Future of CGT 2026 brought together the cell and gene therapy community on 24 April 2026 at PLNT Leiden for its inaugural edition.
The event united professionals from across development, manufacturing, regulation, clinical translation, investment, and company building to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss the future of advanced therapies.
Future of CGT 2026 was shaped by the contributions of its speakers, partners, sponsors, and attendees, creating an open, practical, and forward-looking platform for collaboration and discussion within the growing CGT ecosystem.
The organizers look forward to continuing the conversation at Future of CGT 2027, with further details to be announced soon.
biois Europe’s Life Science & AI Investival, dedicated to connecting breakthrough science with the funding needed to transform ideas into real-world impact.
The event brings together global investors, founders, and industry leaders to identify, showcase, and support some of the most promising innovations emerging from European research. bio:cap focuses on transforming cutting-edge scientific discoveries into investable ventures and accelerating their journey from the laboratory to the market.
Its mission is to contribute to improved patient outcomes and societal benefit while supporting the development of a resilient and sustainable European bioeconomy.
As part of Germany’s Clusters4Future initiative, PROXIDRUGS is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space since October 2021. The cluster focuses on developing new treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs by utilizing the new concept of targeted protein degradation. Proximity-inducing drugs can trigger the degradation of disease-relevant proteins in a highly specific manner by directing them towards the cellular recycling system. That will open up new therapeutic options in a broad spectrum of diseases. It is assumed that 80% of proteins that are so far deemed as undruggable may be targeted by this strategy.
PROXIDRUGS aims at improving this novel class of drugs in multiple ways: the strategy comprises the identification of suitable functional subunits for molecule engineering; the directed optimization of pharmacological properties; and the transfer to clinical phases. In line with this, the cluster interlinks currently 22 partners from academia and industry, covering the entire value chain from basic to translational research.
You can visit their website here.
The National Network Office GCT Germany was established as part of the National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapies (GCT). The office is based at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and operates independently in accordance with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Our mission is to build a national GCT community through independent information and networking, ensuring the inclusion of all stakeholder groups. Our stakeholders include representatives from science, industry, politics, and society, as well as authorities, foundations, and patient organizations.
We are consolidating and sharing knowledge: The GCT-Atlas serves as the central information platform and matchmaking hub, providing easy access to clinics, research networks and more. With GeneNovate, the first national entrepreneurship program in GCT, we provide the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, supporting researchers and physicians. Our growing community-based media portfolio includes the GCT newsletter, our LinkedIn channel and the upcoming media library.
BioVaria targets technology scouts, business developers and investors
highlighting commercially attractive licensing opportunities and promising
start‑ups from across Europe.
This unique event brings together Europe‘s leading tech transfer professionals,
innovators from academia and start-ups with investors and representatives of
the global biotech and pharma industry.
biosaxony e.V. is the association of the biotechnology, medical technology and health economy sector in the region of Saxony. The members represent the various companies, research institutes and lobbyists working in biotechnology, medtech and the related areas of engineering and material sciences in Saxony. The cluster unites the different sectors of biotechnology and medical technology, identifies the needs of its members, and represents their interests at home and abroad.
biosaxony’s responsibilities include initiating projects between industry and research, pinpointing services and know-how, harnessing synergies, and highlighting regional expertise. Other elements of our cluster work include developing new ideas and strategies as well promoting sustainable technology transfer. The association’s office is in Dresden.
You can visit their website here.
bioRN Life Science Cluster
BioRN is the science and industry innovation cluster in the Rhine-Neckar region around Heidelberg, one of Germany’s strongest biotech and life science hubs. It is a non-profit network fostering health innovations and serving its members by creating a rich translational ecosystem as well as promoting, representing and connecting the regional innovation stakeholders.
The bioRN Life Science Cluster establishes initiatives to bridge the regional innovation stakeholders and to nurture and extend connections between members. It also fosters connections to other regions of innovation worldwide and stands for the promotion and visibility of the life science region at the national and international level.
The cluster acts as a neutral player, supporting cross-organizational programs and initiatives that advance the life science region as a whole. At the interface between academia and industry, bioRN provides translation support, especially by leveraging the unique combination of global pharma and leading academic institutions in the region.
You can visit their website here.
BioM has been the network organization of the biotechnology industry in Munich and Bavaria for over 25 years and operates as a non-profit organization on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. BioM fosters a distinctive ecosystem in medical biotechnology, serving as a catalyst for innovation, growth and value creation. It interconnects stakeholders across Bavaria and identifies significant and sustainable trends.
In addition to providing tailored guidance for founders, we support selected Bavarian start-up teams from the life sciences and healthtech sectors with our incubator MAxL (Munich Accelerator Life Sciences & Medicine). MAxL offers high-end infrastructure, a structured incubation and coaching program as well as access to the extensive BioM network.
Moreover, BioM has been coordinating the m4 Award pre-seed competition in the field of biomedicine since 2011, which is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs with a total of 2.5 million euros. To date, BioM has supported more than 250 start-ups. Besides organizing prominent events and network meetings, BioM offers a diverse range of training courses specifically tailored to meet the needs of stakeholders within the Bavarian Biotech Community.
You can visit their website here.
Twist Bioscience works in service of customers who are developing solutions to improve lives and promote global sustainability. Operating across fields such as medicine, agriculture, and industrial chemicals, the company provides synthetic DNA tools that enable researchers and organizations to accelerate innovation and scientific discovery.
Twist Bioscience is uniquely positioned to support these efforts through its proprietary silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform, which delivers precision at a scale not otherwise readily available. The platform is designed to overcome traditional inefficiencies and enables cost-effective, rapid, precise, and high-throughput synthesis, sequencing, and therapeutics discovery.
By combining scalability with advanced platform technologies, Twist Bioscience provides customers with both the quality and quantity of tools needed to accelerate research, product development, and commercialization opportunities.
Sino Biological is a global leader in the production of high-quality recombinant proteins, antibodies, and cDNA clones for the life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. With more than 15 years of experience, the company provides integrated solutions spanning research and development through full-scale manufacturing to accelerate scientific discovery and drug development.
Its mission is to advance life science research and improve human health by delivering high-quality research reagents and contract research organization (CRO) services.
Sino Biological’s core competencies include recombinant protein and antibody production, providing custom research reagents that support innovation in academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical sector. The company also offers pre-clinical production and CRO services that support hundreds of monoclonal antibody drug candidates.
Through its Bioprocess Center in the United States, Sino Biological operates a GMP-compliant facility specializing in low-endotoxin production, high-purity proteins, protein interaction analysis, tag removal, buffer screening, and glycosylation studies.
The company combines advanced R&D platforms with scalable manufacturing technologies to ensure high-throughput and efficient production. Its quality control processes include biochemical, enzymatic, cellular, molecular, virological, and immunological assays.
In 2024, Sino Biological acquired SignalChem Biotech Inc., significantly expanding its enzyme portfolio with the world’s largest catalog of active kinases and enhanced enzyme assay development services.
The company employs more than 900 staff members, including over 230 employees with advanced degrees. Its infrastructure includes approximately 279,800 square feet of laboratory and office space, as well as a 75,000 square foot GMP manufacturing facility.
Headquartered in Beijing, Sino Biological maintains subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Japan, supported by a worldwide distributor network. The company serves academic institutions, biotechnology start-ups, and leading pharmaceutical companies around the globe.
Scinus Cell Expansion develops technologies and services that advance cell therapy and regenerative medicine, with the mission of making cell therapies accessible to patients worldwide.
The company is commercializing Osilaris, a closed, GMP-compliant bioreactor system for stem cell cultivation. Osilaris provides a cost-effective and controlled alternative to conventional manufacturing methods, enabling the expansion of adherent cells, suspension cells, and organoids within a single closed system.
Its patented, single-use, volume-expandable culture bags enable large-scale expansion in a homogenized, low-shear environment, making the platform particularly suitable for scaling out stem cell cultures.
In addition, Scinus supports clients in translating cell culture processes into commercial-scale, GMP-compliant production strategies.
hVIVO is a full-service early-phase CRO offering end-to-end drug development services ranging from preclinical consultancy to Phase III clinical trials, including world-leading end-to-end human challenge trial services.
With decades of experience in rapidly delivering data for a global client base, the company combines strategic insight with operational expertise to conduct a wide variety of clinical study types across multiple locations.
To support rapid study start-up and reliable delivery, hVIVO’s dedicated recruitment teams in Germany and the United Kingdom provide direct access to both healthy volunteers and patient populations. These capabilities are further strengthened by integrated drug development consultancy services, as well as infectious disease and immunology laboratories and biobanking expertise.
Cytiva is a global life sciences leader that provides technologies and services to accelerate the development and manufacture of therapeutics. Formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences, the company became an operating subsidiary of the Danaher Corporation in 2020 and later integrated with Pall Corporation’s life sciences business
FamiCord is Europe’s first and leading stem cell bank, trusted for decades and recognized for its strong clinical track record. We specialize in preserving perinatal cells and tissues and provide families across many countries with high‑quality, secure, and future‑oriented solutions. In Germany, Vita 34 in Leipzig has been FamiCord’s established market presence for 29 years. In addition to private customer services, FamiCord offers comprehensive services for business partners: We support third‑party companies with reliable and secure processing, testing, and long‑term storage of umbilical cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue. With an extensive partner network across Europe, Asia, and Africa, we offer strong international coverage. We also provide specialized services for biotech companies and clinics and collaborate with academic institutions to advance regenerative medicine and biotechnology. Here Bramble Bio – a FamiCord company, supports pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, hospitals, and academic institutions in developing and manufacturing innovative cell therapies. Services include process development for efficient and safe production workflows and cGMP‑compliant manufacturing to meet the highest clinical quality and safety standards.
You can visit their website here and here.
Saxony Trade & Invest Corporation (Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH, WFS) is a state-owned economic development agency of the Free State of Saxony whose mission is to strengthen the region’s business and research environment. With more than 30 years of experience, the organization seeks to promote Saxony’s economy and support its stakeholders.
WFS acts on behalf of the state government, with its supervisory board chaired by the Saxony State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection.
The agency works in three specialist domains:
WFS offers a full suite of services: facilitating market entry, helping with company foundations or expansions, fostering networks between business and research, enabling cross-regional cooperation, and marketing the Saxony location internationally.
While based in Dresden, its remit extends across the entire state and beyond, aiming to support both local projects and international investment. The organization positions itself as a partner for companies, researchers, and investors with ideas, and offers tailored assistance for projects of all sizes.
You can visit their website here.
https://business-saxony.com/en
BIOTYPE GmbH is an innovative solution provider for molecular precision diagnostics. We
offer a robust portfolio of profiling assays, alongside comprehensive CDMO services for the
development and manufacturing of diagnostic tests. BIOTYPE guides clients from initial
concept through sample testing to market-ready products.
The company develops and produces state‑of‑the‑art assays for the reliable detection of
DNA and RNA biomarkers, enabling personalized medicine and modern therapeutic
strategies.
BIOTYPE’s flexible and customizable CDMO solutions support diagnostic and
pharmaceutical partners in implementing complex molecular test systems. We cover projects
ranging from prototype development to RUO or CE‑IVD products and ensure compliance
with regulatory standards.
As part of the Molecular Diagnostics Group (MDG), BIOTYPE actively contributes to
advancing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. We aim to support early and
precise medical decision-making and development of safe and effective cell therapies
You can visit their website here.
leap:up GmbH (formerly biosaxony Management GmbH) empowers founders, startups, and SMEs in the life sciences to take significant steps towards innovation, market entry, commercialization, and growth.
Their mission is to support scientists, companies and startups in the field of life sciences to transform their innovative ideas into scalable business models. Through their projects and world-class services, they help to bridge the gap between idea and realization.
Their portfolio includes acceleration and development services for life science projects, regulatory support, training programs, and events through their in-house academy, as well as the provision of state-of-the-art co-working labs in Leipzig. They are actively expanding our international presence and service, including investor relations and funding opportunities.
Their focus areas include diagnostics, cell and gene therapy, radiopharmacy, smart medical devices, robotics and AI, digital health, and phage therapy.
You can visit their website here.
NanoVation Therapeutics engineers next-generation lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to enable nucleic acid delivery beyond the liver.
Its proprietary long-circulating LNP (lcLNP™) platform supports functional delivery to extrahepatic tissues and has demonstrated an improved therapeutic index in preclinical studies.
NanoVation partners with leading pharma and biotech companies to unlock new genetic medicines for previously untreatable diseases.
NanoVation is delivering tomorrow’s genetic medicines, today.
You can visit their website here.
QIAGEN is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions to transform biological materials into valuable molecular insights. Our mission is to make improvements in life possible by enabling our customers to achieve outstanding success and breakthroughs in life sciences research, applied testing, pharma and molecular diagnostics. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com.
TQ Therapeutics GmbH based in Martinsried Germany offers a safe, high-precision in vivo cell therapy platform. Their CELLfinity platform enables a modular target cell-specific modification for the generation of infinite in vivo cell & gene therapy product opportunities. TQx‘s proprietary EXiVO approach is a hybrid concept combining the control benefits of ex vivo cell processing with the scalability of in vivo therapy. This new generation of autologous mRNA-T-cell therapeutics are designed to revolutionize several treatment areas across indications and is a category-defining leap from traditional manufacturing to a bedside, point-of-care reality.”
Job Position: Moderator
Affiliation: LMU
Background: Isabel Werdin is a professional moderator for events, television and podcasts with over 16 years of experience in communication and event moderation. She studied psychology, communication studies and cultural studies in Munich (LMU) and Sydney, Australia (University of New South Wales).
At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), she spent six years in science communication and management, working at the interface of cutting-edge research and technology, and hosting several conferences.
Isabel Werdin moderates events, networking forums, and panel discussions in German and English, particularly in the fields of science, (mental) health, AI and innovation. Her interview and stage guests have included Nobel laureates, founders of unicorn start-ups, professional athletes, top executives and leading political figures.
As a certified team trainer and public speaking coach, she also provides presentation training. With a clear eye for individual strengths, Isabel supports and connects executives on their journey — always with the aim of communicating with focus, authenticity and charisma.
Job Position: Director of CREATIC CoE
Affiliation: Centre of Excellence CREATIC (Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Background: Dr. Regina Demlová (MD, PhD) is a clinical pharmacologist specializing in oncology and personalized therapies including ATMPs. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, where she also serves as Head of the Department of Pharmacology. For over a decade, she has been a leading figure in the development of academic clinical research in the Czech Republic, having established and currently leading the national clinical research infrastructure CZECRIN and the Centre of Excellence CREATIC, dedicated to the research, development, GMP production, clinical trials, and regulatory aspects of advanced cell and gene therapies.
Job Position: Director of the MK1 Clinic at University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden.
Affiliation: CRTD
Background: Throughout his clinical career Prof. Bornhäuser has focussed on translational research studies in the area of acute myeloid leukaemia and hematopoietic cell transplantation. He was one of the founding members of the Center of Regenerative Therapy Dresden (www.crt-dresden.de) and developed additional expertise in the areas of stem cell biology and adoptive cellular therapy. Professor Bornhäuser has a portfolio of responsibilities encompassing clinical service, being head of the Good manufacturing laboratories, coordinating translational reseach, lecturer in medical studies and in a master course for regenerative medicine and is an elected member of the internal medical faculty in Dresden. In 2015 he became a visiting professor at the department of haematology at King’s College London, UK. In 2016, he joined the directorate of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (www.nct-dresdden.de) in Dresden.
Job Position: COO at T-CURX
Affiliation: T-CURX
Background: Marion Jung is a molecular biologist who earned her doctorate at LMU Munich under Nobel Prize laureate Svante Pääbo. She has more than 20 years of experience in building and scaling biotechnology companies.
As co-founder and CEO of ChromoTek, she led the company through its successful acquisition by Proteintech Group in 2020. Following the acquisition, she assumed leadership roles at Proteintech and, beginning in 2024, became COO of T-CURX, a CAR-T immunotherapy start-up.
In addition, she brings extensive expertise in venture capital (including work with Earlybird), innovation policy, and government advisory through her participation in committees such as the Hightech-Forum and the German High-Tech Gründerfonds.
Job Position: Managing director of BioM
Affiliation: BioM
Background: Prof. Dr. Ralf Huss is managing director of BioM in Martinsried/Munich. Until the end of 2022, he was founding Director of the Institute of Digital Medicine (IDM) and Prof. of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics at University Hospital Augsburg, Germany. Previously he spent many years in pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry, founded some biotech enterprises and authored more than 180 papers on cancer and stem cell research as well as the use on AI in digital medicine.
Job Position: CEO at Biothrust
Affiliation: BioThrust
Background: He has been CEO and Co-Founder of BioThrust since April 2022, a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University. The company’s core membrane aeration technology for bioreactors was developed during his PhD research in chemical process engineering, which he completed in 2023.
Prior to this, he studied biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University (M.Sc.) and at FH Aachen (B.Sc.).
He was awarded the Borchers Plaque in 2024 and won the Innovation Award of the German BioRegions in 2023.
He lives in his hometown of Neuss and was born in 1969.
Job Position: Head of Biology & Applications at Green Elephant Biotech
Affiliation: Green Elephant Biotech
Background: With over a decade of experience in stem cell biology, disease modeling, and cell therapy, she specializes in leading interdisciplinary collaborations to advance sustainable biotechnological innovations. At Green Elephant Biotech, she focuses on strategic partnerships and securing funding to promote scalable and accessible cell and gene therapies through innovative technology for dynamic adherent cell manufacturing.
Her expertise includes innovation management, strategic planning, grant proposal development, and stakeholder engagement. By collaborating closely with management, R&D, and commercial teams, she contributes to driving impactful solutions for the organization while fostering scientific communication and representation at global conferences.
Job Position: Future Founder of SMART-NK Therapeutics
Affiliation: SMART-NK Therapeutics
Background: He has a strong background in immunology and as a postdoctoral fellow he joined the group of Prof. Torsten Tonn and worked on understanding the immunological synapse of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells and dissecting cancer cell resistance to NK cell-based cell therapies.
Job Position: CMO at Cancilico
Affiliation: Cancilico
Job Position: Chief Business Officer
Affiliation: TQ Therapeutics GmbH
Background: Christin Zündorf is Chief Business Officer at TQ Therapeutics responsible for commercial, organizational & strategic topics. With previously over eight years of experience in strategic consulting across the pharmaceutical and life science industry, her expertise lies in commercial strategy and organization design with deep knowledge in commercial strategy, launch excellence, pricing and market access.
Job Position: Co-Founder & President
Affiliation: NanoVation Therapeutics (NVTx)
Background: Dr. Dominik Witzigmann is an entrepreneurial scientist and 2024 Highly Cited Researcher, recognizing him among the world’s most influential researchers in nucleic acid delivery. He held research positions at leading institutions (safety/tox, RNAi & cancer, targeted DNA delivery, RNA-based genome editing) and joined Prof. Pieter Cullis to focus on extrahepatic RNA delivery. He has held leadership roles in Canada’s NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN) and served on the Board of the CRS Gene Delivery and Genome Editing Focus Group. Dominik co-founded NanoVation Therapeutics to advance next-generation LNP technologies for enabling genetic medicines.
Job Position: Technical Specialist
Affiliation: Sino Biological Europe GmbH
Background: PhD Scientist with 2 years of intensive industry experience in the full lifecycle of biopharmaceutical development. Technical lead for high-value projects encompassing stable cell line development (CLD), antibody discovery, and recombinant protein expression. Proven track record in designing integrated Upstream-to Downstream strategies, conducting advanced protein characterization and providing expert technical consultation to international clients to ensure project success
Job Position: Keynote Speaker
Affiliation: 5 Sterne Redner
Job Position: Chief Medical Officer of FamiCord
Affiliation: FamiCord AG
Background: Tomasz Baran is Chief Medical Officer of FamiCord – the largest cord blood bank in Europe and 3rd largest worldwide. He joined cord blood banking activity in 2010, prior to that he has been holding various position in pharmaceutical industry. In his current role Tomasz is responsible for medical communication on stem cell banking and use in therapies. He presented this topic on several international events – including Cord Blood Connect (USA), Perinatal Stem Cell Conference (USA) and Advanced Therapies (UK). Tomasz is also involved in development of cell&gene therapies manufacturing activity of FamiCord. Tomasz Baran serves ad Board of Directors member at Cord Blood Association (currently incorporated into AABB).
Job Position: Driving Multimodal AI in Precision Medicine
Affiliation: Fraunhofer IZI
Background: Ulrike Weirauch studied Molecular Life Science at the University of Lübeck and completed her doctorate in the research group of Achim Aigner at the Biochemical-Pharmacological Center of Philipps University Marburg in the field of cancer research.
She subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Independent Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Leipzig University.
Since 2021, she has been working as a scientist and science manager with Kristin Reiche in the Department of Medical Bioinformatics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell The
Job Position: Postdoc at Institute of Immunology, TU Dresden Coordinator, NCT Immune Monitoring Unit Dresden
Affiliation:
Background: Rebekka Wehner graduated in biology, did her Ph.D. and habilitation on dendritic cells. In the Institute of Immunology, medical faculty, TU Dresden, her research focuses on human immune cells like dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, natural killer cells, and T cells in the context of anti-tumor immune responses and therapies. Since 2016, she coordinates the NCT/UCC Immune Monitoring Unit Dresden, which offers an accompanying immune monitoring program during clinical studies. She supports the characterization of immune cells in blood, bone marrow, and tissues of tumor patients using multiplex flow cytometry and fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry.
Job Position: Cytiva
Affiliation: BPS Business Development & Licensing Manager
Background: Martin Rabel, Ph.D., leads Cytiva’s BioPharma Services in EMEA, with a focus on RNA‑LNP technologies and CDMO solutions. He supports nucleic acid therapy development through Cytiva’s lipid nanoparticle platform and integrated development, analytical, and manufacturing services. With a background in Pharmacy and Nanomedicine, he drives innovation across the biopharma landscape while delivering scientific and commercial excellence.
Job Position: Professor, Retinal Stem Cell Research and Neurogenesis
Affiliation: TUD Dresden University of Technology, CRTD – Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden und Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) Dresden
Background: Prof. Dr. med. Mike O. Karl is a group leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and professor at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden. His research focuses on human retina degeneration and therapy, with a particular emphasis on photoreceptor neurodegeneration, glia biology, and human stem cell–derived cell and organoid technologies as disease and therapy‐validation models. He has made key contributions to understanding cellular mechanisms of retinal degeneration and to the development of human-based translational model systems for age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases. His work has been recognized by multiple awards in ophthalmology and regenerative medicine, and he actively bridges fundamental discovery with translational and therapeutic innovation.
Job Position: Director, Cellular Immunotherapy, Massachusetts General Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Director, Gene and Cell Therapy Institute, Mass-General-Brigham; Attending Physician, Hematopoietic Cell Transplant & Cell Therapy Program; Associate Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Affiliation: Krantz Family Center for Center Research; Paula O’Keefe Endowed Chair in Cancer Research; Massachusetts General Hospital
Background: Dr. Marcela Maus is the Paula J. O’Keeffe Endowed Chair at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Director of the Cellular Immunotherapy Program, and Professor at Harvard Medical School, where she leads a laboratory focused on advancing CAR T cell therapies for cancer. Trained at MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, she has made pioneering contributions to the development of CAR T cells, including research on treatment resistance and therapy-related toxicities. Alongside her scientific and clinical work, she mentors the next generation of researchers and enjoys family life with her husband, three children, and pets, as well as hobbies like gardening and skiing.
Job Position: Managing Director
Affiliation: BioMedTech Consulting GmbH
Background: Lorenz Mayr is an internationally experienced executive in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sector, most recently serving as CEO of Vector BioPharma AG in Basel. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Bayer, and serves on several supervisory boards and scientific advisory boards.
Since March 2024, he has been a Non-Executive Director at FundaMental Pharma GmbH, a Heidelberg-based company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, he serves as Senior Healthcare Advisor at EQT Investments and advises companies and institutions in the life sciences sector.
Job Position: Deputy director of the NCT/UCC Early Clinical Trial Unit
Affiliation: Early Clinical Trial Unit, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus affiliated to the National Center for Tumor Diseases – NCT/UCC
Background: Katrin Wetzko is a hematologist/oncologist by training and deputy director of the NCT/UCC Early Clinical Trial Unit. She has over 10 years of experience in running well over 100 phase I trials in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. She and the team of the NCT/UCC ECTU were among the first to apply chimeric antigen receptor T-cells in Germany and pioneered the use of TCR-engineered T-cells in solid tumors. Dr Wetzko led the establishment of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) program at the NCT/UCC ECTU and treated more than 50 patients with this modality. She is an expert on early drug development and safety management in next generation immunotherapeutics.
Job Position: Professor for Immunology
Affiliation: University of Konstanz
Background: Kathrin Schumann studied biochemistry at the University of Tübingen and obtained her PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried. During her postdoc at the University of California, San Francisco, she developed CRISPR technologies for the engineering of primary human T cells. In 2018, she was appointed as Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professor of “Engineering Immune Cells for Therapy” at TUM School of Medicine. In 2025, she took up the position of Chair of Immunology at the University of Konstanz.
Job position: Director Emerging Applications SynBio
Affiliation: Twist Bioscience
Background: Julian Jude is the Global Director of Emerging Applications at Twist Bioscience. His career spans functional genomics, genome engineering, and technological development in academia and industry. He developed shRNA and CRISPR screening platforms, conducted over 70 genome-wide FGX screens, co-created the Vienna Bioactivity gRNA algorithm, and established a CROP-Seq platform at a startup. Before joining Twist in 2019, he advised scientists worldwide on custom workflows and built strategic partnerships. After a brief role in AI-metagenomics as Genome Engineering Lead at Basecamp Research, where he built novel nucleases, he returned to Twist in 2024, combining his deep expertise in functional genomics with a passion for emerging technologies and Twist’s synthetic DNA capabilities to help accelerate discoveries across the life sciences.
Job Position: Consultant CMC
Affiliation: Consulting unit of hVIVO
Background: Ion Tcacencu, MD, PhD holds a doctorate from Karolinska Institutet in regenerative medicine and brings over 17 years of academic expertise in cell and tissue engineering. After transitioning into industry to lead quality and manufacturing at a cell therapy startup, he joined hVIVO as a CMC consultant. He supports academic ATMP developers with regulatory strategy, CMC development, market landscape analysis, and GMP-ready programmes — as well as technical due diligence for investors.
Job Position: Prof. for Rxperimental and Clinical CAR T Cell Therapy, Head of CAR T Cell Program
Affiliation: Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Dept. Of Internal Medicine 5 – Hematology & Oncology
Background: Prof. Müller obtained his MD in Freiburg, Germany and started his clinical education in Hamburg. With a focus on targeting malignant B cells from his early research career he did a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Ira Pastan, at the NCI on resistance to CD22-targeted therapy in ALL and aggressive lymphoma. After his post-doc he continued the work on B cell targeting in Erlangen, Germany using first antibody directed therapies and then CAR T cells with a focus on translational concepts including tumor microenvironment and functional aspects of a patient’s immune system. As head of the CAR T cell unit, he pioneers CAR T cell therapies in novel indications including solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.
Job Position: Chief Technology Officer
Affiliation: Seamless Therapeutics, Dresden
Background: Felix Lansing is a scientific co-founder and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer. The foundation of the technology used at Seamless originated from Dr Lansing’s research and discovery of programmable recombinases during his PhD studies at Dresden University of Technology. He is an author of many peer-reviewed publications, an inventor on 7 patents, and is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to address how programmable recombinases can be applied to solve genetic disease and improve the lives of patients. He earned his BSc in Molecular Biology from Bielefeld University, his MSc in Regenerative Biology and Medicine and his PhD in genetics and genome engineering at the Dresden University of Technology.
Job Position: Professor, Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München
Background: Ernst Wagner is Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department Pharmacy, LMU Munich (since 2001) and member of Munich Center of Nanoscience (CeNS). He was Director Cancer Vaccines, Boehringer Ingelheim 1992-2001 (world-wide first polymer-based gene therapy in 1994), Group Leader at IMP Vienna and the Vienna University Biocenter (1987-1995), postdoc at ETH Zurich (1985-1987), PhD in chemistry (1985, TU Vienna). He is Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, member of College of Fellows of Controlled Release Society (CRS), Honorary Professor at Sichuan U and at Jinan U. He authored ≥ 529 publications, with > 56 000 citations, h-index 119 (GS).
Job Position: Director, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy, University of Magdeburg
Affiliation: University of Magdeburg
Background: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Mougiakakos is Director of the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg. He studied medicine in Hannover and trained in hematology and oncology in Freiburg, Regensburg, and Erlangen, with a research fellowship at the Karolinska Institute. He played a key role in the first clinical applications of CAR-T cell therapy for autoimmune diseases
Job Position: Head of Staff Office Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Support Unit at Charité
Affiliation: Charité
Background: Dr. Christoph Conrad worked for many years on vaccine evaluation at the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) and later headed the Office for Scientific and Regulatory Advice (OSRA), an infrastructure of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). He also gained international and governmental experience at the WHO in Geneva, the BMBF (now BMFTR), and the Federal Chancellery. Since July 2022, he has been Head of Staff Office Regulatory Affairs at the BIH and, since June 2024, also leads the newly established Regulatory Support Unit.
Job Position: Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Fraunhofer IPA
Affiliation: Fraunhofer IPA
Background: He studied Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Production Engineering. Passionate about the interaction between bioworkflows and automation; established and led laboratory automation and bioproduction at Fraunhofer IPA. Multiple founder (Dispendix, Nanolockin, Liquimetrix).
BIOTYPE GmbH is an innovative solution provider for molecular precision diagnostics. We
offer a robust portfolio of profiling assays, alongside comprehensive CDMO services for the
development and manufacturing of diagnostic tests. BIOTYPE guides clients from initial
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German-American alliance for future medicine: SaxoCell e.V. launches strategic cooperation with the Mark Foundation
Funding: BMBF INITIATES: RESEARCH WITH NORTH AMERICA
Title: SMAC-GT: SaxoCell and Mark Foundation Alliance for Cell and Gene Therapy – SaxoCell & Mark Foundation Partnership
As part of the SMAC-GT project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, SaxoCell e.V. is expanding its international collaboration with the renowned Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The aim of the collaboration is to provide strategic impetus for the further development of modern cell and gene therapies and to strengthen transatlantic research networks in the long term.
The first highlight of this new partnership is a trip to New York by a high-ranking delegation from SaxoCell e.V.: Martin Bornhäuser, Frank Buchholz, Ulrike Köhl, Maren Henneken, and Lorenz Mayr will hold an intensive workshop there on January 9 with the Mark Foundation to discuss their joint research agenda. This meeting marks the starting point for deeper cooperation, which has already been prepared in several online sessions.
Further workshops and symposia are planned in the USA and Germany in the coming project phases to consolidate and expand cooperation. In addition, key international conferences such as the ASH Annual Meeting (January 2026) and the ASGCT Annual Meeting (May 2027) will be used for this purpose. On the German side, the SaxoCell Conference in June 2026 offers an ideal platform for exchange with American partners.
These targeted meetings and networking formats are intended to attract new cooperation partners and further strengthen the scientific basis for future innovations in cell and gene therapy.
About the Mark Foundation
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is an independent US foundation based in New York that is passionately committed to funding groundbreaking cancer research.
Its approach is flexible, risk-taking, and impact-driven: it supports both basic and translational research—from individual scientists to interdisciplinary teams to early-stage startups—with grants and venture investments.
Since its foundation in 2017, the Mark Foundation has awarded over $275 million to more than 110 institutions in approximately 18 countries. Its programs range from ASPIRE Awards for high-risk/high-reward projects to drug discovery funding and long-term team science projects.
With this strong international orientation and a clear focus on innovation, the Mark Foundation accelerates the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches, thereby shortening the path from idea to application.
Home | The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
SaxoCell (SC) delegation at the Mark Foundation (MF) in New York. From left to right: Becky Bish (MF), Martin Bornhäuser (SC), Frank Buchholtz (SC), Lorenz Mayr (SC), Ulrike Köhl (SC), Maren Henneken (SC), Ryan Schoenfeld (MF), and Raymond N. DuBois (MF).
