Where cell and gene therapy
leaders collaborate
Cell and gene therapies rarely fail because the science doesn’t work. They fail when real-world clinical and operational conditions diverge from manufacturing assumptions. The Cell Summit ’26 is a two-day, invitation-only working meeting designed to examine where those assumptions break—and what it takes to fix them.
Meeting details
Day 1
July 28th
8:30am – 4:30pm
The Cincinnati Zoo
Elephant Trek Room
EVENING
6:30pm
Co-Mingle Event
Cincinnati Reds
Baseball Game
Day 2
July 29th
8:30am – 12:40pm
The Cincinnati Zoo
Elephant Trek Room
AFTERNOON
OPTIONS
Tour the new Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
OR
Stay and enjoy The Cincinnati Zoo for free
Accommodation
and venue
BioLife has secured the Graduate by Hilton Cincinnati hotel. This is a 30-minute ride from the airport.
Transportation from the hotel to/from meetings and activities is included in your registration. All other travel expenses must be covered personally.
151 Goodman St,
Cincinnati, OH 45219,
United States
The Cell Summit objective
This meeting goes beyond simply discussing industry challenges – it is a collaborative forum focused on solutions, best practices, and actionable insights derived from real-world experience. Through expert-led discussions and interactive case study reviews, we aim to drive progress, innovation, and process optimization to advance the field of cell therapy manufacturing.
Who is the meeting for?
We are designing this summit for process development engineers, scientists, decision-makers, and leaders actively involved in designing, operating, or scaling cell therapy processes.
Meeting outcomes
Attendees will gain valuable insights from a published proceedings document summarizing key discussions, solutions, and best practices shared during the meeting. Beyond knowledge exchange, this event fosters new connections and first-hand exposure to innovative approaches being successfully implemented across the industry.
Agenda topics
Day 1
TOPIC
Therapy Access Strategy: current state of affairs and how to drive more patient enrollment
TOPIC
Starting Materials & Collection: Apheresis Collection – donor access, optimize cryopreservation at facility, manage logistics of apheresis collection
TOPIC
Starting Materials & Collection: Conditions of processing at a clinical site – reality that clinical sites will not change protocol to meet manufacturing inputs
TOPIC
Raw Materials & Consumables: Impact on CQAs
TOPIC
Raw Materials & Consumables: Quality and regulatory considerations
TOPIC
Raw Materials & Consumables: Supply Chain Management – What data should manufacturers require for raw materials
TOPIC
Process Design & Automation: What are the key decisions? When do you need to make them? What is the cost of making them too late?
TOPIC
Downstream Processing & Drug Product Configuration: Throughput considerations
TOPIC
Downstream Processing & Drug Product Configuration: Are you expecting processing at POC?
TOPIC
Cryopreservation, Logistics & Distribution: Optimization of cryopreservation – what feeds into an optimized process?
TOPIC
Quality, Regulatory & Clinical Reality: How do you account for operations at the clinical site?
Day 2
TOPIC
Keynote – Advantages and Limitations of Transient Transfection vs. Producer Cell Lines in AAV Manufacturing
TOPIC
What was the non-obvious operational decision that changed adoption – and what is the CGT equivalent?
Speaker panel
Aby J. Mathew, PhD
Biolife Solutions
Dr. Aby J. Mathew is a recognized thought leader in biopreservation for clinical applications, with extensive expertise in cell and tissue preservation technologies. He holds a B.S. in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology and is a co-developer of the industry-leading HypoThermosol® and CryoStor® biopreservation media. A driving force in the regenerative medicine field, Dr. Mathew has been instrumental in advancing the adoption of clinical-grade biopreservation solutions. His contributions include six issued and six pending patents, along with numerous peer-reviewed journal articles that continue to shape best practices in the industry.
Aby J. Mathew, PhD
Biolife Solutions
Dr. Aby J. Mathew is a recognized thought leader in biopreservation for clinical applications, with extensive expertise in cell and tissue preservation technologies. He holds a B.S. in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology and is a co-developer of the industry-leading HypoThermosol® and CryoStor® biopreservation media. A driving force in the regenerative medicine field, Dr. Mathew has been instrumental in advancing the adoption of clinical-grade biopreservation solutions. His contributions include six issued and six pending patents, along with numerous peer-reviewed journal articles that continue to shape best practices in the industry.
Troy Wichterman
Chief Financial Officer BBA
MS Accounting, CPA (inactive); 13 years of experience in various finance and accounting roles; most recently served as BioLife Solutions Vice President, Finance since November 2019; integral in six acquisitions. Started with BioLife Solutions in 2015 with several positions of increasing responsibility.
Sean Werner, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
BS Biology, PhD, Biology with post-doctoral positions at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly; 23 years in the life science industry, guiding regenerative medicine research programs, pre-clinical and clinical testing and submission strategies leading to global commercialization of medical devices and bioprocessing tools. Experienced in various roles in the scientific, global regulatory, and general management functions supporting medical devices, autologous cell therapy, and single use disposable development programs.
Todd Berard
Chief Commercial Officer
BS, Biochemistry, MBA; 16 years marketing including leadership of marcom, corporate branding, product marketing, and positioning for Verathon, Physio Control (MDT), tech startups.
Aby J. Mathew, PhD
Biolife Solutions
Dr. Aby J. Mathew is a recognized thought leader in biopreservation for clinical applications, with extensive expertise in cell and tissue preservation technologies. He holds a B.S. in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology and is a co-developer of the industry-leading HypoThermosol® and CryoStor® biopreservation media. A driving force in the regenerative medicine field, Dr. Mathew has been instrumental in advancing the adoption of clinical-grade biopreservation solutions. His contributions include six issued and six pending patents, along with numerous peer-reviewed journal articles that continue to shape best practices in the industry.
Troy Wichterman
Chief Financial Officer BBA
MS Accounting, CPA (inactive); 13 years of experience in various finance and accounting roles; most recently served as BioLife Solutions Vice President, Finance since November 2019; integral in six acquisitions. Started with BioLife Solutions in 2015 with several positions of increasing responsibility.
Sean Werner, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
BS Biology, PhD, Biology with post-doctoral positions at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly; 23 years in the life science industry, guiding regenerative medicine research programs, pre-clinical and clinical testing and submission strategies leading to global commercialization of medical devices and bioprocessing tools. Experienced in various roles in the scientific, global regulatory, and general management functions supporting medical devices, autologous cell therapy, and single use disposable development programs.
Evening event
On Tuesday, 28th July, join us for an exciting evening at the Great American Ballpark, where the Cincinnati Reds will face off against Ohio rivals Cleveland Guardians. The game begins at 7:10pm, and we’ve reserved the exclusive Handlebar for our group, offering a prime viewing experience.
Our private event will feature a catered menu of classic ballpark favorites and a selection of beers, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, ensuring a delightful experience for all.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a thrilling Major League Baseball game in a vibrant atmosphere with colleagues and friends.
Partners
- Caring for infants to adolescents, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is an international leader in pediatric medicine, research and education >
- Cincinnati Zoo, internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants >
- The Cincinnati Reds, American professional baseball team based in Major League Baseball >