The 2025 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa was delivered in a hybrid format with live programming available over the course of three days. Virtual registrants had access to all content via livestream during the program dates. Additionally, all content was 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 – 8:30pm 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
Kent Christopherson, Ph.D., Head of Global Medical Affairs, Orchard Therapeutics
Reagan Jarvis, Ph.D., CEO and 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, OmniaBio
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
INVESTING IN INNOVATION: ADVANCING GENE EDITING SOLUTIONS FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS
{FLW Ballroom E}
10:00am – 10:30am
This panel will explore how strategic funding and collaboration are accelerating the development of next-generation gene editing technologies to address the unmet needs of patients.
Chair:
Bob Smith, Venture Partner, OrbiMed; Chairman, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
Speaker:
Allan Reine, M.D., CEO, Prime Medicine
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
10:00am – 10:30am
| 10:00am – 10:15am | Moffitt Cancer Center |
| 10:15am – 10:30am | Boston Biodevelopment |
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: TOM WHITEHEAD
{FLW Ballroom E}
11:00am – 11:30am
Tom Whitehead is a keynote speaker, author, and journeyman lineman for an energy company. He is also the proud father of Emily and the co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer immunotherapy research. Tom, his wife Kari, and their daughter Emily founded the Emily Whitehead Foundation to share their story and support families facing pediatric cancer. At age five, Emily was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia that did not respond to standard treatments. As a last resort, she was enrolled in a groundbreaking clinical trial and became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The treatment was a success—Emily has been cancer-free for over 13 years and is now considered cured.
Chair:
Jason Foster, CEO and Executive Director, Ori Biotech
Speaker:
Tom Whitehead, President and Co-Founder, Emily Whitehead Foundation
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom F}
11:00am – 11:30am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Xcell Biosciences |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | Rocket Pharma |
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:
Warner Biddle, Executive CEO, Kyverna Therapeutics
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, a type of regenerative medicine, including discussion of history, technological advances for reemergence, current state of FDA regulation, recent successes, and related tissue engineering. We will also explore numerous CMC, clinical and regulatory complexities, and ways to navigate, in order to solve the organ/tissue shortage problem.
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
Patient groups are increasingly shaping the future of cell and gene therapies, from advancing research priorities to catalyzing new partnerships and accelerating innovation. This discussion will highlight how patient-driven organizations and foundations are driving meaningful progress in the CGT sector, bridging the gap between patients, researchers, and industry.
Chair:
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 | CREATE Medicines |
| 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
Join top investors for a lively discussion on where the smart money is going in cell and gene therapy—what’s driving excitement, what hurdles remain, and where the biggest opportunities lie in the years ahead.
Chair:
Steve Favaloro, Chairman and CEO, Genezen
Speakers:
Josh Schimmer, M.D., Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald
Owen Smith, Partner, 4BIO Capital
Qing Zhang, M.D., Managing Director, LDV Partners
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
Adam Bryan, Vice President, Personalized Medicine, Lonza
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 – 8:30pm | NETWORKING BASH
Sponsored by ElevateBio and The Money Channel NYC
7:30am – 9:00am | REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
Sponsored by Miromatrix and United Therapeutics
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:
Jennifer Cannon, Ph.D., President Commercial Operations, Thermo Fisher Pharma Services
Wolfram Carius, Ph.D., Board Member, BlueRock Therapeutics
Jennifer MacDonald, M.D., Chief Operating Officer, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) | BioFabUSA
Brian Shy, M.D., Ph.D., 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
Vanguel Trapkov, Ph.D., Senior Director, Strategic Options and Assessment, Oncology and Cell Tx Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb
ACCELERATING CURES: BUILDING THE DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR THE FUTURE OF SCALABLE CELL THERAPIES
8:00am – 9:00am | FLW Ballroom G
Sponsored by L7 Informatics
Personalized cell therapies hold extraordinary promise, but getting them to patients faster requires tackling unprecedented complexity in manufacturing, scale-up, and global delivery. This independent thought-leadership session brings together leaders from DFCI, CTMC, and Cellipont—moderated by Marcia Blackmoore of L7 Informatics—for a principled, idea-driven discussion on the future of advanced therapies. Together, they will explore the speed imperative, the human impact of delays, and the role of a connected digital backbone in transforming today’s breakthroughs into tomorrow’s cures. With diverse perspectives across science, operations, and clinical delivery, the panel will offer clear, actionable insights for how the field can move from promise to global impact.
Chair:
Marcia Blackmoore, Vice President, Customer Operations, L7 Informatics
Speakers:
Jason Bock, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, CTMC
Carolyn Lutzko, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Novel Cell Therapy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Daniel Ramirez, Vice President Operations, Site Head, Cellipont Bioservices
9:15am | GENERAL SESSION
ARM STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND GROW UPDATE
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:15am – 9:45am
Speakers:
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 | Portal 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 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 Advanced Therapies
Speakers:
Dan Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer, Iovance Biotherapeutics
Johanna Rossell, Senior Vice President, General Manager Rare Diseases, Sumitomo Pharma America
Helen Sabzevari, Ph.D., President and CEO, Precigen
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 | Trogenix |
| 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
This session will examine the groundbreaking case of Baby KJ, exploring its implications for families, science, and industry as gene editing enters a new era. Panelists will discuss the technological, regulatory, and commercial hurdles that remain, while reflecting on the profound personal impact of these therapies for patients and their communities.
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
LIVING BEYOND CAR-T: MARCI MCCUE’S JOURNEY AS THE FIRST MS TRIAL PATIENT TREATED
{FLW Ballroom E}
12:00pm – 12:30pm
In this fireside chat, Marci McCue, the first patient to participate in a CAR-T cell therapy trial for multiple sclerosis, shares her powerful story of diagnosis, clinical trial enrollment, and life after treatment. This conversation will highlight the patient perspective, explore the realities of trial access and recovery, and offer a call to action for the cell and gene therapy community to design more patient-centered pathways.
Chair:
Kelly Kester, Director, Portfolio Strategy and Planning, Advanced Therapy Solutions, Cardinal Health
Speaker:
Marci McCue, First MS Patient to Trial CAR-T Cell Therapy
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.
Chair:
Daniel Palmacci, Head and President, Specialized Modalities and Member of the Executive Committee, Lonza
Speakers:
Fred Chereau, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Alexion
Christy Siegel, Pharm.D., Senior Vice President and US Therapeutic Area Head, Immunology, Novartis
Richard Smith, Ph.D., Vice President, Drug Discovery, Kite
Richard Wilson, Senior Vice President, Primary Focus Lead, Genetic Regulation, Astellas
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 | InspiroGene |
| 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 strategies in managing raw & starting materials, innovative digital tools & AI, and sustainable partnerships to ensure quality, traceability, and reliability.
Chair:
Priya Baraniak, Ph.D., Chief Commercial and Development Officer, Pluristyx
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
Raja Srinivas, Ph.D., Co-founder, Asimov
Panteli Theocharous, Ph.D., FRCPath, 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:
Samuel Molina, Executive Director, MSAT, American Red Cross
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 | AGC Biologics |
| 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
Yoshiaki Maruyama, Ph.D., Director, Office of Cellular and Tissue-based Products, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)
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 | Porton Advanced |
| 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
Barbara Ressler, Ph.D., Vice President, Manufacturing Process Sciences, RoslinCT
David Smith, Ph.D., Vice President, Development, Made Scientific
Bruce Thompson, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Kincell
9:00am | GENERAL SESSION
FEATURED SPEAKER: VICTORIA GRAY
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:00am – 9:30am
Hear directly from Victoria Gray, the first patient treated for sickle cell disease using CRISPR, as she shares her personal journey and the impact of groundbreaking gene-editing therapies.
Chair:
Rita Johnson-Greene,Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
Speaker:
Victoria Gray, First Patient to Be Treated for Sickle Cell Disease Using CRISPR
9:30am – 10:15am | CONCURRENT TRACKS
ACCELERATING DEVELOPMENT THROUGH REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY: EVOLVING ENDPOINTS IN GENE THERAPY
{FLW Ballroom E}
9:30am – 10:15am
The session will examine the acceleration of gene therapy development when traditional clinical endpoints are not feasible. Panelists will discuss totality of evidence approaches, evolving endpoints, and lessons from FDA interactions and pilot programs. The discussion will highlight opportunities for regulatory flexibility while maintaining rigorous standards across rare and non-rare disease contexts.
Chair:
Monica Veldman, Director, Global Regulatory Policy, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
Speakers:
Rachel McMinn, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Neurogene
Nicholas Richardson, D.O., Vice President, Clinical Development, Precision for Medicine
Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., President, R&D and Technical Operations, Sarepta Therapeutics
Keith Wonnacott, Ph.D., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, LEXEO Therapeutics
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
Speakers:
Erica Cischke, Vice President, Government Affairs, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)
John Hermanek, Vice President, Global Market Access and Government Affairs, Immatics
Dilip Patel, Senior Vice President, Access and Market Development, Autolus
Laurel Todd, Head of Policy and Market Access Operations, Iovance Biotherapeutics
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 | Bionova Scientific |
COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
{FLW Ballroom G}
11:00am – 11:45am
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Secretome Therapeutics |
| 11:15am – 11:30am | Be Biopharma |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | Xintela |
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 1,500 attendees – over 30% 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 5-7, 2026
Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix, AZ
