As I approach my first anniversary as ISCT’s CCO, I’d like to reflect on 2025 and what has been a tumultuous and news-filled year for the field.
We are in a period of transition, our industry has shifted focus on measuring progress though therapeutic advances -- INDs, therapeutic approvals, and companies created along the way -- to focusing on delivery, clinical adoption, patient access, and transformative healthcare. We have an unprecedented opportunity to help shape the future, and I’m inspired by how our community is addressing these challenges head-on.
What encourages me most is the clarity and impact of ISCT’s voice. Working with the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the American Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ASGCT), we have taken important positions, including putting a 10 year moratorium on Heritable Human Genome Editing (HHGE), and advocating for global regulatory reforms to accelerate development of novel therapies. Our joint efforts, I believe, have been instrumental in informing the US FDA leadership’s recent New England Journal of Medicine editorial promoting a “plausible pathway” approach which accelerates the regulatory review of rare genetic diseases where clinical trials are impractical if not impossible.
In 2025, the Industry Committee and its subcommittees, continued to lead meaningful discussions and deliver tangible projects aligned with our members’ top priorities. With 75 members companies across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, we are a truly international voice shaping the commercial vision for our industry. This year alone, ISCT Industry Committees have collectively curated over 33 resources; crafted Cytotherapy manuscripts on Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies and Artificial Intelligence applications, created thought-leadership webinars across several disciplines, and helped educate investors to the importance of maintaining momentum in the field. In Spring 2025, ISCT expanded its Committee portfolio to welcome the Europe Industry Committee which provides a unique forum addressing the particular challenges (and opportunities) of conducting business in the EU. We couldn’t do this without the tireless leadership of our subcommittee co-chairs, and the active participation of all 450-industry community members, so a hearty thanks you to you all!
As we look forward to 2026, I’m heartened by a revitalized sense of optimism for the year ahead. The ISCT Industry Pillar will continue driving its strategic priorities, exploring AI applications and strategies for patient access and adoption, while continuing to create resources for early-stage companies and expanding region-specific education initiatives. Together, our shared commitment to educating patients, providers, payers and investors will help ensure that the technological breakthroughs of today become the accessible, life-changing medicines of tomorrow—no matter where patients live. I’m confident that in 2026 ISCT will continue to be the global rallying voice for advanced therapy progress, for patients (especially those enrolled in clinical trials!) and their families, that give us the inspiration to carry on this important work. So, once again, a big thank you to all of our ISCT industry community, and I look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2026!
