Agenda

Thursday, May 1, 2025

KEYNOTE  |  PLENARY SESSIONS  |  CONCURRENT SESSIONS  |  EXHIBITS

Time
Session
7:00 am EDT

Check-In
Irvine Auditorium

Breakfast, Visit Exhibits and View Posters
Houston Hall

8:00 am EDT

Welcome Remarks

Irvine Auditorium

Carl H. June, MD  |  Penn Medicine  |  Symposium Co-Chair

Larry Jameson, MD, PhD  |  President of the University of Pennsylvania


KEYNOTE PANEL: Closing the Gap: Philanthropy's Role in Equitable CAR-T Access

Time
Session
8:15 am EDT

Moderators:   

Carl H. June, MD  |  Penn Medicine  |  Symposium Co-Chair
David L. Porter, MD  |  Penn Medicine | Symposium Co-Chair

Panel:                

Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH  |  Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services

Tricia A. Bruning  |  Penn Medicine Development

Lee Greenberger, PhD  |  LMG Bio1 Consulting

Stephen Kelly | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Tom Whitehead  |  Emily Whitehead Foundation


PLENARY SESSION 1: Risk and Cost vs. Reward and Benefit for Cell and Gene Therapies

Moderator: Stephan A. Grupp, MD, PhD |  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia |  Symposium Co-Chair  
Time
Session
9:00 am EDT

Balancing CAR T Promise and Rare Events: Precision, doubt, and assessing risk

Bruce L. Levine, PhD  |  Penn Medicine  |  Symposium Co-Chair

9:20 am EDT

Ensuring Access: Policy Challenges and Opportunities in Cell and Gene Therapy

Scott McGoohan, JD  |  Vertex Pharmaceuticals

9:40 am EDT

Immune Reconstitution after CAR-T: Restoration, Renewal, or Beyond Repair?

Stephen J. Schuster, MD  |  Penn Medicine

10:00 am EDT

Discussion


Oral Presentation Winner

Time
Session
10:10 am EDT

Gene Delivery and Editing for Better CARs; Enhanced Conversion of T Cells into CAR T Cells by Modulation of the MAPK/ERK Pathway

Elham Adabi, MSc  |  Paul-Ehrlich-Institut 


PLENARY SESSION 2: Leadership in Cell and Gene Therapies: The XX Factor

Moderator: Amanda Finck, PhD  |  Penn Medicine 
Time
Session
10:15 am EDT

Enhancing CAR T Cell Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

M. Angela Aznar Gomez, PhD | Penn Medicine | The Muriel Joan Drew Hege, MD, Fund Oral Abstract Winner

10:20 am EDT

Leading the Charge For In Vivo Cell Therapy for The Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders

Laura Shawver, PhD |  Capstan Therapeutics

10:35 am EDT

Harnessing the Tumor Microenvironment by Genome Editing of T Cells

Chiara Bonini, MD | Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

10:50 am EDT

CAR-T Trailblazers: Grand Adventures and the Power of Women Leadership in Cell and Gene Therapy

Kristen M. Hege, MD  | Adaptimmune, EvolveImmune, Kelonia, KSQ, Mersana

11:05 am EDT

Discussion


CONCURRENT SESSION I

Time
Session
11:20 am EDT

There are a total of 6 tracks. Scroll left and right to view all tracks.

Track 1 Pediatric Medical Care - Café 58, Irvine 

Track 2 Clinical & Business Operations - Amado Recital Hall, Irvine

Track 3 Nursing Keynotes - Hall of Flags, Ground Fl Houston Hall

Track 4 The Next Disruptions in Cell and Gene Therapy: Hot Topics Lightning Talks from Muriel Joan Drew Hege Fund Scholars - Irvine Auditorium

Track 5 Commercial Partnering & Creating Products for Patients - Class of '49, 2nd Fl Houston Hall

Track 6 Expanding Access While Maintaining Quality: Going Where No CAR T Cell Has Gone Before - Benjamin Franklin, 2nd Fl Houston Hall

11:20 am EDT

Track 1 Pediatric Medical Care - Café 58, Irvine  11:20 am EDT

All speakers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Moderator:
Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD

Emerging Gene Therapies for Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
Julia T. Warren, MD, PhD

Immune Related Adverse Events of CART: What can we learn from pediatric B-ALL?
Caroline Diorio, MD, FRCPC, FAAP

Leveraging Cell Therapies to Treat Autoimmunity in Pediatric Patients
Caitlin Elgarten, MD, MSCE

Discussion

11:20 am EDT

Track 2 Clinical & Business Operations - Amado Recital Hall, Irvine 11:20 am EDT

Moderators:
Mark Duckworth
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Robert (Robb) E. Richards, MS, MBA
Penn Medicine

Welcome

Legal Considerations for Cell and Gene Therapies
Denene M. Wambach, Esq
Penn Medicine

Keith Stroup, Esq
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Discussion

Data Science in Cell Therapy: From collection to dissemination
Lindsey MacDonald MSN, MBA, RN, OCN
Penn Medicine

Chris Catania, MPH
Penn Medicine

Discussion

Collaborating for Success: A Nurse and Systems Analyst Perspective on Implementing the Epic Cell Therapy Module at CHOP
Roni Devassy, BS
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Ryan Burke, BSN, RN, CPHON, BMTCN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Discussion

11:20 am EDT

Track 3 Nursing Keynotes - Hall of Flags, Ground Fl Houston Hall 11:20 am EDT

Moderators:

Heather Difilippo, CRNP
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Anna Sparrow, MSN, MPH,RN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Special Welcome Remarks

KEYNOTES

Afami-cel for Synovial Sarcoma: The First Approved TCR Therapy

Daniel Lefler, MD
Penn Medicine

Creating A Space for All: The Pursuit of Belonging

Anna D’Aprile, MPH, CCRP
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Hope Heffner-Solimeo, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Panel Discussion
Session speakers and

Katherine Ebby, MSN, RN, CPHON
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Eleni Hindle, BSN, RN, CPHON
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Selina Plummersturgis, BSN, RN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Marissa Zangardi, BSN, RN, CPN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

11:20 am EDT

Track 4 The Next Disruptions in Cell and Gene Therapy: Hot Topics Lightning Talks from Muriel Joan Drew Hege Fund Scholars - Irvine Auditorium 11:20 am EDT

Moderator:
Kristen M. Hege,MD 
Adaptimmune, EvolveImmune, Kelonia, KSQ, Mersana

All speakers are from The Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and The Muriel Joan Drew Hege, MD, Fund awardees 

IL-9 Redirects CAR T Cell Fate, Enhancing Efficacy Against Solid Tumors
Sofia Castelli, PhD

Transient Overexpression of IKZF1 Enhances Memory Precursor Phenotype in CAR-T Cells
Sisi Chen, PhD

Modulation of the Gut Microbiota Engages Antigen Cross-Presentation to Enhance Antitumor Effects of CAR T Cells
Francesca Costabile, MSc, PhD

Overcoming Resistance; Deciphering the Glycan and Protein Interactome of Siglec-15: Unraveling its Role in Tumor-Associated Immunosuppression
Nohelly Derosiers, BE

Deciphering the Impact of Immunological Aging in CLL CAR T Cell Therapy
Julia Han Noll, MS

p:Hishing for T Cells: Using ‘Chimeric Antigen-Presenting’ (CAP) T cells to Target and Eliminate Antigen-Specific T cell Populations
Kaitlin A. Read, PhD

Off-the-Shelf CAR-Invariant NKT Cells for Human and Canine Solid Tumors
Antonia Rotolo, MD, PhD

Novel CAR T Cells for Prostate Cancer
Nour Shobaki, PharmD, PhD

Chimeric Autoantigen Receptor T-Cells for Treatment of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Vasculitis
Heather Sosnoski, BS

Discussion

11:20 am EDT

Track 5 Commercial Partnering & Creating Products for Patients - Class of '49, 2nd Fl Houston Hall 11:20 am EDT

Moderator:
John Swartley, MBA, PhD
Penn Medicine

Workshop on Filing, Partnering, and Licensing Cell and Gene Therapy Intellectual Property

Panel

Mark Engleka, PhD
Penn Medicine

Tess Cameron, BA
RA Capital Management

Mir Masud-Elias, JD, MBE
Arnold & Porter

Discussion

11:20 am EDT

Track 6 Expanding Access While Maintaining Quality: Going Where No CAR T Cell Has Gone Before - Benjamin Franklin, 2nd Fl Houston Hall 11:20 am EDT

Moderator:
David L. Porter, MD
Penn Medicine

Expanding Access to Cell Therapies
Steven Devine, MD
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) /Be The Match 

Discussion

Accelerating Global Access to Point of Care Cell Therapy

Stephan Kadauke, MD, PhD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Discussion

Quality Program Considerations for Cell Therapies Outside Heme Malignancies

PANEL:
Jenna Fetters MSHS, MLS (ASCP)
Penn Medicine

Victoria Collier, RN, BSN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Becca Pesce-Noga, MS, CSSBB
Penn Medicine


LUNCH BREAK

Time
Session
12:30 pm EDT

Lunch  |  Visit Exhibits  | View Posters

Houston Hall


CONCURRENT SESSION II

Time
Session
1:30 pm EDT

There are a total of 6 tracks. Scroll left and right to view all tracks.

Track 1 Pediatric Nursing Care - Cafe 58, Irvine

Track 2 Clinical & Business Operations - Amado Recital Hall, Irvine

Track 3 Adult Nursing Care - Hall of Flags, Ground Fl Houston Hall

Track 4 Hot Topics in Cell Therapies - Irvine Auditorium

Track 5 Commercial Partnering & Creating Products for Patients - Class of '49, 2nd Fl Houston Hall

Track 6 Expanding Access While Maintaining Quality: Going Where No CAR T Cell Has Gone Before - Benjamin Franklin, 2nd Fl Houston Hall

1:30 pm EDT

Track 1 Pediatric Nursing Care - Cafe 58, Irvine 1:30 pm EDT

All speakers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Moderators:
Diane Baniewicz MSN, CPNP
Samantha Barone MSN, CPNP-AC, CPHON

Toxicity Management

Immune Effector Cell Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Syndrome with CAR 19/22

Colleen Callahan, RN, MSN, CRNP
Mackenzie Stewart, CPNP-AC

Discussion

Improving Patient Partnership in Care

Implementation and Compliance with ICE Scores in AYA Patients Post-CART

Katie A. Smith, DNP, MPH, RN, ACCNS-P, CPN, CHES
Anna Sparrow, MSN, MPH,RN

All Smiles for Clabsi Prevention: Improving Oral Care Completion on the Inpatient Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Units

Catherine Aronowitz, CPN, CPHON

Improving Provider Practice

Teamwork Makes the Marrow Work: Interprofessional Rounds on Inpatient Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Units

Emily Roth, BSN, RN, CPN, CPHON
Sara Gunnoe, MPAS, PA-C

BMT Bootcamp: Education and training best practices for new BMT nurses

Ryan Burke, BSN, RN, CPHON, BMTCN
Megan Atkinson, BS, CHTC

Discussion

1:30 pm EDT

Track 2 Clinical & Business Operations - Amado Recital Hall, Irvine 1:30 pm EDT

Moderators:
Mark Duckworth
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Robert (Robb) E. Richards, MS, MBA
Penn Medicine

From Coverage Policies to Prior Authorization: Financial Clearance for Cell and Gene Therapies

Panel
Claire White, MSN, RN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Denise Belcher, MBA
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Kimberly Sacco, MS
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Blueprint for Success: Constructing a Unified Approach for the Future of Cell & Gene Therapy
Kaitlyn Lyons, MBA
Penn Medicine

Discussion

1:30 pm EDT

Track 3 Adult Nursing Care - Hall of Flags, Ground Fl Houston Hall 1:30 pm EDT

All speakers from Penn Medicine

Moderators:
Heather Difilippo, CRNP
Patricia Mangan, RN, MSN, CRNP, APRN-BC

CART T Cell Therapy and Bispecifics for Multiple Myeloma
Patricia Mangan, RN, MSN, CRNP, APRN-BC

Overcoming Challenges and Complexities for Cell Therapy Coordinators
Matthew P. Casazza, RN
Natalie K. Stefano, RN

Harnessing EPIC for Cell Therapy Workflows and Data Management
Lindsey MacDonald, MSN, MBA, RN, OCN
Elizabeth A. Weber, RN, BSN

TIL therapy and Inpatient Process Management of Infusion and IL2 toxicities
Lauren B. Hollander, NP
Rachel E. Hartman, PharmD

Discussion

1:30 pm EDT

Track 4 Hot Topics in Cell Therapies - Irvine Auditorium 1:30 pm EDT

Moderator:
Elizabeth O. Hexner, MD
Penn Medicine

Lessons from Spatial Biology on CAR HLH/MAS
Andrew J. Rech, MD, PhD
Penn Medicine

Novel CAR Targets for Prostate Cancer and Potential Applications in Renal Cancer
Naomi B. Haas, MD
Penn Medicine

Cytokine Biology behind CAR T Toxicity and Patient Management
David T. Teachey, MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Discussion

1:30 pm EDT

Track 5 Commercial Partnering & Creating Products for Patients - Class of '49, 2nd Fl Houston Hall 1:30 pm EDT

Moderator:
Audrey E. Greenberg, CPA, MBA
Discovery Labs Center for Breakthrough Medicines

Amplifying the Academia and Industry Ecosystem in Cellicon Valley

Panel

R. Carter Caldwell, MBA
Penn Medicine

Jen Gilburg, BS, MS
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

John Grady, MPA
Wexford Science & Technology

Discussion

1:30 pm EDT

Track 6 Expanding Access While Maintaining Quality: Going Where No CAR T Cell Has Gone Before - Benjamin Franklin, 2nd Fl Houston Hall 1:30 pm EDT

Moderator:
Zev Binder, MD, PhD
Penn Medicine

LATE BREAKERS
Cell Therapies in Brain Cancer 
Donald M. O'Rourke, MD
Penn Medicine

Hideho Okada, MD, PhD
University of California San Francisco

Discussion


BREAK 

Time
Session
2:40 pm EDT

VISIT EXHIBITS  |  VIEW POSTERS

Houston Hall


PLENARY SESSION 3: Are In Vivo Cell Therapies the Key to the Future of Medicine? 

Irvine Auditorium
Moderator: Bruce L. Levine, PhD  |  Penn Medicine |  Symposium Co-Chair
Time
Session
3:30 pm EDT

Nucleoside-Modified mRNA-LNP Therapeutics

Drew Weissman, MD, PhD  |  Penn Medicine

3:50 pm EDT

Cell-Specific In Vivo Gene Delivery: A Pipeline Dream No Longer

Philip Johnson, MD | CEO, Interius

4:10 pm EDT

In Vivo CAR T Therapeutics for Treatment of B Cell Lineage Malignancies

Andy Scharenberg, MD | CEO Umoja 

4:30 pm EDT

Discussion

4:40 pm EDT

Adjourn