist at Jounce Therapeutics, he co-led the antibody discovery and engineering of GS-1811, a first-in-class anti-CCR8 antibody designed to selectively deplete tumor-infiltrating Tregs, supporting IND-enabling studies and contributing to its $85M exclusive licensing deal with Gilead Sciences.
Earlier, Dr. Hu was a Senior Scientific Researcher at Genentech, where he led antibody discovery programs against challenging targets, including immune checkpoints, ion channels, and neurodegenerative proteins. His expertise spans hybridoma and B-cell cloning, immunization strategies, and in vitro and in vivo functional validation.
Before transitioning to industry, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University, where he was one of the early advocates for B-cell-targeted immunotherapy in autoimmune diseases. His foundational work contributed to advancing B-cell depletion strategies in autoimmunity.
Dr. Hu earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Fudan University and completed his postdoctoral research at Yale University School of Medicine. He holds multiple patents and publications in antibody engineering and immunotherapy.
Greg Elson, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor, Biologics CMC & Product Development
Dr. Greg Elson is a biopharmaceutical manufacturing and product development leader with over 30 years of experience in end-to-end biologics development, spanning monoclonal, bispecific, and multispecific antibody-based products. He has been instrumental in bringing innovative antibody therapeutics from research to clinical development and commercialization, ensuring seamless transition from discovery to GMP manufacturing.
Dr. Elson was recently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Alentis Therapeutics, and currently serves as Head of CMC at Mestag Therapeutics, as well as co-founder and managing partner at Prevail Biopharma Solutions, where he provides strategic expertise in CMC, bioprocess development, and regulatory strategy. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles at AMAL Therapeutics (Boehringer Ingelheim), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, NovImmune, Pierre Fabre, and Glaxo Biomedical Research Institute, contributing to innovative production platforms and pioneering antibody-based therapies.
Recognized for his expertise in bioprocess optimization, analytical development, and regulatory submissions, Dr. Elson has successfully led multiple biologics programs through global regulatory approvals in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His contributions include the development of industrial production platforms for bispecific antibody technologies and the creation of multidisciplinary CMC structures within biotech SMEs, integrating cell line development, drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) manufacturing, quality assurance, and formulation sciences.
A scientist by training, Dr. Elson holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology, specializing in cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and immunoglobulin regulation. He has authored over 50 publications in bioprocessing sciences and immunology, including work on toll-like receptors, cytokine signaling, and antibody regulation, and holds numerous patents in the fields of bioprocess development and immunology.
Silvia Caluwaerts, Ph.D.
Advisor, Translational & Clinical Drug Development
Dr. Silvia Caluwaerts is a seasoned expert in translational drug development, bridging early-stage research to clinical translation. With over 20 years of experience, she has successfully led nonclinical and clinical-stage programs, guiding biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals from R&D and IND-enabling studies to Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Her expertise spans preclinical pharmacology, regulatory strategy in FDA and EMA environments, and clinical development, making her a critical asset in advancing innovative biologics toward the clinic.
Dr. Caluwaerts has held leadership roles at Dualyx and Argenx, where she served as Senior Director of Development, overseeing strategic IND-enabling activities and managing external partnerships with CROs, CDMOs, and regulatory agencies to ensure seamless transitions into the clinic. Prior to this, she was Director of Pharmacology at Precigen ActoBio, leading preclinical teams and acting as the single point of accountability for IND-enabling studies, regulatory interactions, and clinical trial initiation.
Her in-depth knowledge of FDA and EMA regulatory requirements enables her to provide critical guidance on clinical protocol development, investor engagements, and strategic discussions with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and regulatory agencies across the world. In earlier roles at ActoGeniX and Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Caluwaerts built a strong foundation in pharmacology and biotechnology development, reinforcing her expertise in drug development strategy, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional leadership.
Dr. Caluwaerts earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and subsequently conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of Leuven in Belgium. Her ability to integrate nonclinical and clinical insights ensures that innovative therapies are positioned for success in clinical development.
“We are optimists who love pushing Therapeutic Frontiers - Together.”
-The Team-