Scientific Program

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Dr. Bruce Levine keynote banner Dr. Bruce Levine keynote banner

Meet a Pioneer in Cell and Gene Therapy at the ISCT Asia 2026 Regional Meeting

The Next Chapter in the Fantastic Voyage of CAR T Cell Therapy: Potency, Access, and Delivery

We are excited to announce that Dr. Bruce Levine (University of Pennsylvania), Founding Director of the Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility and co-inventor of the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy (Kymriah), will deliver the keynote to open the ISCT Asia 2026 Regional Meeting this September.

With a history of first-in-human clinical trials, Dr. Levine’s work has consistently focused on what it takes to make engineered cell therapies reliable, manufacturable, and accessible. Drawing on insights from more than 200 scientific articles and book chapters, and co-invention of over 30 U.S. patents, his keynote will explore how the field can responsibly broaden patient impact by improving cell potency and production while maintaining the quality systems that advanced therapies require.

Key Topics

  1. Next-Gen Manufacturing: Automation, closed systems, analytics, and standardization to improve scalability and consistency across centralized and hybrid models.
  2. Expanding Horizons: Progress and remaining barriers in applying cell therapy to solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.
  3. Beyond Autologous: Realistic paths forward for in vivo strategies, including the hurdles that continue to shape adoption.

Join us at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre to engage with one of the field’s pioneers and explore what it will take to translate innovation into dependable therapies for patients across the region.

Plenary Sessions

Plenary 2 — From Journal Paper to Patients - Translating CAR T TCR and Gene Therapy Innovation Plenary 2 — From Journal Paper to Patients - Translating CAR T TCR and Gene Therapy Innovation

Session Description

Recent high impact research in CAR T engineering, TCR therapy, and gene therapy platforms is now driving real clinical translation across the Asia Pacific region. This session highlights evidence based advances that expand indications beyond oncology, improve durability and persistence, and strengthen vector design and manufacturability. Speakers will present practical insights to help regional programs translate cutting edge research into scalable, regulator ready therapies.

Session Objectives

  1. Identify key scientific advances in CAR T, TCR, and gene therapy platforms, including CD7 CAR T strategies, CAR T applications beyond oncology, receptor selection principles, and innovations in vector design and delivery.
  2. Understand how recent peer reviewed clinical and translational studies address challenges such as durability, toxicity, fratricide, and manufacturability.
  3. Apply insights from high impact research to develop scalable, regulator-ready cell and gene therapy programs relevant to clinical translation in the Asia Pacific region.
Plenary 3 — Cutting Edge Technologies Transforming Cell Therapy Manufacturing Plenary 3 — Cutting Edge Technologies Transforming Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Session Description

Asia is rapidly adopting advanced cell manufacturing technologies to support the expansion of cell and gene therapies, driven by innovations in AI, automation, and QbD-based manufacturing. This session will highlight practical approaches for automated production, selection of scale up and scale out strategies, and regulatory considerations for implementing new technologies. Speakers will provide insights to help regional programs build efficient, compliant, and scalable manufacturing systems.

Session Objectives

  1. Introduce QbD-based approaches for modern cell manufacturing in the Asia region.
  2. Understand the usability and limitations of AI-based and automated manufacturing technologies from a regulatory perspective.
  3. Learn how to evaluate and select scale up and scale out strategies for efficient and compliant CGT production.
Plenary 1 — Delivering Clinically Ready MSC-Exosomes for Real-World Use Plenary 1 — Delivering Clinically Ready MSC-Exosomes for Real-World Use

Session Description

MSC-derived exosomes are rapidly moving toward clinical and commercial application, particularly within Asia’s fast-growing regenerative medicine ecosystem. This session provides practical insights into solving core challenges in MSC-exosome development, including MSC source heterogeneity, scalable GMP manufacturing, and defining meaningful potency and identity CQAs. Speakers will present emerging evidence on mechanisms of action and outline regulatory pathways that support consistent, clinically deployable products. Attendees will gain clear, actionable guidance for advancing MSC-exosome therapies from innovation to real-world clinical use.

Session Objectives

  1. Asia has strong political, financial, and institutional investment in regenerative medicine, with MSC-exosome programs moving rapidly toward clinical and commercial use.
  2. The region hosts a large number of early clinical applications and commercial offerings, creating an urgent need for scientific, manufacturing, and regulatory rigor.
  3. Asia is well positioned to shape global standards for scalable manufacturing, potency definition, and regulatory frameworks for MSC-exosomes.

Concurrent

Scientific Program Overview

The Asia–Pacific region is rapidly advancing the development and clinical translation of cell and gene therapies, driven by scientific innovation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and strong academic–industry collaboration. The ISCT Asia Regional Meeting Scientific Program highlights these developments through focused plenary and concurrent sessions that showcase regional breakthroughs, address barriers to implementation, and strengthen cross-border collaboration to bring safe, effective CGTs to patients.

Topics Highlighted in ISCT Asia 2026

Advances in immunotherapy, including CAR-T, TCR-T, and emerging applications in autoimmune diseases
Clinical and manufacturing progress in iPSC technologies
Clinical development and therapeutic application of exosomes, including MSC-derived exosomes
MSC innovations, including iPSC-derived MSC platforms
In vivo and ex vivo gene therapy approaches
CGT commercialization pathways and investment trends
Manufacturing innovation, including scale-up strategies and central vs. point-of-care models
Integration of AI and automation across CGT development and manufacturing
Regulatory perspectives addressing the nuances of Asia’s evolving CGT landscape