Clinical Cell Therapy Leadership Training Program

ABOUT THE COURSE

The ISCT Cell Therapy Leadership Training Program is a fully funded ISCT scholarship initiative created by the ISCT Board of Directors to address the training needs for developing the next generation of Cell and Gene Therapy Leaders. This program offers a multifaceted training approach, incorporating lectures, discussions, mentoring, and networking sessions led by global elite CGT experts. Scholars will gain valuable knowledge, expert advice and enduring professional relations with colleagues and CGT experts.

COURSE CONTENT

Crafted by renowned global Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) experts, the course will provide scholars with the latest knowledge on preclinical development, IND development, study design, cell manufacturing, QA, regulatory affairs, funding, and commercialization.

Additionally, scholars will present a project proposal for a cell product at the start of the course. This proposal will be refined in small group discussions with faculty before the final version is presented at the end of the course.

COURSE TOPICS
  • Clinical Trial Design & Conduct
  • Pre-Clinical Development
  • Study Design, Conduct and Analysis
  • IND Development
  • Manufacturing Best Practices
  • Release Testing Procedures
  • Quality Systems & Regulatory
  • Correlatives Studies
  • Team Science & Research Ethics
  • Routes to Commercialization
  • Funding Sources
  • Career Development

Full Application Instructions & Criteria


UPCOMING COURSE DATES:

October 27–31, 2025, at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadephia, USA


DESIGNED FOR:

Fellow-in-Training or Junior Faculty members working in BMT and CGT fields

 
STRUCTURE:

Five-day course, in-person training and mentoring at University of Pennsylvania, Philadephia, USA

CAPACITY:

12 scholars (including 6 international)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must:

  • Maintain an active ISCT membership
  • Hold a Fellow-in-Training or a Junior Faculty position (two years or less teaching in BMT and Cellular Therapy field)

Previously unselected applicants are eligible and encouraged to apply for the current course.


UPON COMPLETION, YOU WILL RECEIVE:
  • A certificate of course completion from ISCT
  • A CMLE certificate

ISCT is an ASCP Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE)-approved provider. This course consists of 10 CMLE credits.

CONTACT US

If you need help with registration or have questions, please contact us.

Contact

INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN THE SECTOR?

Become a Cell Therapy Leadership Training Program sponsor and help provide full tuition scholarships for the next generation of clinical translational experts in cell and gene therapy.


WHY SUPPORT THE CLINICAL CELL THERAPY LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM?
  • Showcase your organization as a solution provider in the CGT product development pipeline.
  • Network and create lasting relationships with current and future leaders in CGT.
  • Increase visibility and maximize brand awareness with a relevant and targeted audience.
  • Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility by participating in a critical program that addresses the workforce development crisis.

VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

CLINICAL CELL THERAPY LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM PLANNING FACULTY

FEATURED PAST SCHOLARS - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?




2017 Scholar
Daniel Dever, PhD
Co-Founder & Head of Discovery Research,
Graphite Bio,
United States



“The CTTC course offered a mountain top overview of how to translate discoveries in the laboratories to commercialized cell and gene therapy personalized drug products. Clearly, it takes a village with high-level communication to synchronize and move forward translational products. The CTTC course described every facet of this" village" and how to streamline it.

They covered everything from cell manufacturing to clinical trial design to regulatory affairs and to even the logistics of delivering the drug product to the hospital for infusion. In particular, my favorite aspect of the course was listening to world cell and gene therapy experts (with greater than 75 years of experience combined), like Bruce Levine, David DiGiusto and Stanley Riddell, describe their trials and tribulations over many years of hard work and dedication with the ultimate focus of developing a new drug to benefit patients with unmet medical needs.

This type of knowledge is highly motivating and more importantly, is invaluable for me and the next generation of cell and gene therapy leaders. I highly recommend this course for medical professionals who are interested in a career of cell and gene therapy!”




2017 Scholar

Anton Terwisscha van Scheltinga, PhD
Director, QA Operations,
Bristol Myers Squibb,
Netherlands


2015 Scholar
Mireya Paulina Velasquez, MD
PI of Velasquez Lab,
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,
United States



2017 Scholar
Zlatibor Velickovic, PhD
Facility Director, Cell and Tissue Therapies WA,
Royal Perth Hospital,
Australia
CELL THERAPY TRAINING COURSE ARCHIVE


CTTC 2019 Philadelphia, PA, USA

CTTC 2017 Seattle, WA, USA

CTTC 2015 Houston, TX, USA

Visit Archive of Past Courses & Scholars

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

Early-Stage Professional Leadership Development Program

The program hosts mentors from a variety of cell and gene therapy-related disciplines, including research, regulatory, clinical, laboratory & operations and, industry & commercialization for cross functional and global mentoring experience.