Akiko Seki

Background

About Akiko Seki

I’m a translational scientist with deep expertise in T cell biology, genomic assays, and epigenome editing. I thrive in fast-paced, mission-driven environments where rigorous science meets real-world impact. As a founding scientist (employee #2) at Tune Therapeutics, I’ve played a key role in establishing genomic assay capabilities and contributed to regulatory-enabling studies that supported early platform development. I currently lead efforts in T cell–based epigenome editing and CTA-supportive assay development, collaborating closely with internal and external partners. Previously at Genentech, I independently drove biomarker discovery experiments in cancer immunology and served as a bridge across multiple internal research teams. My work included flow cytometry and single-cell RNA-seq studies on tumor-infiltrating and peripheral immune cells, contributing to the identification of immune evasion mechanisms and predictive biomarkers. I’m passionate about advancing next-generation cell and gene therapies, building platforms that can reshape immunology, and working across disciplines to bring meaningful innovation to patients. PhD – Cell Biology, Stanford University ex-Genentech – Cancer Immunology Founding Scientist – Tune Therapeutics (Epigenome Editing) Fluent in English and Japanese