Next-generation Cellular Therapies, T cell Engagers, and Combinations

March 25–27, 2026 in Tucson, AZ at El Conquistador Tucson or Virtual

Select a Day >

Wednesday, March 25Thursday, March 26Friday, March 27

Wednesday, March 25

Registration | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. PT

Opening Remarks

1–1:05 p.m. PT

Keynote Address
1:05–1:55 p.m. PT

 
1:05 p.m.

CAR-T Lessons Learned Guiding Next Gen Cell Therapies 
Kristen M. Hege, MD – Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune
1:45–1:55 p.m.

Question and Answer

Session I: Next-gen CAR T: Cytokine Engineering
1:55–3:30 p.m. PT

 
1:55–2:20 p.m.
Synthetic and Non-natural Cytokine Signals for T cell Therapy

Anusha Kalbasi, MD – Stanford Medicine

2:20–2:45 p.m.
Clinical Experience of Invikafusp Alfa, a Selective Dual T-cell Agonist
James L. Gulley, MD, PhD, FACP – National Cancer Institute
2:45–3:10 p.m.

Allogeneic Cell Therapy 
G. Grant Welstead, PhD – Editas Medicine
3:10–3:20 p.m.

Abstract 1
3:20–3:30 p.m.

Abstract 2

Break

3:30–3:55 p.m. PT

Session II:  Next-gen CAR T: Genetic Engineering to Optimize T cell Fitness 
3:55–5:30 p.m. PT

 
3:55–4:20 p.m.

Programmable Signaling Enhances CAR T cell & CAR Macrophage Anti-tumor Activity
Kyle G. Daniels, PhD – Stanford University  

4:20–4:45 p.m.
Augmenting T Cell Potency: Engineering Strategies for Solid Tumor Immunotherapy
Mandy Iniguez, PhD – Moonlight Bio
4:45–5:10 p.m.

Gene Editing Approaches to Enhance CAR T cell Function
Julia Carnevale, MD – University of California, San Francisco
5:10–5:20 p.m.

Abstract 1
5:20–5:30 p.m.

Abstract 2

Abstract Poster Session & Networking Reception 

5:30–7 p.m. PT

Thursday, March 26

Registration | 7:30–8:30 a.m. PT

Opening Remarks

8:30–8:35 a.m. PT

Session III: Next-gen TILs 
8:35–10:10 a.m. PT
8:35–9 a.m.
Inactivating SOCS1 and Regnase-1 in CRISPR/Cas9-engineered TIL
Micah J. Benson, PhD – KSQ Therapeutics 
9–9:25 a.m.

Cytokine Engineered TILs
Parameswaran Hari, MD – Obsidian Therapeutics 
9:25–9:50 a.m.

Membrane-bound Cytokines for TIL Expansion In vivo 
Stephanie L. Goff, MD, FACS – National Cancer Institute
9:50–10 a.m.

Abstract 1
10–10:10 a.m.

Abstract 2

Break

10:10–10:35 a.m. PT

Session IV: Next-gen TCR T cells 
10:35 a.m.–12:15 p.m. PT
10:35–11 a.m.
Targeting Mutant KRAS Through the Action of TCR1020-T cells, Engineered to Overcome Cell Intrinsic Mechanisms 
Beatriz M. Carreno, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
11–11:25 a.m.

Clinical Development of TCR-T cell and Bi-specific T cell Engagers
Cedrik M. Britten, MD – Immatics Biotechnologies
11:25–11:50 a.m.
Immunogenicity and Therapeutic Targeting of a P53 Public Neoantigen
Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 
11:50 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

TCR T-cells
Dennis Williams, PharmD – US WorldMeds

Lunch & Networking

12:15–1:25 p.m. PT

Session V: In vivo Cell Therapies
1:25–3:25 p.m. PT
1:25–1:50 p.m.

Lentiviral Vectors
Laura Volta, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
1:50–2:15 p.m.
In vivo CRISPR Editing to Reprogram T cells
Justin Eyquem, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
2:15–2:40 p.m.

Lipid Nanoparticles
Philippe Parone, PhD – EsoBiotec
2:40–3:05 p.m. 
Preclinical Development of an In Vivo Anti-BCMA CAR-T cell Treatment for Multiple Myeloma
Shannon G. Contrastano, PhD – Kelonia Therapeutics   
3:05–3:15 p.m. Abstract 1
3:15–3:25 p.m. Abstract 2

Break

3:25–3:50 p.m. PT

Session VI: Next-gen T cell Engagers  
3:50–5:25 p.m. PT
3:50–4:15 p.m.
Next-gen T Cell Engagers: Trispecifics

Deepu Madduri, MD – Johnson & Johnson 
4:15–4:40 p.m.
Next-generation T-cell Engagers for Solid Tumors, Targeting Peptide-HLA Complexes

Geraldine Paulus, PhD – Crossbow Therapeutics, Inc. 
4:40–5:05 p.m.
Novel Nucleic Acid designs and delivery of Bispecifics in vivo

David Weiner, PhD – Wistar Institute
5:05–5:15 p.m. Abstract 1
5:15–5:25 p.m.

Abstract 2

Abstract Poster Session & Networking Reception 

5:30–7 p.m. PT

Friday, March 27

Registration & Breakfast | 7:30–8:30 a.m. PT

Opening Remarks

8:30–8:35 a.m. PT

Session VII: Combination Therapies (Oncolytics, Bispecifics, Cytokines, Small Molecule Inhibitors, Epigenetics, TLR Agonists)
8:35–10:10 a.m. PT
8:35–9 a.m.

CAR T + Oncolytic Virus
Barbra J. Sasu, PhD – Dispatch Biotherapeutics
9–9:25 a.m.

Engineering CAR T cells to Secrete T cell Engagers
Kathleen Gallagher, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital
9:25–9:50 a.m. Epigenetic Regulation of Anti-tumor Immune Responses 
Katherine Chiappinelli, PhD – George Washington University 
9:50–10 a.m.

Abstract 1
10–10:10 a.m.

Abstract 2

Break

10:10–10:35 a.m. PT

Session VIII: Novel Cell Engineering Approaches  
10:35 a.m.–12 p.m. PT 
10:35–11 a.m.

TBD
11–11:25 a.m.
A First-in-Primate Demonstration of in vivo CAR-T cell Engineering via Cell-Selective Delivery and Genomic Locus-Specific Integration
Jennifer Hamilton, PhD - Azalea Therapeutics
11:25–11:50 a.m.

In vivo CAR T Generation: The Future of Cell Therapy
Jacob Garcia, MD – Umoja Biopharma
11:50 a.m.–12 p.m.

Abstract 1

Lunch & Networking

12–1:15 p.m. PT

Session IX: Next-gen Manufacturing  
1:15–2:40 p.m. PT 
1:15–1:40 p.m.

Shortened Processes
Divya Varun, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
1:40–2:05 p.m.

Cell Manufacturing Automation
Isabel Tian, PhD – Cellares  
2:05–2:30 p.m.
Next-gen iPSC-Derived CAR T cells for Autoimmune Disease and Cancer

Lilly Wong, PhD – Fate Therapeutics, Inc.
2:30–2:40 p.m.

Abstract 1

Closing Remarks

2:40–2:50 p.m. PT