This edition of our ever popular BioTuesday event format will spotlight 'The Latest R&D in Cell & Gene Therapy'. Cell and gene (C&G) therapies are revolutionising medicine, with 36 therapies now approved by the FDA in the USA. These novel treatment modalities are proving decisive in positive patient outcomes typically across oncology and rare diseases, and often for those indications that have limited or no treatment options. 

During this BioTuesday, kindly hosted by Oxford Technology Park, we'll hear from cell therapy R&D leaders blazing trails in clinical trials, expert C&G therapy manufacturing and support organisations, plus innovators pushing ever further the boundaries of C&G therapy with next-gen technologies.

We hope you will join us to learn more about this ground-breaking journey with drivers of cell and gene therapy.

Programme:

18.00 – 18.30 Guest arrivals and networking

From 18.30, Welcome: Philip Simister, Head of Science & Entrepreneur Advocate, OBN​

Keynote Presentation: Jo Brewer, CSO​ at Adaptimmune​

Followed by 10-minute presentations from:

Dimor Elbers​, Associate Director Licensing at Lonza​ 

Kevin Takuya Vela​, Collaborations Manager at the Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult​, 'Implementing automation and digitisation of ATMP manufacture to improve global patient access'

Lara Campana​, VP Research Operations and Co-Founder of Resolution Therapeutics​

Felix Dobbs​, Co-Founder & CEO of Broken String Biosciences​

Anastasia Maslova​, Senior Research Scientist at Oxford Gene Technologies​

20.00 – 20.30 Audience & Presenter Q&A

20.30 – 21.30 Networking

About our Host, Oxford Technology Park​:

Where science and technology comes alive - Oxford's new 400,000 sq.ft. Science and Technology Park, providing the next generation of office, Research & Development, laboratory and production space for science-based occupiers at the heart of Oxfordshire's Knowledge Economy.

The Oxford Technology Park is a new home for innovative, Science, and Technology based businesses where they can be nurtured and grow within Oxford's rapidly expanding scientific hub.  Oxford Technology Park not only offers a place of work with the latest facilities but also provides communal space where business communities can form, where collaboration can be cultivated and where innovation can thrive.

It has the unique benefit of being at the commercial centre of innovative activity with London Oxford Airport, Begbroke and the high-tech/life-science hubs of Oxford all in close proximity. An amenity-rich environment is on the park's doorstep, with a large gym, shops, restaurants and character pubs.

More about the topic

The first targeted cell therapy for treating some blood cancers with ex vivo engineered genes in the form of CAR-T cells – sometimes termed cell-based gene therapies – was first approved nearly 9 years ago. In February of this year the first cell therapy (AMTAGVI) for treating solid tumours with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was approved by the FDA, in addition to 5 new gene therapy treatments in the last year alone. In the UK, in late 2023, the MHRA approved the world's first CRISPR gene-edited cell-based therapy (CASGEVY) for two genetically inherited red blood cell disorders. These major developments are bringing C&G therapies into the mainstream in the context of personalised medicine. It has become clear that targeted C&G treatments can lead to patient benefits never before seen.

In parallel, increased C&G therapy development has necessitated the expansion of manufacturing capabilities to meet clinical demand, frequently with contract manufacturing services proving essential. As next generation cell therapies are already being trialled in the clinic, with new gene-editing technologies under development and new companies entering the space, the future should see a continued rise in both the number and type of diseases amenable to C&G therapy.