In November 2024, Azenta Life Sciences celebrated the one-year anniversary of its “Bridging the Gap” webinar series, an insightful resource in cell and gene therapy (CGT) education, co-sponsored by the Emily Whitehead Foundation. Over the past year, this series has become a resource for industry experts and CGT professionals, offering critical insights and fostering impactful discussions that advance the field.
Hosted by Tom Whitehead, co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, and Olga Bukatova, Associate Director of Business Development CGT at Azenta Life Sciences, the series has showcased a prestigious lineup of speakers. Key panelists, including Albert Ribickas, Assistant Director of Cell Therapy Facility Operations at Moffitt Cancer Center, and Dr. Patrick Hanley, Chief and Director of the Cellular Therapy Program at Children’s National Hospital, have led in-depth discussions on pioneering topics that shape the CGT landscape.
Over eleven sessions featuring industry leaders, scientists, and innovators, the series has addressed some of the most critical and complex topics in the delivery of advanced therapies, drawing audiences from around the world who are dedicated to advancing the science and application of cell and gene therapies.
Topics covered in sessions so far have included:
- October 2024 – Tim Hunt: “Beyond the State of the Industry Briefing”
Insights on CGT’s future with ARM, envisioning advancements beyond current standards. - July 2024 – Dr. Puri: “The TIL Revolution in Solid Tumor Treatment”
Highlighting TIL therapy’s transformative potential in solid tumor care. - May 2024 – Dr. Forte: “Shaping Tomorrow’s Standards of Care”
Exploring pathways to enhance patient access and care standards. - February 2024 – Dr. Levine: “What’s Next in CGT”
A forward look at upcoming breakthroughs and next-gen CGT technologies. - November 2023 – Dr. Grupp: “Reflecting on a Decade of Advanced Therapies”
Retrospective on clinical progress and key lessons from the past ten years.
Other topics and guests included: equity of access with Dr. Barry, bottlenecks in autologous cell therapy production with Laura Alquist; global access challenges with Dr. Mukherjee; innovative paths in cancer immunotherapy with Dr. Hege; decentralized manufacturing with Dr. Ledergerber; and the importance of standardization in advancing cell therapy with Dr. Warkentin.
“Over the past twelve months, we’ve witnessed an incredible response from the CGT community, which speaks to the high relevance and critical need for discussions on these pivotal topics,” said Olga Bukatova. “Our goal has always been to bridge gaps in knowledge, to provide a platform for collaborative dialogue, and to support the entire CGT ecosystem. The engagement we’ve seen has been a testament to the value of these sessions and the community’s commitment to scientific and medical advancement.”
Community Input and Questions Welcomed
As the “Bridging the Gap” series moves forward, Azenta Life Sciences is committed to continuously expanding and refining content to address the evolving priorities of the CGT community. To further align with these objectives, we invite participants to provide feedback and suggestions for future webinars.
The Bridging the Gap series will continue to be a valuable resource, dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration among CGT professionals. We look forward to building on this foundation and achieving an even greater impact in the coming year.
Register now to watch previous sessions and receive updates for future webinars.