Conference Day One

Cancelled

7:50 am Check-In & Coffee

8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Uniting Bioengineering Innovators to Evaluate the Cell Therapy Landscape & Latest Clinical Advancements

9:00 am Expert Panel: Navigating the Complexities of Cell Therapy Engineering & Clinical Approval

  • Julia Coronella Vice President of Immuno- Oncology, Poseida Therapeutics
  • Gary Shapiro Vice President - Discovery Biology, Affini-T Therapeutics
  • Elena Peletskaya Senior Director - Portfolio Technical Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb

Synopsis

  • A panel discussion covering a top-level overview of the latest advancements in cell therapy engineering
  • Highlighting the need for “next generation” constructs and the opportunities they provide for patients
  • Considering the broad challenges facing bioengineering of complex cell therapies to unveil the routes to overcoming these

9:30 am Clinical Data Presentation

  • Salman Punekar Medical Oncologist, NYU Langone Health, Perlmutter Cancer Center

Synopsis

  • Session details coming soon…

10:00 am Leveraging Synthetic Biological Systems for Diverse Applications in Engineered Cell Therapies

  • Ron Weiss Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Synopsis

  • Develop sophisticated RNA-based logic circuits for precise cancer targeting, immunotherapy, organoids, and autoimmunity
  • Design self-amplifying RNA therapeutics delivered in LNPs for complex cellular functions
  • Utilize miRNA biomarkers to control therapeutic protein expression and RNA amplification

10:30 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking

Innovations in the Delivery of Novel Constructs for Advanced Cell Therapies

11:30 am Novel Technologies to Enhance Delivery Efficacy of Complex Constructs

  • John Rossi Vice President of Translational Medicine, Capstan Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Addressing concerns with the delivery of larger and more complex constructs
  • Evaluating different vectors for construct delivery
  • Ensuring fitness of cells that have received these constructs to ensure survival and success

12:00 pm Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Improve Large & Complex Construct Delivery

  • Elena Peletskaya Senior Director - Portfolio Technical Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb

Synopsis

  • Enhancing antigen specificity, potency, and safety of transgenic cell therapies through precise genome editing
  • Inducing a coordinated immune response to protect engineered T-cells from exhaustion and prolong their therapeutic effect

12:30 pm Precision Delivery of Complex Cell Therapy Cargos with DNA Origami Nanoparticles

Synopsis

  • Leveraging DNA origami to construct highly precise drug delivery vehicles
  • Engineering nanoparticles for targeted delivery of multiple therapeutic agents
  • Exploring innovative applications of DNA origami in cell therapy and beyond

1 pm Lunch Break & Networking

Designing Cutting Edge Constructs to Enhance Cellular Functionality

2:00 pm Generating Novel CARs to Improve Cell Functionality & Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy

  • Eduardo Laborda Director - Immuno Oncology, Calibr-Skaggs at Scripps Research

Synopsis

  • Implementing cytokine engineering to boost cell performance
  • Reprogramming cells for superior therapeutic outcomes
  • Investigating CAR cells for regenerative medicine applications

2:30 pm Structural Modifications to Constructs Enabling Improved Efficacy in the Next Generation Cell Therapy

Synopsis

  • Investigating the engineering strategies driving the next generation of cell therapies
  • Exploring innovative approaches to modify cell therapy constructs, enhancing their potency, specificity, and persistence
  • Gaining insights into the latest advancements and their potential to revolutionize clinical outcomes

3 pm Afternoon Refreshments & Networking

Utilizing Advanced Complex Engineering Approaches to Streamline Clinical Development

3:30 pm Addressing Gene Editing & Modifications to Enable More Complex Cell Therapies

  • Gary Shapiro Vice President - Discovery Biology, Affini-T Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Leveraging CRISPR knock-in gene editing to increase sensitivity, potency, and safety of transgenic TCR-expressing T-cell therapies
  • Harnessing armoring strategies to induce a coordinated immune response that resists exhaustion and allows for durable functional persistence of the engineered T-cells

4:00 pm Audience Discussion: Addressing the Complexities of Advanced Cell Therapy Engineering from an Regulatory & Operational Perspective

  • Amish Patel Senior Vice President - Technical Operations, Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc.

Synopsis

  • Navigating complex interactions between engineering, clinical development, and patient needs
  • Addressing infrastructure, resourcing, and financial hurdles in cell therapy commercialization
  • Fostering collaboration and data-driven approaches to accelerate clinical translation and patient access

4:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

4:40 pm End of Conference Day One