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Holly Anderson

  • Post author:admin
  • Post published:April 12, 2019
  • Post category:Technologist Winner

Abstract: Safety Considerations in the Generation of Clinical Grade Autologous IPS Cell Lines

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    Copyright 2020 - ISCT

    Fostering CGT Workforce Development

    Making a Lasting Impact

    Motivated to be a part of the solution and support the continued and sustainable growth of the cell and gene therapy sector, ISCT is spearheading efforts in workforce development, training, and education. In 2022 ISCT was a key player in driving the development and deployment of programs and initiatives available not only to ISCT members but also to the wider CGT community.

    In 2022, ISCT successfully launched two new training programs to address critical skills gaps in manufacturing, partnering with the Andalusian Network for the Design and Translation of Advanced Therapies (ANd&tAT) to offer three full-tuition scholarships to ISCT members in Europe. While in parallel, partnering with CMaT, the NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies, to the first edition of the online program for biomanufacturing.

    Recognizing that a third of ISCT members are early-stage professionals, ISCT invested significant resources in expanding the global ESP mentoring and leadership development programs. For the wider global ISCT community, the society also made significant efforts to expand its digital resources for not only facilitating topical and encouraging cross-collaboration with regional committees.

    Bruce Levine, PhD
    ISCT Past President (2020 – 2022)
    United States

    “My passion for ISCT stems from the fact that in my career, no other society has played as integral a role in my professional development.“

    Spearheading Efforts in Workforce Development

    Meeting CoChair

    Patrick Hanley
    ISCT Representative to NASEM
    Childrens National Hospital
    United States

    Invited Speakers

    Meagan Pasternak, BA
    ISCT Head Office 
    Canada

    Elena Cooper, MSc
    ISCT ESP Committee 
    United States

    Maryam Pasdar, BSc
    ISCT ESP Committee
    United States

    Being recognized as a leader in driving efforts in workforce development, ISCT was invited to take part in the workshop on Training the Regenerative Medicine Workforce for the Future hosted by the Forum on Regenerative Medicine at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM).

    The virtual workshop, Co-Chaired by ISCT North America Regional VP, Patrick Hanley, Featured Sessions from ISCT Head Office Senior Manager Meagan Pasternak and ISCT ESP Members Elana Cooper and Maryam Pasdar, which addressed issues related to lack of workforce diversity and opportunities to support workforce development in the future.

    Addressing Critical Skill Shortages in Manufacturing

    Identifying the limited number of skilled workers in manufacturing and product development as a major barrier to growth in the CGT sector, ISCT partnered with The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) to develop and deliver the first Workforce Development in Biomanufacturing course.

    Developed by field experts from academic, regulatory, clinical, and commercial domains, the online program introduces key topics in cell and gene therapy manufacturing not only to up skill the existing biomanufacturing workforce but also provide those transitioning from other related fields with the fundamental knowledge and skillset unique to the space.

    Following the successful global launch of the pilot program in June 2022, ISCT announced its plans to continue to offer the course on an annual basis and introduce three additional program dates throughout the year.

    To further build on the learning of the online program, ISCT’s partnership with CMaT will see the introduction of the first innovative hands-on, on-site course, which will launch mid-2023.

    Feedback from Inaugural Course

    CMAT

    Queenie Jang,
    BSc (Pharmacy), MBA
    CEO, ISCT
    Canada

    “This biomanufacturing course, delivered in collaboration with CMaT, is a first step to address the broader needs of CGT training for both industry and academia. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from the participants who took part in the course shows us that we are on the right track.”

    “CMaT is tremendously excited to collaborate with ISCT and offer this critically needed course for the Cell Therapy Industry. We were humbled to see the community’s strong support and enthusiasm for this first offering”

    Krishnendu Roy, PhD
    Robert A. Milton Chair, CMaT
    United States

    Specialization as Manufacturing Manager

    “Working in the GMP facilities alongside experienced teachers and other international students enabled viable discussions, effective sharing of experiences and allowed us to put theory into practice.”

    Katja Sirviö
    MSc (Pharm)
    Kuopio Center for
    Gene and Cell Therapy
    Finland

     

    Alejandro Barquero
    MPharm, MSc
    Advent Bioservices Ltd
    United Kingdom

    Specialization as Qualified Person

    “If you want to broaden your network and have fruitful exchanges with other field professionals from different ATMP backgrounds and countries, this is definitely the program for you.”

    In partnership with ANd&AT and Universidad de Granda, supported by an educational grant from Miltenyi, ISCT was delighted to launch the first ISCT Master Scholarship Program in 2021/2022.

    Available to ISCT members in Europe, the program offers three full-tuition scholarships to enroll in the Master Degree or Specialization Degree in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, offered by the University of Granada/ Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies (ANd&tAT).

    The first of its kind, these programs are uniquely designed for technologies presently working in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facilities within Europe producing cell therapy, gene therapy or tissue-engineered products for human use.

    Following the demand for the 2021/2022 course, ISCT will continue to offer these scholarships on a Biennial basis.

    Congratulations to the awardees of the inaugural ISCT Europe Master Programme Scholarship on their completion of the 2021/2022 Master in Manufacturing of ATMPs at the University of Granada/ Andalusian Network for the design and translation of Advanced Therapies.

    2021/2022 Scholars:

    • Miriam López-Parra, MD –  Specialization as Qualified Person
    • Alejandro Barquero MPharm, MSc – Specialization as Qualified Person
    • Katja Sirviö, MSc (Pharm) – Specialization as Manufacturing Manager

    The Launch Pad for Early Stage Professionals

    2022 Mentoring Program

    In 2022, ISCT was delighted to continue The ESP Mentoring Program.  Designed to help guide the career and professional development of early-stage CGT professionals, the program connects ESPs with ISCT’s global network of CGT experts.

    Since its launch in 2018, the mentoring program has seen significant growth with benefits for both mentee and mentor applications alike. 2022 was a stand out year for the program with 93 participating mentees and 50 participating mentors from across the globe.

    Lindsay Davies, PhD
    CellTherEx Consulting

    Sweeden

    “I have been a mentor for the last 2 years and really enjoyed speaking with ESPs, learning where they feel they need support and help for further development and tailoring sessions and topics to their individual requirements. I believe I have learnt as much from them as they have been able to learn from me.”

    “If I were to describe in one word my early experience with my mentor, this word would be EMPOWERING! It’s exactly what I was hoping for. Early on they helped me identify my professional strengths and deficits, and helped me expand my research ideas.”

    Diana Cirstea, MD
    Massachusetts
    General Hospital
    United States

    “I have had the opportunity to work with big names in the field, learn from them and apply the knowledge in my developing research. Since committee members are from around the world, I have gained exposure to global perspectives and updates on the latest methods and study directions“

    Reza Yarani, PhD
    Stanford University
    United States

    2022 Leadership Development Program

    The ISCT ESP leadership development program offers Early Stage Professionals (ESPs) a chance to join an ISCT Committee in a formal ESP position for a 2-year term providing a practical and immersive learning experience.

    In 2022, ISCT was delighted to receive 46 applications from ESP members interested in the program. These applications were from over 18 countries globally, and positions were awarded on participating scientific, industry, regulatory, regional and communications committees.

    Through the program, ESPs receive guidance from key global opinion leaders while collaborating on real-world projects in their area of interest that will advance the field of cell and gene therapy.

    Expanding our Webinar Program 

    With a focus on expanding access to educational resources on a global level, ISCT leaders were motivated to develop and deliver a strong portfolio of webinars featuring both member-exclusive and open-access content. Many of the webinars were delivered as curated series leveraging ISCT expert committees to engage with international experts to share perspectives and knowledge with the wider community.

    To foster global engagement and learning, ISCT encouraged cross-collaboration between regional committees to host joint webinar series, bringing together the ISCT North America and the ISCT South & Central America regional executive committees to deliver a series on  Cancer Vaccines for Oncological Therapy and Implementing a new clinical CAR T program: Manufacturing your own.

    2022 marked an unprecedented level of engagement for the ISCT webinar series, with members accessing content live and on demand.

    0
    ISCT Educational Webinars
    1265
    Registrants across the globe
    ISCT Webinar Library
    Open Access Webinars

    Connecting The Right Talent to The Right Opportunity

    ISCT has a specialized career site focused on CGT talent and opportunities. In 2022, the site saw record-breaking engagement. with the increasing demand for talent, ISCT is proud to provide a resource tool that presents quality opportunities to talent, ensuring that career seekers are able to use it as a reliable and selective point of access for first-choice job options in cell and gene therapy.

    The career centre also provides job posters access to a select group of global CGT professionals with the expertise and skills needed to thrive in a fast-growing field to help streamline the recruitment process.  

    Visit the ISCT Career Center
    making a lasting impact
    QueenieJang.jpg

    Queenie Jang, BSc (Pharmacy), MBA
    Chief Executive Officer
    Canada

     
     

    Investing In The Workforce
    Of The Future

    Over the last year, ISCT has focused its investments on building a home for workforce development within the DNA of ISCT. Working with our expansive network of global key opinion leaders and subject matter experts, we have made significant investments to expand our educational offerings. From online resources to practical in-person programs, ISCT members now have access to a wide array of supports.

    In recent years, the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) field has seen exponential growth, which has outpaced the rate at which new professionals enter. As result, we have witnessed major skill and labor shortages affecting the entirety of the field. Identifying this as a critical issue to the advancement of the sector, ISCT is motivated to be at the forefront of addressing this issue. We see it as our duty to Support the driven and diverse group of regulatory, commercial, and academic professionals and remove barriers and open doors for newcomers entering the field.

    Through forming strategic partnerships with outside organizations such as CMaT ANd&AT and Universidad de Granda, ISCT has successfully developed and globally deployed a number of workforce programs spanning translational research to good manufacturing practices and regulatory understanding. 2022 marked not only the launch of the online workforce development in biomanufacturing course in partnership with CMAT but also the decision to make this a recurring program offered four times annually due to the critical need and demand for skilled personnel. Through our partnership with ANd&AT and Universidad de Granda, ISCT, was proud to awarded three European ISCT members full-tuition scholarships to enrol in the Master in Manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

    Taking a step further to demonstrate ISCT’s unwavering commitment to helping bridge the labour gap in the market, alongside our dedicated head office liaisons, ISCT has formed a specialist workforce development committee. This committee, in collaboration with our global network of subject matter experts, will design training programs created by ISCT members for ISCT members that are tailored to the specific needs of professionals based on their region, area of focus and skill level.

    Understanding the criticality of Early Stage Professionals (ESP) for the continued growth of the CGT sector, ISCT has made a deliberate decision to expand and invest in our ESP resources, programs and committees. ESPs currently make up a third of our overall global membership, and we are delighted to see these members becoming more active and engaged in the society. Our ESP Mentoring Program and our ESP Leadership Development Program reached record numbers of participants in 2022, allowing us to connect ESPs with our global CGT network and provide them with practical experience and connections that will last a lifetime. If the cell and gene sector is to continue to grow at the current rapid pace, we must continue to support ESPs and provide them with the tools they need to succeed and excel in their careers.

    With workforce development being the greatest challenge that lies ahead for cell and gene therapies, ISCT is proud to champion and spearhead these initiatives. ISCT members, no matter what stage of their professional development, now have more access than ever to the key knowledge and networks that they need to become an effective part of the workforce. We will continue to work collaboratively with our all our stakeholders to develop paths and open doors for both interested professionals and newcomers alike.

    Updates From Our Regional Leaders

    As a truly global organization, ISCT leverages a regional model to deploy solutions to global issues on a regional level. Spearheaded by passionate volunteer leadership, who understand the needs and concerns unique to each region, ISCT addresses the emergent needs of CGT professionals across the globe. With partnerships including regional partner organizations, regulatory bodies, and stakeholder communities, each of the ISCT regional committees drives the advancement of translational science at a high global standard.

    Our committees work autonomously to deliver key scientific meetings, stimulate membership growth, and develop regional professional networks. Through 2022, our committees worked hard to develop the groundwork for new committees with a special focus on early-stage professionals and facilitated several major events that have continued to build consensus across the sector. 

    Here are some of the highlights from our regional committees this year:

    New Committees Around the Globe 

    In 2022, to further the society’s commitment to workforce development, ISCT formed three new regional early-stage professionals subcommittees in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South-Central America. Supported by the respective regional executive committee, these subcommittees were created to promote regional and global engagement and networking for early-stage professionals providing them with resources and career guidance to ensure their success.

    Championed by regional volunteers, the Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South-Central America subcommittees are in full swing developing key initiatives to drive ESP membership and engagement in each region. ISCT is currently working on establishing ESP subcommittees in both North America and Europe for 2023.

    Key Regional Initiatives in 2022

    ISCT regional committees deliver high-quality programmes globally, with autonomous planning supported by the society’s global network and resources. . As restrictions eased post-pandemic, regional executive committees were excited to return to in-person meetings and reconnect face-to-face with the wider ISCT community.

    With a reignited vigour to connect cell and gene therapy professionals globally, 2022 was a particularly active year for regional events. ISCT regional committees partnered and collaborated with several external groups and organizations as well connecting with other ISCT committees.

    In August, the Australia & New Zealand Regional Executive Committee hosted its first in-person regional meeting post-pandemic. The highly anticipated event welcomed 137 delegates to Brisbane, Australia, and featured workshops and panel discussions with particular attention to quality, regulatory affairs, education, training, commercialization and clinical practice.

    Meanwhile, in North America, the leadership team hosted a virtual interactive member-focused regional town hall meeting in October to connect and engage with members in the region. The meeting facilitated open discussions focused on workforce development and retention challenges, including both commercial and academic perspectives.

    To facilitate cross-regional collaboration, The North America and South & Central America Regional Executive Committees partnered to present a two-part webinar series. The first installment discussed the clinical manufacturing of CAR T Cells, and the second explored the mechanism, safety and efficacy of mRNA-based cancer vaccines for oncological therapy. The collaborative series brought together subject matter experts and key opinion leaders from across both regions and received over 550 registrants from across the globe.

    ISCT Leaders close out the South & Central America Regional Symposium

    Strategic Regional Partnerships

    Virtual Scientific Meeting with the Biotherapeutics
    Association of Australasia (BAA)

    In Australia & New Zealand, ISCT leaders held a joint virtual scientific meeting with the Biotherapeutics Association of Australasia (BAA) to address developments in cell and gene therapies. The two-day event, held in February 2022, hosted scientific presentations featuring both international and regional speakers to discuss the latest developments in the clinical and commercial delivery of cell and gene therapies and the latest regulatory updates relevant to the region.

    ISCT Joint Session the International Congress of Blood and
    Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT)

    Leaders in Asia were delighted to continue its partnership with the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (KSBMT) with a joint session on gene editing and gene therapy at the International Congress of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT), the 27th Annual congress of KSBMT in September. The long-standing partnership between ISCT and KSBMT is a key partnership for the region. It fosters international cooperation in education and research in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cell & gene therapy.

    ISCT – JSTCT Joint Session at the 44th JSTCT Annual Meeting Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy 

    In May the Asia executive committee partnered with the Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT) to participate in a joint session at The 44th JSTCT Annual Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. ISCT held a joint session chaired by Satoshi Takahashi, MD, PhD, Past ISCT Asia Regional Vice-President, JSTCT 2022 President, on ‘Strategies to Improve Classical CBT by Introducing New Cellular Therapies’. The session also included a remote presentation from William YK Hwang, MBBS, MMed, FRCP, FAMS, ISCT Asia Regional Vice-President Elect.

    ISCT Sessions the XII Congress of ABTCel Scientific Meeting

    In October, the South and Central America Committee again partnered with the Brazilian association of cell and gene therapy (CGT) for the XII Congress of ABTCel – Gen in Rio de Janeiro. ISCT invited speakers participated both in-person and virtually, leading discussions on topics such as manuscript writing, cell therapy and therapies for cancer through sessions and interactive workshops. Alongside event participation, The South and Central America regional leaders were proud to sponsor the top-scoring abstract awards and provide a special abstract supplement showcasing all accepted abstracts from the meeting publication in Cytotherapy, the official journal of ISCT.

    Our Regional Leaders
    Click below to access or join our communities

    Asia Region

    Click to Access or Join the Asia Regional Community

    Australia & New Zealand Region

    Click to Access or Join the Australia & New Zealand Regional Community

    Europe Region

    Click to Access or Join the Europe Regional Community

    North America Region

    Click to Access or Join the North America Regional Community

    South & Central America Region

    Click to Access or Join the South & Central America Regional Community

    The Telegraft Editorial Board

    Janet Macpherson, PhD
    Australia

    C. Russell Y. Cruz, MD, PhD 
    USA 

    Available to ISCT members, Telegraft is the go-to resource to keep up to date with the latest Society activities and important developments in cell and gene therapy.

    2022 brought exciting updates for Telegraft, with the launch of the ‘Telegraft Hub,’ the new online home for ISCT news and community. Alongside monthly e-newsletters, ISCT members now have access to the online interactive hub, allowing them to connect with peers and access key updates and curated content.

    The Telegraft Editorial Board works to engage and connect the whole ISCT community across academia, science, regulation and commercial by sharing insightful discussions and up-to-date information on critical issues affecting the field of cellular therapy.

    Access the Telegraft Archives
    Access the Telegraft Hub

    Michele Sugrue, MT
    USA

    Wouter Van’t Hof, PhD
    USA

    Joaquim Vives, PhD
    Portugal

    Rounak Dubey, MBBS,  MD
    India

    Shyam Bhakta, MD, MBA
    India

    Ashley Krull, BSc, PhD
    USA

    Cytotherapy®, the official journal for the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), publishes novel and innovative results from high quality scientific and clinical studies in the fields of cell and gene therapy. In 2021, Cytotherapy has continued to successfully advance and expand the field of cell and gene therapy for clinical researchers, oncologists, hematologists, physicians, and regulatory experts alike. The Journal had a 6.196 impact factor for 2022, a new record from which the editorial board hopes to grow further.

    You can read issues of Cytotherapy® here.
    Follow Cytotherapy® on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest news and publications.

    Introducing New Cytotherapy Assistant Editor: Dr. Rachel Burga

    In January 2022, Dr. Rachel Burga was appointed as the new assistant editor for Cytotherapy. With a background in biomedical engineering and immunology, Rachel is the Principal Scientist of Cell Therapy at Obsidian Therapeutics. She has been an active member of ISCT since 2016 and currently sits on the Early-Stage Professionals Committee as Co-Chair.

    As Assistant Editor, Rachel will work closely with Senior Editor Dr. Donald G. Phinney and Commissioning Editor, Dr. Patrick Hanley, to raise awareness of the Cytotherapy brand. In her first term, Rached helped recruit outstanding content for the journal and work closely with the ISCT membership to ensure that the journal continues to support the Society’s mission.

    Rachel Burga, PhD
    Assistant Editor, Cytotherapy
    United States

     132 Published Papers
    400+ ISCT 2022 Abstracts – 80 ABTCel-Gen Abstracts

    ISCT Insta-Your-Cells Photo Challenge

    Each year, ISCT hosts the Insta-Your-Cells Photo Challenge, calling on community members to submit interesting images from under the microscope. These images are selected to feature on the front cover of Cytotherapy®, the Official Journal of ISCT, showcasing the fascinating world of cells to peers around the globe. 

    The winning image of the 3rd annual Insta Your Cells Photo Challenge was submitted by Philippe Cohen, MD, PhD, France. ISCT Head Office prepared a framed keepsake to celebrate this iconic first-place image.

    Take a look at the stunning submissions selected to be featured on the front cover of Cytotherapy® this year. 

    January 2022

    Philippe Cohen (France)

    Image description: 

    3D stem cell colony, iPS Epiblastoid cultured inside core-shell hydrogel capsule. Blue DAPI.

    February 2022

    Gina Kusuma (Australia)

    Image description:
    Immunofluorescence image of human amniotic epithelial cells in monolayer culture and stained with actin (red), vinculin (green) and DAPI (blue)

    March 2022

    Giulia Golinelli (Italy)

    Image description: 
    Day one of spheroid-based coculture between sarcoma cells and TRAIL-expressing MSCs.

    April 2022

    Philippe Cohen (France)

    Image Description:

    Biomimetic 3D stem cell colonies inside Core-Shell alginate capsules. C-STEM Treefrog Therapeutics.

    May 2022

    Philippe Cohen (France)

    Image Description:
    Lumenized 3D pluripotent stem cell colony (epiblastoid) cultivated in hollow capsule in bioreactor (C-StemTM). Nucleus dapi actin staining (phalloidin), equatorial sections & color-coded projections, 200µm diameter.

    June 2022

    Andrés Caicedo (Ecuador)

    Image Description:
    The moment in which an EV from mouse-MSC carrying mitochondria is shared among mouse-MSC differentially labelled (MitoRed and MitoGreen). The EV (MTR) is interacting with the MSC (MTR) membrane with the possibility of being internalized. 20X zoomed image.

    July 2022

    Miriel Ho (Canada)

    Image Description:Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human iPS cells displaying cardiac troponin T (red), sarcomeric alpha-actinin (green) and counterstained with DAPI (blue).

    August 2022

    Inken Kelch (New Zealand)

    Image Description:

    Human keratinocytes in co-culture with melanocytes.

     

    September 2022

    Mirabelle Ho (Canada)

    Image Description:
    Flight of Fancy: iPSC differentiated Cardiomyocyte. Progenitors marked by NKX2.5 (red) become less apparent even as characteristic Cardic Troponin T observed in green persists. Nuclei counterstained with Dapi (blue).

    October 2022

    Maria Dolores Carmona (Spain)

    Image Description:
    Ultrastructure of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell under transmission electron microscopy in the third passage of culture (Jeol Jem 1400 transmission electron microscope): Cytoplasm, nucleus and exosomes ultrastructural features.

    November 2022

    Shanti Sibuea (Indonesia)

    Image Description:
    Mature midbrain dopaminergic neuron expressing eGFP under the control of LMX1A and immunolabelled for nucleus (DAPI), TH (red)

    December 2022

    Marc-Antoine Da-Veiga (Belgium)

    Image Description:
     Expression of the neuronal marker Beta III tubulin (Orange), in pediatric patient-derived stem-like cell line of glioblastoma (SF188) after 12 days of cultures in neuronal differentiation medium. Nucleus (DAPI, turquoise), obj*40 epifluoresent.

    Meet the ISCT Workforce Development Committee

    CO-CHAIRS

    Emily Circle

    Emily Hopewell, PhD 
    Indiana University School Of Medicine
    United States

    Patrick Hanley

    Patrick  Hanley, PhD
    Children’s National Hospital

    United States

    Recognizing the current skills gaps in CGT translation as a critical issue for the cell sector, in November 2022, ISCT Formed the ISCT Workforce Development Committee.

    Led by Co-chairs Emily Hopewell, PhD and Patrick Hanley, PhD the committee will provide strategic guidance to identify, develop and deliver ISCT training and development programs.

    Programs will focus on the specific needs of professions based on their region, industry, and skill level to support the sustainable growth of the cell and gene therapy sector.

    Throughout 2023, the committee will focus on Identifying and prioritizing urgent needs for training and educational programs for professionals working across the full spectrum of translational science, starting from pre-clinical development through to patient access, to develop and deliver comprehensive programs to upskill and train the existing CGT workforce.

    ISCT Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy

    CHAIR

    Laertis Ikonomou, PhD
    The State University of New York at Buffalo

    United States

    In October 2021, the ISCT Presidential Task Force on the Use of Unproven and/or Unethical Cell and Gene Therapies formally became the ISCT Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy (ECGT). This change is intended to reflect the committees revised mission to identify key ethical issues associated with the development, regulatory authorization, and distribution of cell and gene therapies.

    In 2022, the Committee re-affirmed its position on, and concerns with, speculative immune cell banking. Following the 2022 US federal court ruling in favor of California Stem Cell Treatment Center, Inc., and Cell Surgical Network Corporation, the Committee contributed to publishing an ISCT position and press release, highlighting the dangers of unproven cell therapies to patient safety.

    Undertaking its broader remit, the ECGT Committee developed and published informed positions providing guidance and clarity on complicated ethical matters within the CGT space. The Committee has undertaken the task of developing resources to address ethical topics, and potential issues, arising from the EU Hospital Exemption and the US expanded access pathway. The Committee organized a roundtable session at the ISCT 2022 San Francisco Annual Meeting addressing both pathways, and published a position paper on Hospital Exemption within the framework of safety and ethical interests of patients. On January 19, 2022, the Committee launched the ISCT Expanded Access Working Group.

    Over the course of 2022, the Committee has worked to develop a guide for the general public, which analyses the regenerative medicine industry, focusing on distinctive features of unproven cell and cell-based products, suggesting practical strategies to address marketing of such products, and providing an overview of reporting mechanisms available to patients across different jurisdictions globally. This comprehensive guide will be published in 2023 and provides an important resource to protect patients globally.

    ISCT Expanded Access Working Group

    CHAIR

    Patricia J. Zettler, JD
    The Ohio State University
    United States

    FDA LIAISON

    Wilson Bryan, MD
    The Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies
    United States

    The ISCT Expanded Access Working Group was launched with the mandate to identify and address practical, ethical, and regulatory issues that arise from the use, and potential misuse, of the expanded access pathway by various CGT stakeholders.

    Since its launch, the Working Group has been developing informed perspectives on expanded access to generate educational resources that promote innovation in translational research while upholding the highest ethical standards. The Working Group submitted a short report reviewing the history and current state of the US expanded access pathway, and highlighting three emerging areas of concern. The report will be published in Cytotherapy in early 2023.

    The overarching objective of the Working Group is to further refine its position on ethical issues arising from the use, and potential misuse, of the expanded access pathway, culminating in the development of a code of ethics. In developing this code of ethics, ISCT will seek out input and endorsement from other organizations in the field.

    Meet The ISCT Early Stage Professional Committee

    CO-CHAIRS

    Kevin Bosse, PhD RAC
    Nationwide
    Children’s Hospital

    United States

    Rachel Burga, PhD
    Obsidian Therapeutics

    United States

    The ISCT Early Stage Professionals Committee (ESP) strives to engage and connect ESP with the wider CGT sector on a regional and global level. Co-Chaired by Kevin Bosse, PhD RAC and Rachel Burga, PhD, the committee provides networking opportunities and career development resources for professionals to excel in their careers.

    The committee hosts a variety of tailored events and workshops, such as the ISCT ESP Mentoring Program and the ISCT ESP Leadership Development program helping connect professionals with key opinion leaders and subject matter experts.

    In 2022, ISCT formed three regional ESP subcommittees in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South Central America to drive ESP membership and increase interactions between ESPs and regional leadership.

    Cytotherapy®, the official journal for the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), publishes novel and innovative results from high quality scientific and clinical studies in the fields of cell and gene therapy.In 2021, Cytotherapy has continued to successfully advance and expand the field of cell and gene therapy for clinical researchers, oncologists, hematologists, physicians, and regulatory experts alike. The Journal had a 6.196 impact factor for 2022, a new record from which the editorial board hopes to grow further.

    You can read issues of Cytotherapy® here.
    This year, Cytotherapy® also launched a Twitter account to share fresh updates and resources.

    Introducing New Cytotherapy Assistant Editor: Rachel Burga

    In February 2022, Rachel Burga was appointed as the new assistant editor for Cytotherapy. With a background in biomedical engineering and immunology, Rachel is the Principal Scientist of Cell Therapy at Obsidian Therapeutics. She has been an active member of ISCT since 2016 and currently sits on the Early-Stage Professional Committee as Co-Chair.

    As Assistant Editor, Rachel will work closely with Senior Editor Donald G. Phinney and our Commissioning Editor, Dr. Patrick Hanley, to raise awareness of the Cytotherapy brand. She will also help recruit outstanding content for the journal and work closely with the ISCT membership to ensure that the journal continues to support the society’s mission.

    Rachel Burga AR

    Rachel Burga, PhD
    Assistant Editor, Cytotherapy
    United States

     132 Published Papers
    400+ ISCT 2021 Abstracts – 80 ABTCel-Gen Abstracts

    ISCT Insta-Your-Cells Photo Challenge

    Each year, ISCT hosts the Insta-Your-Cells Photo Challenge, calling on community members to submit interesting images from under the microscope. These images are selected to feature on the front cover of Cytotherapy®, the Official Journal of ISCT, showcasing the fascinating world of cells to peers around the globe. 

    The winning image of the 3rd annual Insta Your Cells Photo Challenge was submitted by Philippe Cohen, MD, PhD, France. ISCT Head Office prepared a framed keepsake to celebrate this iconic first-place image.

    Take a look at the stunning submissions selected to be featured on the front cover of Cytotherapy® this year. 

    • All
    • 2020-2021
    • 2019-2020
    January 2021

    Hillary Sherman

    Image Description: Human intestinal organoids from a patient with cystic fibrosis stained with villin (red)

    February 2021

    Ivano Colao

    Image Description: 3-dimensional fluorescent confocal microscopy images of Umbilical Cord-derived MSC grown on microcarriers and stained for CD 105 (red), STRO-1 (green), and cell nuclei with Hoechst (Blue).

    March 2021

    Johnatas Silva

    Image Description: Modulation of mitophagy in LPS-stimulated Human small airways epithelial cells treated with extracellular vesicles of bone marrow-derived stromal mesenchymal cells. Blue = DAPI, Red = MitoTracker, Green = LC3A / B, Orange = Mitophagy

    April 2021

    Wah Suet Ng

    Image Description: ULTRASTRUCTURE OF HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL under scanning electron microscopy. The surface features of P0 human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell. Blebs and few filopodia are observed.

    May 2021

    Pradyut Paul

    Image Description: Porcine pancreatic stellate cells protect human islet endocrine function in co-culture

    June 2021

    Julian Milberg

    Image Description: A PtK2 Cell undergoing Anaphase. The DNA (in green) was stained with Sytox Green and the microtubules (in red) were stained with Alexa 546. The imagine was done with a Leica TCS SP8 STED 3X Microscope. 

    July 2021

    Philippe Cohen

    Image Description: The Epiblastoid (Confocal Equatorial view): 3D culture of induced pluripotent stem cells inside core-shell hydrogel capsule. Blue DAPI, Pink F-ACTIN. Philippe Cohen (TreeFrog Tx) Jeremie Teillon (Bordeaux Imaging Center), AGAVE software

    August 2021

    Audrey Varin

    Image Description: Crop of human adipose tissue. Yellow: adipocytes; red: endothelial cells; green: adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs); purple: macrophages. Photo credit: Audrey Varin-Corinne Barreau

    September 2021

    Minna Sivonen

    Image Description: Human macrophages differentiated from blood derived monocytes in suspension bioreactor. Image showing macrophages cytoskeleton (Vimentin -red) and nuclei (blue).

    October 2021

    Minna Sivonen

    Image Description: Human adult dermal fibroblasts showing essential myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing. Image showing alpha- smooth muscle actin (green) and nuclei (blue).

    November 2021

    Maojia Xu (Ireland)

    Image Description: Neural rosettes formed in Embryoid body that were
    derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Neural cells were coloured by NESTIN (red) and nucleus (blue) staining. 

    December 2021

    Francesca Bastaroli (Italy)

    Image Description: iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte stained for cardiac troponin
    T (cTnT, green) and nuclei (DAPI, blue).

    January 2020

    Imam Rosadi (Indonesia)

    Image description: Human platelet-rich plasma induced chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells culture on silk fibroin scaffold stained by DAPI (blue) and type 2 collagen (green) on day 14 of observation.
    February 2020

    Ahmad Galuta (Canada)

    Image description: Neural networks generated from stem cells form new connections after spinal cord injury. Spinal cord stem cells were differentiated into neurons, shown here by Tuj1 immuno-fluorescence, and represent promising tools for regenerating the spinal cord.

    March 2020

    Saba Ghassemi (United States)

    Image description: SEM image of an immune synapse formed between a CAR T cell and a corresponding tumor cell.

    April 2020

    Giulia Golinelli (Italy)

    Image Description: Mix co-culture between red-tumor cells & green-MSC spheroid

    May 2020

    Alexander Bornschlegl (USA)

    Image Description: Human adipose derived MSCs on matrix. Cells were labeled with Hoechst and Phalloidin. Image is a 10x Z-Stack projection.

    June 2020

    Verena Börger (Germany)

    Image Description: human iPS cells stained for stem cell marker (OCT4; green) and nucleus (Dapi; blue).

    July 2020

    Ivano Colao (United Kingdom) 

    Image Description: 3-dimensional fluorescent confocal microscopy images of Umbilical Cord-derived MSC grown on microcarriers and stained for CD 73 (green), and cell nuclei with Hoechst (Blue).

    August 2020

    Ahmad Galuta

    Image Description: Astronomy is analogous to the study of the brain and mind in many ways. Shown here are brain-derived astrocytes migrating radially outwards from a neurosphere resembling a beautiful star cluster. 

    September 2020

    Giulia Gollinelli (Italy)

    Image Description: Early co-culture between red-tumor spheroid and green-MSC

    October 2020

    Hilary Sherman

    Image Description: Normal Airway organoid generated from HBECs. basal cells (green), ciliated cells (red), mucus production from goblet cells (orange), nuclei (blue)

    November 2020

    Vitale Miceli

    Image Description: Immunofluorescence staining for Vimentin in human renal mesangial cells

    December 2020

    Giulia Golinelli

    Image Description: Frozen section of co-culture between red-tumor spheroid and green-MSC

    Load More

    The Telegraft Editorial Board

    Janet Macpherson, PhD
    Australia

    C. Russell Y. Cruz, MD, PhD 
    USA 

    Available to ISCT members, Telegraft is the go-to resource to keep up to date with the latest Society activities and important developments in cell and gene therapy.

    2022 brought exciting updates for Telegraft, with the launch of the ‘Telegraft Hub,’ the new online home for ISCT news and community. Alongside monthly e-newsletters, ISCT members now have access to the online interactive hub, allowing them to connect with peers and access key updates and curated content.

    The Telegraft Editorial Board works to engage and connect the whole ISCT community across academia, science, regulation and commercial by sharing insightful discussions and up-to-date information on critical issues affecting the field of cellular therapy.

    Access the Telegraft Archives
    Access the Telegraft Hub

    Nancy H. Collins, PhD
    USA

    Satyam Arora, MD
    USA

    Rounak Dubey, MBBS,  MD
    India

    Shyam Bhakta, MD, MBA
    India

    Ashley Krull, BSc, PhD
    USA

    Michele Sugrue, MT
    USA

    Wouter Van’t Hof, PhD
    USA

    Joaquim Vives, PhD
    Portugal

    Celebrating our Army of Volunteer Champions

    ISCT acknowledges the service of its members, volunteering expertise, time, and energy to the vast task of advancing the field of cell and gene therapies.
    From mentoring the next generation to publishing key standards and fostering relationships across the sector, ISCT members set the gold standard. 

    Thank you for being part of the ISCT community

    We acknowledge these Society leaders who have completed terms of service in a formal position in 2021.
    Your hard work and dedication have continually pushed the society to new heights, and we cannot wait to connect again soon:

    Board of Directors

    John Rasko, AO, MBBS, PhD, FRCPA, FRACP, FAHMS
    Chair, Strategic Advisory Council (Immediate Past President)
    June 2020 – June 2022
    Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
    Sydney, Australia 

    Lizette Caballero, BS, MT(ASCP)
    Global Secretary
    June 2019 – June 2022
    UCSF Blood and Marrow Transplant Lab
    San Francisco, CA, United States

    Rajiv Khanna, PhD AO
    Australia & New Zealand, Regional Vice-President
    June 2020 – June 2022
    QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
    Brisbane, Australia

    Mitchell Cairo, MD
    North America, Regional Vice-President
    June 2020 – June 2022
    New York Medical College
    New York, NY, United States

    Karen Nichols, Esq.
    Chief Regulatory Officer
    March 2016 – June 2022
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals
    Cambridge, MA, United States

    Vicki Antonenas, BSc, MSc
    Elected Member Technologist
    June 2020 – June 2022
    Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory,
    Westmead Hospital
    Australia

    Scientific Committees

    Patrick Hanley, PhD
    Co-Chair Immuno-Gene
    Therapy Committee
    Children’s National Hospital
    United States

    Giuseppe Orlando, MD, PhD
    Co-Chair Gastrointestinal Committee
    Wake Forest University
    United States

     

    Rachele Ciccocioppo, MD
    Co-Chair Gastrointestinal Committee
    University of Verona
    Italy

    George Muschler, MD
    Co-Chair Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapies
    Cleveland Clinic
    United States

     

    Christian Jorgensen, MD, PhD
    Co-Chair Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapies
    University Hospital Lapeyronie
    France

     

     

    Sarah Chan, Ma PhD
    ECGT Committee
    University of Edinburgh
    United Kingdom

    Andrew Hoffman, DVM, DVSc
    Exosomes Committee
    University of Pennsylvania
    United States

    Commercialization Committee


    John Fink, MBA
    Co-Chair Process Development and Manufacturing Committee
    PerkinElmer, Inc.
    United States

    Early Stage Professionals Committee

    Emily Hopewell, PhD
    Indiana University School of Medicine
    United States

    Aaron Tze Kai Tan
    Stanford University
    United States

    Lizbeth Diaz Polo, MD
    University of San Martin de Porres
    Spain

    Jordan Greenberg, PhD
    Shoreline Biosciences
    United States

     

    Shabnum Patel, PhD
    CARGO Therapeutics
    United States

    Telegraft Editorial Board


    Nancy H. Collins, PhD

    University of Toledo
    Toledo, OH, United States


    Satyam Arora, MD

    Super Speciality Paediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute
    India

    Regulatory and Quality Operations

    Lab Practices Committee
    Vicki Antonenas, BSc, MSc

    Westmead Hospital
    Australia

    Europe Legal & Regulatory Affairs Committee
    Paula Salmikangas, PhD
    NDA Group
    Finland

    Updates From Our Regional Leaders

    As a truly global organization, ISCT leverages a regional model to deploy solutions to global issues on a regional level. Spearheaded by passionate volunteer leadership, who understand the needs and concerns unique to each region, ISCT addresses the emergent needs of CGT professionals across the globe. With partnerships including regional partner organizations, regulatory bodies, and stakeholder communities, each of the ISCT regional committees drives the advancement of translational science at a high global standard.

    Our committees work autonomously to deliver key scientific meetings, stimulate membership growth, and develop regional professional networks. Through 2022, our committees worked hard to develop the groundwork for new committees with a special focus on early-stage professionals and facilitated several major events that have continued to build consensus across the sector. 

    Here are some of the highlights from our regional committees this year:

    New Committees Around the Globe 

    In 2022, to further the society’s commitment to workforce development, ISCT formed three new regional early-stage professionals subcommittees in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South-Central America. Supported by the respective regional executive committee, these subcommittees were created to promote regional and global engagement and networking for early-stage professionals providing them with resources and career guidance to ensure their success.

    Championed by regional volunteers, the Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South-Central America subcommittees are in full swing developing key initiatives to drive ESP membership and engagement in each region. ISCT is currently working on establishing ESP subcommittees in both North America and Europe for 2023.

    Key Regional Initiatives in 2022

    ISCT regional committees deliver high-quality programmes globally, with autonomous planning supported by the society’s global network and resources. . As restrictions eased post-pandemic, regional executive committees were excited to return to in-person meetings and reconnect face-to-face with the wider ISCT community.

    With a reignited vigour to connect cell and gene therapy professionals globally, 2022 was a particularly active year for regional events. ISCT regional committees partnered and collaborated with several external groups and organizations as well connecting with other ISCT committees.

    In August, the Australia & New Zealand Regional Executive Committee hosted its first in-person regional meeting post-pandemic. The highly anticipated event welcomed 137 delegates to Brisbane, Australia, and featured workshops and panel discussions with particular attention to quality, regulatory affairs, education, training, commercialization and clinical practice.

    Meanwhile, in North America, the leadership team hosted a virtual interactive member-focused regional town hall meeting in October to connect and engage with members in the region. The meeting facilitated open discussions focused on workforce development and retention challenges, including both commercial and academic perspectives.

    To facilitate cross-regional collaboration, The North America and South & Central America Regional Executive Committees partnered to present a two-part webinar series. The first installment discussed the clinical manufacturing of CAR T Cells, and the second explored the mechanism, safety and efficacy of mRNA-based cancer vaccines for oncological therapy. The collaborative series brought together subject matter experts and key opinion leaders from across both regions and received over 550 registrants from across the globe.

    ESP Members at Australia & New Zealand Regional Meeting

    Strategic Regional Partnerships

    Virtual Scientific Meeting with the Biotherapeutics
    Association of Australasia (BAA)

    In Australia & New Zealand, ISCT leaders held a joint virtual scientific meeting with the Biotherapeutics Association of Australasia (BAA) to address developments in cell and gene therapies. The two-day event, held in February 2022, hosted scientific presentations featuring both international and regional speakers to discuss the latest developments in the clinical and commercial delivery of cell and gene therapies and the latest regulatory updates relevant to the region.

    ISCT Joint Session the International Congress of Blood and
    Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT)

    Leaders in Asia were delighted to continue its partnership with the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (KSBMT) with a joint session on gene editing and gene therapy at the International Congress of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT), the 27th Annual congress of KSBMT in September. The long-standing partnership between ISCT and KSBMT is a key partnership for the region. It fosters international cooperation in education and research in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cell & gene therapy.

    ISCT Joint Session at the 44th Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Annual Meeting

    In May, the ISCT Asia Regional Executive Committee partnered with the Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT 2022) to host a joint session on ‘Strategies to Improve Classical CBT by Introducing New Cellular Therapies’. The session was chaired by Satoshi Takahashi, MD, PhD, Past ISCT Asia Regional Vice-President, JSTCT 2022 President and included a remote presentation from William YK Hwang, MBBS, MMed, FRCP, FAMS, ISCT Asia Regional Vice-President Elect.

    ISCT Sessions the XII Congress of ABTCel Scientific Meeting

    In October, the South and Central America Executive Committee again partnered with the Brazilian association of cell and gene therapy (CGT) for the XII Congress of ABTCel – Gen in Rio de Janeiro. ISCT invited speakers participated both in-person and virtually, leading discussions on topics such as manuscript writing, cell therapy and therapies for cancer through sessions and interactive workshops. Alongside event participation, The South and Central America regional leaders were proud to sponsor the top-scoring abstract awards and provide a special abstract supplement showcasing all accepted abstracts from the meeting publication in Cytotherapy, the official journal of ISCT.

    Our Regional Leaders
    Click below to access or join our communities

    Asia Region

    Click to Access or Join the Asia Regional Community

    Australia & New Zealand Region

    Click to Access or Join the Australia & New Zealand Regional Community

    Europe Region

    Click to Access or Join the Europe Regional Community

    North America Region

    Click to Access or Join the North America Regional Community

    South & Central America Region

    Click to Access or Join the South & Central America Regional Community