Navigating CAR-T Cell Therapy Development: Insights from Leading SCA Academic Centers

ABOUT THE WEBINAR

Join us for a deep dive into the world of CAR-T cell therapy development with our webinar titled "Navigating CAR-T Cell Therapy Development: Insights from Leading SCA Academic Centers." Organized by the ISCT South & Central America (SCA) Regional Executive Committee and the South and Central America (SCA) Regional ESP Subcommittee. The event will be co-chaired by Samuel Couto and Lilia León Moreno.

The webinar will open with Virginia Picanço-Castro sharing her experience from one of Brazil's leading institutes on the complete developmental journey of a CAR-T cell product, from bench to bedside. She will provide a detailed overview of the unique manufacturing challenges faced and the innovative strategies implemented to bring CAR-T cell therapies to clinical practice in Brazil.

Andres Gomez will offer valuable insights from Mexico, discussing the development and implementation of CAR-T cell therapies within the local academic and clinical landscape. He will highlight the regulatory environment and the steps required to advance this novel treatment in Mexico.

Chase McCann will conclude the session by discussing the role of clinical trials in the development of CAR-T cell therapies, drawing from his experience at Children's National Hospital. He will focus on the latest advancements in pediatric applications and share real-world insights from ongoing clinical trials.

This exclusive event offers members of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) an opportunity to explore the diverse paths of CAR-T therapy development across the South & Central America region. Engage with leading experts and discover the future of CAR-T therapy, from clinical trials to regulatory challenges and beyond.

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Examine the developmental pathway of CAR-T cell therapies from bench to bedside in Brazil, with a focus on the unique challenges and innovations faced by Brazilian research institutes in scaling up this therapy for clinical application. (Speaker: Virginia Picanço-Castro)

  • Explore the CAR-T cell therapy development process in Mexico, analyzing the local regulatory, research, and clinical environments and how they shape therapeutic advancements. (Speaker: Andres Gomez)

  • Evaluate the role of clinical trials in advancing CAR-T cell therapies, drawing insights from ongoing research at Children’s National Hospital, with particular emphasis on necessary infrastructure and regulatory requirements. (Speaker: Chase McCann)

  • Compare the experiences and approaches of academic centers across Brazil, Mexico, and the United States in developing CAR-T therapies, identifying key factors that influence their success. 

  • Discuss the future directions and current challenges in CAR-T cell therapy across diverse geographic regions, highlighting both the regulatory and operational hurdles that need to be addressed for widespread adoption.
 WEBINAR CO-CHAIRS

Samuel Campanelli Freitas Couto, PhD 
Coordinator of the Cell Therapy Laboratory at the Blood Center of São Paulo;
Researcher at University of São Paulo
Brazil

Samuel C. F. Couto, PhD, is a researcher at the Blood Center of São Paulo (Fundação Pró-Sangue) and also serves as an associate researcher at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. After earning his degree in Biological Sciences from PUC-Campinas University, Dr. Couto pursued a PhD in Biotechnology at the University of São Paulo, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at both the University of São Paulo's Medical School and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is particularly interested in increasing access to cellular and gene therapies in lower-middle-income countries. He also leads the Laboratory of Stem Cell Processing at the University of São Paulo’s Clinics Hospital (HC/FMUSP).


Lilia Carolina León-Moreno, PhD 
Postdoctoral Researcher
Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología
y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco

Mexico

Lilia C. León-Moreno, PhD, is a posdoctoral researcher focused on the study of exosomes and mesenchymal stromal cells as a potential therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. She is interested in increasing the knowledge of the medical and scientific communities, and general public about advanced therapies and establishing a regulatory framework that enables the development of these therapies in Latin America. She is currently involved in the planning of a CDMO for cell therapy in Jalisco.

 WEBINAR SPEAKERS

Virginia Picanço e Castro, PhD
Coordinator of the Biotechnology Laboratory at the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center;
Researcher at the CTC-USP
Brazil

Virginia Picanço e Castro, PhD, is a prominent researcher at the Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto in Brazil, where she focuses on pluripotent stem cells and cell reprogramming. After earning her degree in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo, Dr. Picanço e Castro pursued a Ph.D. in Genetics at the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at both the Regional Blood Center and Indiana University. Her research explores the complex pathways involved in cell reprogramming, specifically aiming to generate pluripotent stem cells from human somatic cells. She also investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of hematopoietic and pluripotent stem cells, with the ultimate goal of developing effective in vitro differentiation protocols.

Dr. Picanço e Castro’s work aims to create a comprehensive database of genomic proto-proteins involved in hematopoietic differentiation, which could lead to new gene overexpression techniques that enhance cell differentiation and reprogram fibroblasts into adult blood cells. Her research is highly relevant to Brazil's burgeoning biotechnology sector, with the potential to offer safer and more efficient stem cell-based therapies. She collaborates with leading national and international researchers and guides a team of students at the Biotechnology Laboratory Group, contributing to significant advancements in regenerative medicine and therapeutic innovation.


Andrés Gómez-De León, MD
Associate Professor of Hematology
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León  
Mexico

Andrés Gomez-De Léon, MD, is based in a University Hospital in Mexico and focuses on acute leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He is committed to enhancing healthcare access in low-resource settings, aiming to provide high-quality, cost-effective care. His institution is Mexico's largest transplant center, known for its pioneering work in outpatient allogeneic transplants. A graduate and faculty member of the American Society of Hematology Clinical Research Training Institute, he collaborates globally, drives clinical trials in leukemia, and builds a diverse research team. He also creates educational content in Spanish to promote hematology research and training across borders.


Chase D. McCann, PhD, MSPH
Assistant Director of Manufacturing
Children’s National Hospital
United States

Chase D. McCann, PhD, MSPH, is an Assistant Research Professor of Pediatrics at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Assistant Director of Manufacturing at Children's National Hospital Cell Therapy Laboratory. He completed his Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis at Weill Cornell in 2020, following an M.S. in Public Health Microbiology from The George Washington University and a BSc in Biology and Neuroscience Psychology from UMass Amherst. His professional journey includes leadership roles in cell therapy and research positions at top institutions such as the University of North Carolina and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. McCann's research focuses on immune system mechanisms and cell therapy advancements, contributing to significant developments in pediatric and public health immunology.