Hannah Song, PhD
Contributing Editor, ISCT Telegraft
NIH Clinical Center
United States
Dr. Patrick Hanley is the Chief and Director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Program at Children’s National in Washington, D.C., USA – but you may know him as one of the most recognizable faces of ISCT. At the 2026 ISCT Scientific Annual Meeting in Dublin, Patrick was honored with the Inaugural 2026 ISCT Mid-Career Award, given to Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT) leaders who represent excellence in the field while showing tremendous dedication to ISCT’s mission.
His contributions to ISCT are extensive, covering scientific expertise to workforce development and regional committee participation. He has co-chaired the Immuno-Gene Therapy and Workforce Development Committees, served as Vice President of the North America Region, and is currently the Interim Managing Editor of ISCT’s journal, Cytotherapy, after previously serving as the Commissioning Editor. (In the video, watch me realize in real time that Patrick did these things sequentially and not all at once!) He also co-founded ISCT’s Early-Stage Professionals (ESP) Committee and served on the board of directors of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cell Therapy (FACT).
In this interview, Patrick discusses his career evolution, and how he continues championing ESPs and addressing gaps in the CGT workforce. What’s coming down the pipeline for Patrick as he leads the cell therapy program at Children’s National? A lot – including launching a clinical program targeting pediatric brains, as well as establishing multiple outreach programs. A leader who is setting the stage for our field to be successful over the years to come! Watch the video to hear more.
Hannah Song contributed to this article in their personal capacity. The views expressed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health or the United States Government.
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