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

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

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

Wednesday, March 25

Registration | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. PT

Opening Remarks

Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr. PhD – University of Pennsylvania

1–1:05 p.m. PT

Keynote Address
Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr. PhD – University of Pennsylvania

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
Moderator: Evan Weber, PhD – University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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.

The Development of Engineered, iPSC-derived CAR T cell Therapies
Grant Welstead, PhD – Century Therapeutics
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 
Moderator: Evan Weber, PhD – University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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.
In vivo Genome-wide CRISPR Screens in Human T cells to Enhance T cell Therapy for Solid Tumors
Julia Carnevale, MD – University of California, San Francisco
5:10–5:20 p.m.

(52) An in vivo human transcription factor overexpression screen to reprogram T cells for effective solid tumor immunotherapy
Nelson Knudsen, PhD – Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital

 
5:20–5:30 p.m.
(91) Base editing mediated inactivation of A20ZF7 enhances human CAR T cell antitumor immunity
Luis Sandoval – Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, UC Berkeley – UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering

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
Moderator: Kristen Hege, MD – Board Member: Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune

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 - Membrane Bound IL15 Engineered TIL Therapy
Parameswaran Hari, MD – Obsidian Therapeutics 
9:25–9:50 a.m.
Taking TIL into the Next Generation
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 
Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr. PhD – University of Pennsylvania

10:35 a.m.–12:15 p.m. PT
10:35–11 a.m.

Targeting Mutant KRAS Through the Action of TCR1188-T cells
Beatriz M. Carreno, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
11–11:25 a.m.

Clinical Development of TCR-T cell and Bi-specific T cell Engagers Targeting PRAME+ Cancers
Delfi Krishna, PhD – 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.
Development of Next Generation TCR Therapies
Dennis Williams, PharmD

Lunch & Networking

12:15–1:25 p.m. PT

Session V: In vivo Cell Therapies
Moderator: Kristen Hege, MD – Board Member: Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune

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.

In Vivo CAR-T Cell Therapy with Engineered Lentiviral Vectors: From Concept to Clinic
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
Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr. PhD – University of Pennsylvania

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 – The 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)
Moderator: Gordon Moody – AstraZeneca

8:35–10:10 a.m. PT
8:35–9 a.m.

Leveraging Synthetic Antigens to Create Universal Immunotherapies for Solid Tumors
Barbra J. Sasu, PhD – Dispatch Biotherapeutics
9–9:25 a.m.

Engineering CAR T Cells to Secrete T Cell Engagers: Lessons from Immune Monitoring in Clinical Trials
Kathleen Gallagher, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital
9:25–9:50 a.m. Epigenetic Regulation of Anti-tumor Immune Responses 
Katherine B. Chiappinelli, PhD – George Washington University 
9:50–10 a.m.

(59) β-hydroxybutyrate drives metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming to enhance CAR T cell antitumor function
Shan Liu, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
10–10:10 a.m.
(87) TLR agonists and Bispecific T cell engagers potentiate T cell therapy through CD2 signaling
Ayana Ruffin, PhD – Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University

 

Break

10:10–10:35 a.m. PT

Session VIII: Novel Cell Engineering Approaches 
Moderator: Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb

10:35 a.m.–12:10 p.m. PT 

10:35–11 a.m.

Advancing In Vivo RNA Therapies Towards Clinical in Oncology
Gilles Besin, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
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
12–12:10 p.m.

Abstract 2

Lunch & Networking

12:10–1:25 p.m. PT

Session IX: Next-gen Manufacturing 
Moderator: Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb

1:25–2:50 p.m. PT 
1:25–1:50 p.m.

NEX-T Generation Autologous CAR T Cell Process Development: CD19 NEX-T Platform Process Overview
Divya Varun, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
1:50–2:15 p.m.

Meet Total Patient Demand For Cell Therapies with End-to-End Automation
Isabel Tian, PhD – Cellares  
2:15–2:40 p.m.
Next-gen iPSC-Derived CAR T cells for Autoimmune Disease and Cancer
2:40–2:50 p.m.

Abstract 1

Closing Remarks

Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb

2:50–3 p.m. PT