On behalf of the ISCT Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Regional Early Stage Professionals (ESP) Subcommittee
The ISCT ANZ Regional Meeting 2026, held in Melbourne, brought together more than 250 delegates for an intensive 2.5-day program showcasing the remarkable breadth, depth and growing maturity of the cell and gene therapy field across Australia and New Zealand. With delegates travelling from across the region and internationally—including South Africa, India, South-East Asia and the USA—the meeting provided a truly global forum for scientific exchange, collaboration and discussion.
Under the overarching theme, “From Breakthrough to Scientific Impact: Defining the Future of Cell Therapies,” the meeting explored the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced therapies, spanning basic research, bioengineering, clinical translation, manufacturing, regulation, commercialisation and access. The breadth and quality of research presented was such that, for the first time, the meeting adopted a concurrent-track format, giving delegates the opportunity to “choose their own ISCT ANZ Meeting adventure” and tailor their program according to their interests.
Day One: Showcasing scientific breakthroughs
The meeting opened with the first oral abstract session, providing a platform for six of the highest-scoring research abstracts submitted to the conference. The presentations reflected the diversity and innovation of the current research landscape, covering novel approaches to cell and gene therapy, including re-engineered tumour-directed T-cell receptor therapies, next-generation CAR T-cell platforms and innovative models for establishing and maintaining GMP-compliant cell therapy manufacturing. Collectively, the session demonstrated the high calibre of emerging research being undertaken throughout the region and set the tone for a program focused firmly on translating scientific breakthroughs into meaningful therapeutic outcomes.
Running concurrently was the “New Horizons for CAR Therapy” session, which explored both emerging therapeutic targets and the technological advances helping to make CAR T-cell therapies more accessible. While CAR T has transformed the treatment of several haematological malignancies, significant challenges remain around manufacturing complexity, cost and access—particularly in resource-limited settings. Dr Boro Dropulic from Caring Cross in the USA, a perennial favourite at ISCT ANZ meetings, provided an update on the Caring Cross CAR T platform and its potential to improve accessibility. Prof Misty Jenkins from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) presented her innovative work developing CAR T-cell therapies for glioblastoma, while Prof Alex McLellan from the University of Otago provided insights into efforts to deliver effective and cost-effective CAR T-cell therapies in New Zealand.
The next concurrent sessions demonstrated the breadth of the field beyond traditional CAR T-cell approaches. One stream focused on the emerging area of “Bioengineering cellular niches”, showcasing research aimed at understanding and manipulating the environments in which cells function. Prof Gordon Wallace from the University of Wollongong highlighted his work developing intelligent polymer systems, while Prof Jess Firth from Monash University explored the mechanobiology of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Prof Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina from UNSW demonstrated the application of innovative biomimetic materials in cardiac regenerative medicine. Together, the presentations illustrated how engineering principles, materials science and cellular biology are increasingly converging to create more sophisticated therapeutic approaches.
The concurrent “Clinical CAR T session” provided a complementary perspective, focusing on real-world outcomes from standard-of-care CAR T-cell therapies. Dr Mark Dowling from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre described how the AusCART consortium is using registry data to confirm the real-world outcomes observed in pivotal clinical trials, while also identifying opportunities to optimise the clinical care of CAR T recipients. Prof Robert Weinkove from the Malaghan Institute for Medical Research provided an update on the CAR T landscape in New Zealand, including the ENABLE-2 study. Dr Gemma Reynolds from Austin Health then addressed the infectious complications associated with CAR T-cell therapy and the importance of optimising supportive care to improve patient outcomes.
The first plenary session focused on “Exploring cell and gene therapies for pulmonary disease”, highlighting the potential for advanced therapies to address some of the most challenging respiratory conditions. Prof Daniel Weiss from the University of Vermont provided an insightful overview of the history of regenerative medicine for pulmonary fibrotic diseases and discussed the evolution of three-dimensional scaffolds as models for developing more effective cell and gene therapies. A/Prof Tracey Heng from Monash University explored the important role of MSC apoptosis in generating regenerative properties. Her presentation demonstrated how an improved understanding of cellular mechanisms can inform the development of more effective MSC-based therapeutics. The session concluded with Dr Alexandra McCarron from the University of Adelaide, who discussed the role of gene therapy in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Her presentation highlighted the potential for gene therapies to complement existing treatment strategies and provided an important example of how different therapeutic modalities may ultimately work together to improve outcomes for patients.
The afternoon program turned towards the “Next generation of cellular therapies”, with presentations examining emerging technologies and novel approaches to therapeutic development.
A/Prof Lachlan Thompson from the University of Sydney outlined innovations in neural regenerative therapies for Parkinson’s disease, with a particular focus on improving delivery methods to achieve better functional outcomes. Dr Stuart Chambers from the University of Otago explored the increasingly important role of machine learning in cellular therapy research. His presentation demonstrated how computational approaches can be used to identify new therapeutic targets and potentially accelerate the development of innovative cell and gene therapies. The session concluded with Dr Sandeep Soni from Mammoth Biosciences in the USA, who presented a novel CRISPR-based platform for in vivo gene editing targeting the APOC3 gene as a potential treatment for hypertriglyceridaemia. His presentation provided an excellent example of the journey from preclinical development towards first-in-human clinical trials and the complex considerations involved in translating a new gene-editing technology into the clinic.
A major highlight of the meeting was the Early Stage Professional (ESP) elevator pitch session. High-scoring abstracts from early-stage researchers were given the opportunity to present concise and impactful summaries of their research. The session was both entertaining and informative, providing a showcase of the exceptional talent emerging across the ANZ region. The presentations were very well received, with Prof Daniel Weiss providing constructive feedback on each pitch. The session reinforced the important role of ISCT ANZ in supporting and developing the next generation of researchers and leaders in the cell and gene therapy field.
Running concurrently was a session on “Validation Assays for Clinical Manufacture”, which addressed the critical importance of robust quality control in ensuring that cell therapy products meet appropriate safety and regulatory standards. Dr Mathew Hewitt from Charles River Laboratories, Kelly Wray from SGCT and Dario Stupar from QIMR Berghofer provided perspectives from different manufacturing environments across the region. Their presentations highlighted the practical complexities involved in developing reliable assays and quality-control processes for advanced therapy products destined for clinical use.
The first day concluded with the meeting's feature plenary, the Geoff Symonds Oration, named in honour of the late cell and gene therapy pioneer and patient advocate. This year’s Oration was delivered by Prof Melissa Little from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Prof Little reflected on her research career and her work developing new models for assessing novel cellular therapeutics with the ultimate goal of delivering renal replacement therapies. Drawing an analogy between her career and the journey of a nephron through the kidney, she described the long and winding path of scientific discovery and the importance of incremental advances. Her presentation demonstrated how persistence, dedication and technical expertise over many years can ultimately produce transformative advances within a field. The Oration provided a particularly fitting reflection of the legacy of Geoff Symonds and the importance of maintaining a clear focus on translating scientific innovation into benefits for patients.
The formal program for the first day concluded with the Welcome Address and a Welcome to Country, followed by a well-attended Poster Reception that provided delegates with an opportunity to continue scientific discussions and build connections in a more informal setting.
Day Two: Regulation, translation and access
Day Two began early with one of the most anticipated sessions of the meeting: Regulatory Updates on Cell and Gene Therapy in Australia and New Zealand. The session brought together representatives from key regulatory bodies, including Dr Dennis Dowhan from the TGA Biological Sciences Section, Karin van Bart from Medsafe New Zealand, Dr Cibelly Goulart from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and Dr Tim Strabala from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) New Zealand. The speakers provided valuable perspectives on the rapidly evolving regulatory environment surrounding cell and gene therapies in ANZ. A particular focus was the challenge of regulating highly effective therapies for rare genetic conditions, where the small number of affected patients may make conventional large-scale clinical trials impractical or impossible. The speakers also outlined potential developments towards more streamlined regulatory pathways. For a field in which scientific progress is rapidly generating new therapeutic possibilities, the prospect of more flexible and proportionate regulatory approaches was a welcome development. The regulatory session was followed by one of the most interactive highlights of the entire meeting: “Grill the Regulator.” Moderated by Prof Dominic Wall from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Kasey Kime from BioOra in New Zealand, the session transformed the previous presentations into an open discussion between regulators and delegates. Questions from the audience addressed practical challenges around bringing personalised cell and gene therapies to patients, particularly where therapies are being developed for rare diseases and traditional clinical trial models may not be feasible. The discussion emphasised the importance of early engagement between developers and regulatory agencies. Panel members shared their perspectives on how regulators are considering innovative approaches to ensure that promising therapies can be assessed efficiently while maintaining appropriate standards for safety, quality and efficacy. The highly interactive format was extremely well received and demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for direct dialogue between the regulatory community, researchers, clinicians and industry.
The next plenary explored the challenge of “Bringing gene editing from the preclinical laboratory into clinical practice”. Dr Sarah Grandinette from the University of Pennsylvania presented the remarkable development of a patient-specific in vivo gene therapy for a congenital CPS1 gene defect. With conventional treatment, the condition would otherwise have resulted in a universally fatal outcome. The development and delivery of the therapy from bench to bedside in less than 12 months demonstrated the extraordinary potential of collaborative research, clinical expertise and patient advocacy. Prof Shalin Naik from WEHI explored the evolution of dendritic-cell gene-editing technologies and their potential to enhance CAR T-cell efficacy through improved tumour-antigen presentation. Prof Paul Beavis from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre then presented emerging research into inducible promoter systems designed to generate CAR T cells with enhanced functional capabilities. Together, the presentations illustrated how increasingly sophisticated gene-editing and genetic engineering approaches are opening new avenues for designing cellular therapies with improved activity, specificity and control.
Following lunch, delegates turned their attention to a challenge that is becoming increasingly important as advanced therapies move towards routine clinical use: how will these therapies be funded and accessed? The National Strategy and Policy Roundtable focused on health technology assessment, funding and future access pathways for advanced therapies. Co-chaired by A/Prof Emily Blyth from Westmead Hospital and Dominic Fernandez from Epworth Healthcare, the session examined the current investment and funding landscape in Australia and New Zealand. The discussion highlighted several limitations within existing models of access, including the complexities associated with dividing costs between state and federal governments. Delegates also considered opportunities to reduce costs through place-of-care manufacturing and technology transfer, as well as the importance of developing sovereign manufacturing capability. One of the key messages from the discussion was the need for horizon scanning and proactive planning. With CAR T-cell therapies expanding into new indications—including solid tumours and autoimmune diseases—the number of advanced therapies potentially requiring funding and clinical infrastructure is expected to increase substantially.
The next plenary focused on ”Off-the-shelf cellular therapies”, examining the opportunities and challenges associated with developing products that can be manufactured at scale and delivered without the need for patient-specific manufacturing. Prof Colleen Delaney from Seattle Children’s Hospital described the development of dilanubicel, an off-the-shelf, non-HLA-matched, pooled and ex vivo expanded cord blood-derived haematopoietic stem cell product. She outlined its preclinical development, clinical outcomes and the practical regulatory and commercial barriers that need to be addressed when bringing such products to market. Prof Delaney also discussed ongoing research exploring broader applications for dilanubicel, including its potential as a starting material for developing CAR NK-cell and CAR macrophage therapies. Dr Rebecca Lim from INOVIQ then traced the development of mesenchymal stem cell therapies and the emergence of MSC-derived extracellular vesicles as potential clinical therapeutics. She highlighted several barriers that must be overcome before these products can become more widely adopted, including the development of robust potency assays and regulatory frameworks capable of appropriately assessing novel EV-based therapies. Dr Vera Evtimov from Cartherics provided a further perspective on the potential of iPSC-derived cellular therapies, with a particular focus on the significant unmet need in women's health. She presented data on a TAG-72-targeted, iPSC-derived CAR NK platform for ovarian cancer and discussed development of a tissue factor-directed iPSC-derived CAR NK therapy for endometriosis.
The final sessions of Day Two examined perhaps one of the most challenging stages of the translational pipeline: “Commercialising advanced therapies”. A/Prof Leszek Lisowski from the University of Sydney provided an overview of adeno-associated virus therapies, including the scientific rationale behind these approaches and the pathway from academic research towards commercialisation in the ANZ region. His presentation highlighted a fundamental challenge for rare diseases: the significant clinical need for effective therapies does not necessarily translate into a corresponding commercial incentive to develop them. Colin McLean from Cell Therapies discussed the role of contract development and manufacturing organisations in the advanced therapy medicinal product ecosystem. CDMOs can play a critical role in reducing manufacturing costs, streamlining processes and supporting the translation of innovative products into clinical practice, while balancing the commercial requirements associated with therapeutic development. Dr Rebecca McQualter from Chimeric Therapeutics provided a first-hand account of the journey from academic research to a commercial entity developing CAR T and CAR NK therapies. The subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Dominic Fernandez, brought together the three speakers with Stephen Thompson from the Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility and Dr Bev Manner from Cell Therapies. The discussion highlighted the importance of conducting comprehensive gap analyses across both clinical and commercial requirements before embarking on a commercialisation strategy. Delegates also heard about the importance of identifying and cultivating partnerships with organisations capable of addressing specific gaps in expertise, manufacturing, financing, regulatory strategy and clinical development.
Day Three: Turning breakthroughs into clinical impact
The final day began with a practical exploration of first-hand experiences in “Designing and delivering Phase I cell and gene therapy clinical trials”. Prof Simon Barry from the University of Adelaide described his experience establishing Carina Therapeutics to support FDA-approved early-phase clinical trials evaluating LGR5-targeted CAR T cells for colorectal carcinoma. Prof Geraldine O’Neill from the Children’s Hospital Westmead discussed the challenges of achieving regulatory approval for a Phase I trial evaluating EphA2-targeted CAR T cells for paediatric sarcomas within a grant-funded public-sector academic environment. Dr Leon Brownrigg from Cell and Tissue Therapies Western Australia then outlined the establishment of a regulatory-compliant manufacturing facility capable of producing tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy at the point of care. This work has enabled Phase II clinical trials of the melanoma therapy perkileucel. These presentations provided valuable insights into the practical challenges involved in moving promising therapies into human trials, demonstrating that scientific discovery is only one component of the translational journey.
The final plenary session brought together three outstanding speakers to explore the “Future of engineered T-cell therapies”. Prof Marie Bleakley from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center provided an update on the TCR T-cell therapy field, including clinical studies targeting HA-1 and preclinical work investigating targets such as PRAME, WT-1 and NY-ESO-1. Prof Andas Heczey from Seattle Children’s Research Institute discussed the development of GPC3-targeted CAR T cells. Importantly, he demonstrated how observations from clinical application can generate new hypotheses and inform subsequent generations of CAR T-cell design. This iterative process has contributed to the development of IL-15- and IL-21-armoured CAR T cells with enhanced functionality. Dr Philipp Rommell from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research explored advanced T-cell transgene programming, including inducible systems such as SynNotch and TetOn receptors and modified lentiviral vectors capable of carrying larger genetic payloads. Such technologies have the potential to create increasingly sophisticated and multifunctional cellular therapies. The session provided a powerful demonstration of how the field continues to evolve from relatively simple engineered cell products towards complex, programmable therapeutic systems.
The meeting concluded with another concurrent session, with one stream focusing on early-phase gene therapies and another dedicated to the Early Stage Professionals Roundtable: Career Pathways Along the Translational Pipeline. The ESP session was moderated by ISCT ANZ ESP Subcommittee co-chairs Dr Gemma Moir-Meyer and Dr Gaurav Sutrave. The panel brought together an impressive group of leaders, including Prof Marie Bleakley, Prof Colleen Delaney, Prof Simon Barry and, for the first time, an ESP representative on the panel, Dominic Fernandez. The discussion explored the realities of developing a career across the translational research pipeline. Topics included the importance of mentors, navigating career decisions, moving between academic and translational environments, and managing competing professional and personal priorities.
The strong audience participation demonstrated the appetite among early-stage professionals for practical career guidance and mentorship. Importantly, the session reinforced that scientific success is not simply about technical expertise; building supportive professional networks, finding effective mentors and maintaining balance are also critical components of a sustainable career.
Looking towards the future
The ISCT ANZ Regional Meeting 2026 provided a comprehensive snapshot of a field undergoing rapid transformation. The meeting also demonstrated the extraordinary strength and growth of the cell and gene therapy community across Australia and New Zealand. The international attendance further reinforced the region's increasing contribution to the global advanced therapies landscape, while the strong representation of early-stage professionals was another defining feature of the meeting, providing an encouraging glimpse of the next generation of scientists in the region.
Ultimately, the ISCT ANZ Regional Meeting 2026 lived up to its theme: “From Breakthrough to Scientific Impact: Defining the Future of Cell Therapies.” The 2026 meeting provided an invaluable forum for academics, clinicians, regulators, industry representatives and early-stage professionals to exchange ideas, establish collaborations and collectively address the challenges ahead. After an inspiring few days in Melbourne, there is already plenty to look forward to—and anticipation is building for the next ISCT ANZ Regional Meeting.
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