November 2023 

Science Exchange Topics:

• Sourcing starting material for induced pluripotent stem cells that are GMP accredited 
• The use of high content transcriptomics and metabolomics for component analysis 
• Applications of machine learning and AI in characterising stem cell cultures
• How important is the biological niche from a developmental perspective?
• Directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells 

Science Exchange Leader: Jonathan Appleby, Chief Scientific Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult

November 2023

Science Exchange Topics:

• Integrating automation in cell line engineering
• Improving target identification through CRISPR screening
• Mechanistic studies and incorporation of different expression models
• Advantages of different modalities subject to use case
• Novel approaches for precise genome engineering

Science Exchange Leader:

Paulo Rodrigues: Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca

October 2023

Science Exchange Topics:

• Increasing soluble molecule recovery
• Optimising process output and yield efficiency
• Best practice approaches to conducting comparability studies
• Navigating regulatory challenges in AAV production
• Constructive approaches to bottlenecks in manufacture

• Aline Hughson: Senior Process Scientist, Gyroscope Therapeutics
• Lea Arnaud: DSP Expert in Process Development, Novartis
  
• Elissa Hudspeth: Assistant Director, Downstream, North Carolina State University

June 2023

Science Exchange Topics:

• Approaches to increasing product yield
• Best-practice strategies for regulating metabolism 
• Achieving commercial-scale production
• Maintaining culture conditions and avoiding contamination
• Critical parameters to monitor for successful product delivery

• Volker Huppert, Chief Development Officer, Glycostem

June 2023

Science Exchange Topics:

• Challenges of working with in vitro models
• The importance of robust endpoints in 3D cell culture
• Developing model systems and maintaining relevance
• Overcoming hurdles associated with working with third parties
• Materials or resources not broadly available in preclinical modelling 

• Clare Jones, Chief Scientific Officer, Talisman Therapeutics
• Eric Wallenstein, Senior Director, CMC Regulatory Affairs, AskBio

April 2023

Science Exchange Topics:

• Improving the stability of cell lines with optimised transfection
• Improving the efficiency of cell line development
• Establishing stable and inducible cell lines
• Current challenges and obstacles in cell line engineering

• Matthew Fuller, Senior Director of Vector Platform Research, Ultragenyx

April 2023 

Science Exchange Topics:

• Ensuring patient safety in gene therapy manufacture
• Ensuring drug functionality throughout development
• Translating patient information and preclinical data into patient safety 
• Addressing toxicity in manufacture
• Growing pains in a growing field

• Rajeev Boregowda, Director, Analytical Method Development, Solid Biosciences

March 2023 

Science Exchange Topics:

• Quality requirements for raw materials
• Comparability and PPQ strategy for gene cell therapy
• Different types of expression
• Scalable bioreactors and upscaling between clinical and

• Ying Cai, Senior Director in Process Development, Ultragenyx
• Jorgen Magnus, Strategic Program Management, Bayer

 March 2023 

Science Exchange Topics:

• Strategies for scaling up production 
• Technologies for enabling the effective manufacturing of gene therapies, including AI/ML
• Trends for assay characterisation and cell therapy
• Best approaches to working with regulators for approval 

• Sharon Longhurst, Vice President of Development at Gadeta
• Elaine Peters, Head of Analytical Quality Development at Genentech
• Tomasz Witkos, Associate Director at AstraZeneca

 November 2022 

Science Exchange Topics:

• Improved understanding of disease, cell, and therapeutic mechanisms
• Simulating Viral Responses
• Utilising multi-cell type models
• Enabling technologies

Science Exchange Leader:

• Anka Ehrhardt, Director, Cell-Based Assays / Analytical Research & Development at Merck
• Elodie Vandenhaute, Project Leader Pharmacology at HCS Pharma