The 2025 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa will be delivered in a hybrid format with live programming available over the course of three days. Virtual registrants will have access to all content via livestream during the program dates. Additionally, all content will be made available on-demand within 24 hours of the live program time for all registrants to view.
11:00am – 6:00pm Early Badge Pick-up at the Arizona Biltmore (All Attendees)
7:30am – 9:00am Registration & Breakfast
8:00am – 9:00am Concurrent Workshops
8:00am – 6:00pm Partnering Meetings
9:15am – 6:00pm General Session, Panel Discussions, Company Presentations
6:00pm – 9:00pm Networking Bash
7:30am – 9:00am Registration & Breakfast
8:00am – 9:00am Concurrent Workshops
8:00am – 6:00pm Partnering Meetings
9:15am – 6:00pm General Session, Panel Discussions, Company Presentations
6:00pm – 7:00pm Cocktail Reception
7:30am – 9:00am Registration & Breakfast
8:00am – 9:00am Concurrent Workshops
8:00am – 12:00pm Partnering Meetings
9:15am – 12:00pm General Session, Panel Discussions, Company Presentations
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Conference Closes
12:00am – 11:59pm Virtual Partnering Meetings
12:00am – 11:59pm Virtual Partnering Meetings
7:30am – 9:00am | REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
Sponsored by SGS Vitrology
8:00am – 9:00am | CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
FUTURE HORIZONS: EMERGING TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY DEVELOPMENT
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom F
Sponsored by Precision for Medicine
Chair:
Deborah Phippard, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Precision for Medicine
Speakers:
Faraz Ali, CEO, Tenaya Therapeutics
Reagan Jarvis, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder, Anocca
Harpreet Singh, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Precision for Medicine
Kristin Yarema, Ph.D., CEO, ImageneBio
THE NEW STANDARD FOR CGT MANUFACTURING: FLEXIBILITY AND SCALABILITY
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom G
Sponsored by Ori Biotech
Chair:
Jason Foster, CEO and Executive Director, Ori Biotech
Speakers:
Taby Ahsan, Ph.D., Vice President, Cell and Gene Therapy Operations, City of Hope
Ken Harris, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of AI, OmniaBi
Andrew Snowden, D.Phil., Senior Director, Allogeneic and Autologous Cell Therapy Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Tom Wilton, Senior Vice President, Innovation Ventures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
9:15am | GENERAL SESSION
ALLIANCE FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE BOARD VOTE AND WELCOME REMARKS
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:15am – 10:00am
Speakers:
Tim Hunt, CEO, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
Bob Smith, Venture Partner, OrbiMed; Chairman, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
9:15am – 10:00am
| 9:15am – 9:30am | FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics |
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Specific Biologics |
| 9:45am – 10:00am | Cytiva |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
9:15am – 10:00am
| 9:15am – 9:30am | Opus Genetics |
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Dimension Bio |
| 9:45am – 10:00am | Cynata Therapeutics |
10:00am – 10:30am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
{FLW Ballroom E}
10:00am – 10:30am
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
10:00am – 10:30am
| 10:00am – 10:15am | Moffitt Cancer Center |
| 10:15am – 10:30am | TBD |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
10:00am – 10:30am
| 10:00am – 10:15am | ElevateBio |
| 10:15am – 10:30am | QuTEM |
10:30am – 11:00am | MORNING BREAK
Sponsored by OXB
11:00am – 11:30am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
FEATURED SPEAKER
{FLW Ballroom E}
11:00am – 11:30am
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
11:00am – 11:30am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Metagenomi |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | InspiroGene |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
11:00am – 11:30am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Evotec |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | ARMI | BioFabUSA |
11:30am – 12:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
THE EVOLUTION OF CAR-T FROM NICHE TREATMENT TO MAINSTREAM CARE
{FLW Ballroom E}
11:30am – 12:30pm
Experts will discuss strategies to improve patient access, recent wins (REMS elimination), overcoming logistical bottlenecks, and extending CAR-T’s impact into earlier lines of treatment and other disease areas. With a focus on real-world outcomes and patient-centric innovation, this session offers a 360-degree view on where CAR-T is headed next—and what it will take to get there.
Chair:
Joe DePinto, Head of Cell, Gene and Advanced Therapies, McKesson
Speakers:
George Eastwood, Executive Director, Emily Whitehead Foundation
Gustavo Mahler, Ph.D., CEO, Cellistic
Navneet Majhail, M.D., FASTCT Physician-in-Chief of Blood Cancers, Sarah Cannon Cancer Network
Rebecca Poehnelt, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Commercial Strategy Lymphoma, Leukemia and Cell Therapy, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
11:30am – 12:30pm
| 11:30am – 11:45am | Editas Medicine |
| 11:45am – 12:00pm | DiscGenics |
| 12:00pm – 12:15pm | Catalent |
| 12:15pm – 12:30pm | Astellas Pharma |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
11:30am – 12:30pm
| 11:30am – 11:45am | Excellos |
| 11:45am – 12:00pm | Precision BioSciences |
| 12:00pm – 12:15pm | Tenaya Therapeutics |
| 12:15pm – 12:30pm | Nanoscope Therapeutics |
12:30pm – 1:30pm | LUNCH
Sponsored by Fortrea
1:30pm – 2:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
XENOTRANSPLANTATION: FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND AVAILABLE GUIDANCE
{FLW Ballroom E}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
This panel will explore the evolving landscape of xenotransplantation, including efforts to harmonize regulatory standards, define consistent endpoints, and improve efficiency testing. Experts will also discuss how veterinary traceability frameworks could inform human applications, and examine adjacent innovations such as tissue engineering and future reimbursement pathways.
Chair:
Michael Mendicino, Ph.D., President and Owner, Chief Consultant and Advisor, Hybrid Concepts International
Speakers:
Heather Lombardi, Ph.D., Regulatory Strategy Director, United Therapeutics Corporation
Richard McFarland, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Regulatory Officer, ARMI
Tim Schroeder, Chairman, CEO, and Founder, CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services
Jason Wertheim, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Professor of Surgery (Transplantation), Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona College of Medicine
SCIENCE SLAM: ADVANCING THE FRONTIER OF T CELL THERAPY IN ONCOLOGY AND RHEUMATOLOGY
{FLW Ballroom F}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
A dynamic look at the scientific, manufacturing, and commercial pathways shaping the future of autologous and allogeneic T cell therapies across different indications and patient populations.
Chair:
Josh Ludwig, Global Commercial Director, ScaleReady
Speakers:
Taby Ahsan, Ph.D., Vice President, Cell and Gene Therapy Operations, City of Hope
Leah DiMascio, Ph.D., Chief Operations Officer, March Biosciences
Jeff Liter, President and CEO, Luminary Therapeutics
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
| 1:30pm – 1:45pm | TreeFrog Therapeutics |
| 1:45pm – 2:00pm | Scribe Therapeutics |
| 2:00pm – 2:15pm | uniQure |
| 2:15pm – 2:30pm | Wacker Bio |
2:30pm – 3:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
HOW PATIENT GROUPS ARE DRIVING INNOVATION AND RESEARCH IN THE CGT SECTOR
{FLW Ballroom E}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Moderator:
Charlene Son Rigby, CEO, Global Genes
Speakers:
Joe Katakowski, Ph.D., Director of Research, RTW Foundation
Casey McPherson, Founder and CEO, AlphaRose Therapeutics
Alana Newhouse, President, Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST)
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
| 2:30pm – 2:45pm | Healios |
| 2:45pm – 3:00pm | BlueRock Therapeutics |
| 3:00pm – 3:15pm | REGENXBIO |
| 3:15pm – 3:30pm | MEDIPOST |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
| 2:30pm – 2:45pm | Kiji Therapeutics |
| 2:45pm – 3:00pm | Forge Biologics |
| 3:00pm – 3:15pm | iCell Gene Therapeutics |
| 3:15pm – 3:30pm | Avobis Bio |
3:30pm – 4:00pm | AFTERNOON BREAK
Sponsored by OXB
4:00pm – 5:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
INVESTING IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY: INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS
{FLW Ballroom E}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Speaker:
Josh Schimmer, M.D., Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald
SCIENCE SLAM: QUALITY, SPEED, COST – PICK THREE
{FLW Ballroom F}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Manufacturing teams still joke that you can only choose two of the three: high quality, short timelines, or low cost. This Science Slam puts that myth on trial. The session will feature case studies and data showcasing the impact of new technologies to reduce time and COGS while improving quality of the output. The presenters will discuss modular automation and smart analytics that help redraw the quality-time-money triangle for CGT manufacturing.
Chair:
Bill Lloyd, Ph.D., Vice President of R&D, Akadeum Life Sciences
Speakers:
Jason Bock, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, CTMC
Shannon Eaker, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Xcell Biosciences
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
| 4:00pm – 4:15pm | Ocugen |
| 4:15pm – 4:30pm | Aspen Neuroscience |
| 4:30pm – 4:45pm | Ascidian Therapeutics |
| 4:45pm – 5:00pm | Ensoma |
5:00pm – 6:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
COMPARABILITY TO CONTINUITY: ALIGNING LATE-STAGE MANUFACTURING CHANGES WITH GLOBAL POST-APPROVAL CONTROL IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY
{FLW Ballroom E}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Cell and gene therapy developers often “lock” their commercial process too early, only to face painful surprises as they finalize a BLA and move into global launch. This discussion brings together regulatory strategists, analytics leads, and manufacturing heads to tackle two sides of the same CMC coin, pre- and post-approval comparability.
Chair:
Don Fink, Ph.D., Master Practice Expert, Regulatory, Dark Horse Consulting
Speakers:
Ignacio Núñez, Chief Operations Officer, CellReady
Ana Sousa, Chief Regulatory Officer, Aspen Neuroscience
Philip Wills, Ph.D., Chief Commercial Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy, Catalent Pharma Solutions
Anne Marie Woodland, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality, Beam Therapeutics
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
| 5:00pm – 5:15pm | Touchlight |
| 5:15pm – 5:30pm | Capricor Therapeutics |
| 5:30pm – 5:45pm | Aldevron |
| 5:45pm – 6:00pm | SmartCella |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
| 5:00pm – 5:15pm | Life Edit |
| 5:15pm – 5:30pm | Cellares |
| 5:30pm – 5:45pm | Profluent |
| 5:45pm – 6:00pm | MKC Biotherapeutics |
6:00pm | PROGRAM AND PARTNERING CLOSES
6:00pm – 9:00pm | NETWORKING BASH
Sponsored by The Money Channel NYC
7:30am – 9:00am | REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
8:00am – 9:00am | CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
SCALING SMART: COLLABORATIVE COMMERCIALIZATION AND PROCESS AUTOMATION APPROACHES FOR DYNAMIC MARKETS
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom E
Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Chair:
Betty Woo, Ph.D., Management Consultant, Cell, Gene and Advanced Therapies, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Speakers:
Wolfram Carius, Executive Vice President, Pharmaceuticals, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Jennifer Cannon, President Commercial Operations, Thermo Fisher Pharma Services
Brian Shy, Lab Director, UCSF Cellular Transplantation GMP Facility
LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMMERCIAL CTS IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF IPSC-DERIVED THERAPIES
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom F
Sponsored by FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics
Chair:
Delara Motlagh, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics
Speakers:
Seth Ettenberg, Ph.D., President and CEO, BlueRock Therapeutics
Katy Spink, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer, Dark Horse Consulting Group
9:15am | GENERAL SESSION
ARM STRATEGIC INITIATIVES & GROW UPDATE
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:15am – 9:45am
Speaker:
Rita Johnson-Greene, Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
9:15am – 9:45am
| 9:15am – 9:30am | Avectas |
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Auregen Bio |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
9:15am – 9:45am
| 9:15am – 9:30am | Logomix Biotechnology |
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Satellite Biosciences |
9:45am – 10:30am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
APPLYING THE LESSONS OF CGT COMMERCIAL SUCCESSES TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF PRODUCTS
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:45am – 10:30am
This panel will highlight a few of the biggest success stories in CGT commercialization, and discuss lessons learned that can be applied to the next wave of promising CGT products making the high-stakes transition from the clinic to the market. Participants will also discuss the role of big biopharma in successful commercialization, either through acquisitions or partnerships.
Chair:
Eytan Abraham, Ph.D., Chief Commercial and Technology Officer, Minaris Regenerative Medicine
Speaker:
Curran Simpson, President and CEO, REGENXBIO
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
9:45am – 10:30am
| 9:45am – 10:00am | CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting |
| 10:00am – 10:15am | March Biosciences |
| 10:15am – 10:30am | Fractyl Health |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
9:45am – 10:30am
| 9:45am – 10:00am | TBD |
| 10:00am – 10:15am | Charles River |
| 10:15am – 10:30am | Likarda |
10:30am – 11:00am | MORNING BREAK
Sponsored by OXB
11:00am – 12:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
GENE EDITING GETS PERSONAL: THE STORY OF BABY KJ AND A NEW ERA IN MEDICINE
{FLW Ballroom E}
11:00am – 12:00pm
Chair:
Sadik Kassim, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Danaher Genomic Medicines
Speakers:
Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., Founder, MLD Voices and The Callope Joy Foundation
Devyn Smith, Ph.D., CEO, Arbor Biotechnologies
Fyodor Urnov, Ph.D., Director, Technology and Translation, Innovative Genomics Institute; Professor, MCB Department, University of California, Berkeley
Tom Wilton, Senior Vice President, Innovation Ventures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
SCIENCE SLAM: COMPARABILITY STUDIES – WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
{FLW Ballroom F}
11:00am – 12:00pm
Comparability studies are critical for ensuring that changes in manufacturing processes or different versions of a product maintain similar quality, safety, and efficacy. The goal of the comparability exercise is to evaluate the pre- and post-change in the final drug product and establish a case for the products being comparable. Successfully “walking the tightrope” of comparability studies involves striking a delicate balance between scientific precision, process/manufacturing considerations, and regulatory requirements to ensure final product reproducibility without changing the profile and meeting the safety and efficacy requirements.
Chair:
Rupa Pike, Senior Director and Global Head of Strategic Alliances, Catalent Pharma Solutions
Speakers:
Michael Mendicino, Ph.D., President and Owner, Chief Consultant and Advisor, Hybrid Concepts International
Allen Callaway, Director, Global CMC Regulatory Affairs, Johnson & Johnson
Karin McIntosh, Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Orca Bio
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
11:00am – 12:00pm
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Skylark Bio |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | EG 427 |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | AviadoBio |
| 11:45am – 12:00pm | Poltreg |
12:00pm – 12:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
SPOTLIGHT SESSION: MARCI MCCUE
{FLW Ballroom E}
12:00pm – 12:30pm
Speaker:
Marci McCue, CAR-T Recipient
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
12:00pm – 12:30pm
| 12:00pm – 12:15pm | Persista Bio |
| 12:15pm – 12:30pm | Laverock Therapeutics |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
12:00pm – 12:30pm
| 12:00pm – 12:15pm | Papillon Therapeutics |
| 12:15pm – 12:30pm | nChroma Bio |
12:30pm – 1:30pm | LUNCH
Sponsored by Kincell Bio
1:30pm – 2:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
SCALING THE FUTURE: HOW BIG BIOPHARMA IS INFLUENCING WHAT’S NEXT IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY
{FLW Ballroom E}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Explore how large biopharma companies are shaping the future of cell and gene therapy through strategic partnerships, internal innovation, and market integration. Leaders will share perspectives on sustainable commercial models, global access planning, and the long-term impact of CGT on the broader biopharma landscape.
Speakers:
Manny Simons, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Gene Therapy, Eli Lilly; CEO and Co-Founder, Akouos
Richard Smith, Ph.D., Vice President, Drug Discovery, Kite
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
| 1:30pm – 1:45pm | Outpace Bio |
| 1:45pm – 2:00pm | Immusoft |
| 2:00pm – 2:15pm | Aseptic Technologies |
| 2:15pm – 2:30pm | FibroBiologics |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
1:30pm – 2:30pm
| 1:30pm – 1:45pm | Kyverna Therapeutics |
| 1:45pm – 2:00pm | Viralgen |
| 2:00pm – 2:15pm | Kenai Therapeutics |
| 2:15pm – 2:30pm | S.Biomedics |
2:30pm – 3:30pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
EQUITY AT SCALE: EXPANDING ACCESS TO CELL AND GENE THERAPIES ACROSS BORDERS
{FLW Ballroom E}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
This panel will explore how industry leaders can work together to expand equitable global access to cell and gene therapies by addressing regulatory, commercial, and ethical considerations across borders.
Chair:
Tim Hunt, CEO, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
Speakers:
Lisa Deschamps, CEO, AviadoBio
Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
Kevin FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., Chair, Department of Medical Humanities, Associate Professor, Creighton University
James Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO, GEMMABio; Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
| 2:30pm – 2:45pm | Arbor Biotechnologies |
| 2:45pm – 3:00pm | Ernexa Therapeutics |
| 3:00pm – 3:15pm | Rocket Pharmaceuticals |
| 3:15pm – 3:30pm | ExCellThera |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
2:30pm – 3:30pm
| 2:30pm – 2:45pm | Aspect Biosystems |
| 2:45pm – 3:00pm | CoJourney |
| 3:00pm – 3:15pm | Aileron AI |
| 3:15pm – 3:30pm | Astraveus |
3:30pm – 4:00pm | AFTERNOON BREAK
Sponsored by OXB
4:00pm – 5:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
BUILDING RESILIENCE: SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATIONS FOR CELL AND GENE THERAPY MANUFACTURING
{FLW Ballroom E}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
As the cell and gene therapy field scales, resilient and patient-centered supply chains are critical for timely, consistent delivery. This panel will explore innovations in redundancy, digital tools, and cross-sector collaboration that ensure quality, traceability, and reliability.
Speakers:
Kevin Chinn, Ph.D., Vice President, Head of Cell and Gene Service Line, Cencora
Bryan Holmes, Vice President, Digital and Technology Solutions, Andelyn Biosciences
Panteli Theocharous, Ph.D., Director of the Board, The Malcom Orlando Ivy Foundation (TMOIF); CEO, VectorGen
SCIENCE SLAM: THE FUTURE OF ANALYTICS – ACCELERATING PATIENT ACCESS THROUGH RAPID RELEASE
{FLW Ballroom F}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
As the cell and gene therapy field scales, release testing remains a key bottleneck between manufacturing and patient access. Rapid methods, from sterility to mycoplasma, promise to cut timelines dramatically. This Science Slam will spotlight how companies are utilizing technological advancements to strategically align with evolving regulatory guidance for rapid release testing and analytics to help get products to patients faster.
Chair:
Cynthia Martino, Ph.D., Head of R&D, Bionique
Speakers:
Mike Paglia, Chief Technology Officer, ElevateBio, BaseCamp
Melissa Rodriguez, Ph.D., Director of Quality Control, Cellipont Bioservices
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
4:00pm – 5:00pm
| 4:00pm – 4:15pm | Myrtelle |
| 4:15pm – 4:30pm | U-Neuron Biomedical |
| 4:30pm – 4:45pm | Form Bio |
| 4:45pm – 5:00pm | StimulusBio |
5:00pm – 6:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
EXPANDING HORIZONS: BUILDING THE CGT MARKET ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC
{FLW Ballroom E}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
As gene and cell therapies advance across Asia-Pacific markets, stakeholders are encountering both convergence and complexity across regulatory, commercial, and manufacturing pathways. This panel brings together biotech leaders and commercialization experts to explore how APAC markets are evolving—and how developers can align with regulators, scale effectively, and deliver access for patients across borders. This session will provide a 360-degree view of what’s required to move advanced therapies from lab to patient across the APAC landscape.
Moderator:
Matthew Hewitt, Ph.D., Vice President, CTO Manufacturing Business Division, Charles River Laboratories
Speakers:
Mathias Kroll, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, Cynata Therapeutics
Antonio Lee, Ph.D., Global President and CEO, MEDIPOST
Francis Pang, Senior Vice President, Global Market Access and International Geographic Expansion, Orchard Therapeutics
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
| 5:00pm – 5:15pm | TBD |
| 5:15pm – 5:30pm | Axent Biosciences |
| 5:30pm – 5:45pm | Anocca |
| 5:45pm – 6:00pm | Broken String Biosciences |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
5:00pm – 6:00pm
| 5:00pm – 5:15pm | CHO Plus |
| 5:15pm – 5:30pm | Akadeum Life Sciences |
| 5:30pm – 5:45pm | Tessera Therapeutics |
| 5:45pm – 6:00pm | Evia Bio |
6:00pm | PROGRAM AND PARTNERING CLOSES
6:00pm – 7:00pm | COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Sponsored by Precision for Medicine
7:30am – 9:00am | REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
8:00am – 9:00am | MORNING WORKSHOP
PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS: DRIVING INNOVATION IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom F
Sponsored by Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
Chair:
Veerle D’Haenens, General Manager, Global Therapy Innovations, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
Speakers:
Colleen Maiden, Executive Director, Business Development Cell and Gene Therapy, American Red Cross
Dave Smith, Ph.D., Vice President, Development, Made Scientific
Bruce Thompson, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Kincell
9:15am | GENERAL SESSION
DAY 3 REMARKS AND CONFERENCE SUMMARY
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:15am – 9:30am
Speaker:
Tim Hunt, CEO, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
9:30am – 10:15am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
THE WEIGHT OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN RARE DISEASE GENE THERAPY: EVOLVING ENDPOINTS AND REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:30am – 10:15am
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
9:30am – 10:15am
| 9:30am – 9:45am | GC Therapeutics |
| 9:45am – 10:00am | GenVivo |
| 10:00am – 10:15am | RheumaGen |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
9:30am – 10:15am
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Mayo Clinic |
| 9:45am – 10:00am | Vitalant |
| 10:00am – 10:15am | Forta Bio |
10:15am – 11:00am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
UNLOCKING NON-TRADITIONAL FUNDING PATHWAYS FOR CELL AND GENE THERAPY COMMERCIALIZATION
{FLW Ballroom E}
10:15am – 11:00am
As traditional venture capital becomes more risk-averse, cell and gene therapy developers are increasingly exploring alternative paths to fund and scale their innovations. This panel will spotlight public and institutional funding models that are enabling developers to advance breakthrough therapies while building strong and sustainable businesses.
Chair:
Audrey Greenberg, Venture Partner, Mayo Clinic
Speakers:
Ahmed Mousa, M.D., General Manager, Lafana Life Sciences
Jason Roos, Ph.D., Acting Director, ARPA-H
Jonathan Thomas, Ph.D., President and CEO, CIRM
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
10:15am – 11:00am
| 10:15am – 10:30am | Latus Bio |
| 10:30am – 10:45am | CPTx |
| 10:45am – 11:00am | AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
10:15am – 11:00am
| 10:15am – 10:30am | BlueWhale Bio |
| 10:30am – 10:45am | Focused Ultrasound Foundation |
| 10:45am – 11:00am | Tozaro |
11:00am – 12:00pm | CONCURRENT TRACKS
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF MFN AND TARIFFS ON THE CELL AND GENE THERAPY SECTOR
{FLW Ballroom E}
11:00am – 12:00pm
Global pricing policies like Most Favored Nation (MFN) rules and evolving tariff structures are reshaping the economics of cell and gene therapy — from raw material imports to international launch planning. This session will break down the real-world implications for developers, manufacturers, and investors, with insights from leaders navigating policy turbulence in real time.
Chair:
Marc Samuels, CEO, ADVI Health
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
11:00am – 11:45am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | BBG Advanced Therapies |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | TBD |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
11:00am – 11:45am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Secretome Therapeutics |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | TBD |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | TBD |
12:00pm – 1:00pm | LUNCH
1:00pm | CONFERENCE CLOSES
The Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa is the sector’s foremost annual conference bringing together senior executives and top decision-makers in the industry to advance cutting-edge research into cures. Tackling the commercialization hurdles facing the cell and gene therapy sector today, this meeting covers a wide range of topics from clinical trial design to alternative payment models to scale-up and supply chain platforms for advanced therapies. The program features expert-led panels, extensive partnering capabilities, exclusive networking opportunities, and 110+ dedicated presentations by the leading publicly traded and privately held companies in the space. Attracting over 2,000 attendees – over 20% of which are C-level executives – this conference enables key partnerships through more than 5,000 one-on-one meetings while highlighting the significant clinical and commercial progress in the field.
October 6-8, 2025
Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix, AZ
