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Where Big Attendance Meets Intimate Connections
Highlights of the Two-Day Event
12 - 13 November 2026
London, UK
Cell 2026 brings together leaders from biopharma, biotech, academia, and healthcare to explore the latest advances in cell culture, cell and gene therapy development, manufacturing, commercialisation, and supply chain. Featuring a cross-modality, cross-indication cell culture programme alongside dedicated cell and gene therapy tracks, the event connects stakeholders across the advanced therapies value chain to accelerate innovation and bring transformative therapies to patients.
Kick off the event with an interactive, expert-led workshop by Sony Biotechnology designed to provide practical insights, hands-on learning, and in-depth discussions on the latest advances in the field. Explore emerging technologies, innovative research approaches, and real-world case studies while engaging directly with leading scientists and industry experts in a collaborative learning environment.
The Investment Forum
This dedicated half-day programme will bring together 100 leading investors and biotech companies in an exclusive boardroom-style setting focused on commercialisation, funding, and investment. Featuring investor-led panel discussions and 1-hour pitch session with representation from LongRiver Investments, Lancebio Ventures & Delin Ventures. A curated, high-quality investment meeting and the value is in connecting carefully selected early-stage biotech companies with active investors focused on the same funding stages.
A focused, 2-hour hackathon programme on designing autologous cell therapy manufacturing solution at point-of-care or near-patient settings. Multidisciplinary teams will design practical models that address regulatory, manufacturing, CMC, clinical, commercial, investment, and patient-access challenges, aiming to create solutions that are scalable, compliant, economically viable, and patient-focused.
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Interactive roundtable discussions focused on shared technical, operational, and translational challenges facing the advanced therapy sector. These sessions are designed to encourage peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and practical discussion around:
Can Early Testing Predict Manufacturing Success At Scale?
How Do We Close The Preclinical-To-Clinic Funding Gap?
What Does “Good Enough” Regulatory Readiness Look Like For Novel CGTs?
How Do We Reduce Cost Of Goods Without Compromising Quality?
Solving the Capacity Crunch In Hospitals: How Do We Scale Advanced Therapy Operations Without Compromising Quality?
Closed-door panel sessions offer an exclusive space for candid, off-the-record discussions. Connect with peers, share insights, and tackle the industry’s toughest challenges. Designed for executives shaping the future of the sector:
DAY ONE
The Productivity Challenge: How Can The Industry Deliver More Medicines With Less – Driving Efficiency Across Modalities, Indications & Development Models
Where Does Big Pharma Stand In CGTs – And What Comes Next?
Where Advanced Therapies Will Be In 2030: Scientific, Clinical, Regulatory & Economic Futures
DAY TWO
Workshop: Navigating The Regulatory Lifecycle Of Advanced Therapies: Platforms, Manufacturing & Post-Market Approval Challenges
Women in Life Sciences celebrates the leaders, innovators, and rising talent shaping the future of the industry. Through inspiring discussions and practical insights, this dedicated panel discussion explores how organisations can break barriers, build more inclusive workplaces, and empower the next generation of women driving scientific and business innovation across the life sciences sector.
Cell Culture & Bioprocessing Programme:
- Panel Discussion: Novel Formats For Cell Line Engineering - Vincenzo Di Cerbo, Lead Scientist, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
- Panel Discussion: Streamlining Bioprocessing: Automation & Integration In Downstream Workflows - Parag Kumthekar, Gene Therapy Downstream Process Development Lead, UCB; Cristina Peixoto, Head Of Downstream Process Development Lab, iBET
- Panel Discussion: Overcoming The Challenges Of Moving From In Vivo, In Vitro To 3D Cell Models - Rhiannon David, Director, Advanced Cell Models / Microphysiological Systems, AstraZeneca; Aline Miller, Professor, University of Manchester; Maryna Panamarova, 3D Cellular Modelling Specialist, Cellular Operations, Wellcome Sanger Institute; Giacomo Domenici, Research Scientist, iBET
Advanced Therapy Development Programme:
- Panel Discussion: Experiences In Executing Cell & Gene Therapy Studies With Patient Engagement In Mind - Panteli Theocharous, Chief Therapeutics Officer & Head Of Medical & Scientific Affairs, Garuda Therapeutics; Terri Gaskell, Chief Technology Officer, Rinri Therapeutics; Joanna Brewer, Chief Scientific Officer, Adaptimmune; Nitin Patel, Vice President Of Late-Stage Clinical Development, Legend Biotech
- Presentation: Clinical Development Of Engineered TCR-T Therapies To Generate A Sarcoma Franchise - Joanna Brewer, Chief Scientific Officer, Adaptimmune
Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacturing Programme:
- Panel Discussion: Bridging The Gap Between R&D And Manufacturing For Digital & Automation Solutions - Tiffany Rau, Professor Biochemistry & Cell Biology, University College Cork; Daria Marsh, Head of Bioprocessing, Cell & Gene Catapult; Lydia Caro, Associate Director, Head Of Cell Sciences, Ichnos Sciences
- Presentation: Smart Manufacturing – Thorsten Gorba, Vice President Process & Analytical Development, Aspen Neuroscience
With 150+ speakers representing large pharmaceutical companies, emerging biotechs & renowned academic institutions, we are proud to welcome over 45 award-winning experts across the 2 programmes:
• Shadi Farhangrazi, Chief Executive Officer of S.M. Discovery Group, received the 2018 BioInnovation Award for her work in drug discovery
• Christoph Rösli, Director of Research Bern at CSL Behring, received the 2021 Swiss Biotech Success Stories Award for his contributions to biotechnology research.
• Vineeta Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of Vitarka Therapeutics, received the 2019 Women in Bio Entrepreneurial Leadership Award for her work in biotech entrepreneurship
• Stephen Pham, Senior Vice President at Avalyn Pharma, was awarded the 2019 Respiratory Innovation Award
• Emma Mead, Chief Scientific Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, was honoured with the 2020 Alzheimer's Research UK Young Investigator of the Year Award for her work in neurodegenerative disease research.
• Raul Rodriguez, Vice President at Woxsen University, received the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his contributions to education in the biotech field.
• Philip Hewitt, Global Head of Early Investigative Toxicology at Merck, was honoured with the Society of Toxicology's 2018 Achievement Award for his significant impact in toxicological research.
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London.
12-13 November 2026.
Don't miss the opportunity to connect with over 800+ leaders through 400+ meetings, 50+ hours of content and 13+ hours of dedicated networking solutions designed to foster collaboration and accelerate advancements.