2026 Speakers
Huge thank you to all speakers and panellists who brought their energy, expertise, and vision to the first Future of CGT conference. From development and manufacturing to regulation, investment, clinical translation, and patient access, the conversations pushed beyond where the industry is today and explored where cell and gene therapy is heading next.
We can’t wait to bring the community together again for Future of CGT 2027.
08:00 – Registration open & Fireside chat
08:30 – Fireside chat
09:00 – General welcome
The General Welcome will open the afternoon with a brief introduction to Future of CGT and the purpose of this edition. We will outline how the programme is structured, what you can expect from the sessions and discussions, and a few practical notes for participants.
09:15 – Morning Keynotes
We opened with two keynote talks from CGT veterans who have led programs through the complexities of building and scaling. These talks set the tone for the day: grounded, specific, and forward-looking.
Eelco de Koning
LUMC
10:15 – Coffee break and informal networking.
10:45 – Parallel Program
The expert parallel streams pushed beyond theory into the decisions that will shape tomorrow’s trials, regulatory strategies, and manufacturing models. Alongside, the enabling tech carousel spotlights the tools set to redefine analytics, automation, and quality. Workshops turned big questions into practical roadmaps, and 1:1 partnering connected attendees with peers who shareed their focus areas. This is where the next wave of CGT progress took shape.
Regulatory & Preclinical Aspects
Regulatory strategy starts long before the first patient. This session looked at how developers can design programs with the end in mind. Speakers discussed where the CGT regulatory landscape stands, what authorities increasingly expect to see, and how those expectations translate into preclinical and CMC decisions. From Annex 1 implications to the realities of limited budgets, the session examined what must be in place before clinical material and how approaches differ between startups and larger organizations.
Esther Peters
Leiden Bio Science Park
Getting to the Clinic
For CGT teams, reaching the clinic is rarely straightforward. Manufacturing complexity, hospital infrastructure, CDMOs, CROs, and financing all need to align at the same time. In this session, speakers shared real stories from TCR-T, stem cell, and dendritic cell programs. The discussion focused on what it actually takes to move from promising science to a first-in-human trial, how teams build the right partnerships, and how founders recognize when their therapy is truly ready for patients.
Building for Success
Building a CGT company often follows a familiar script, but not every success story does. This session brought together entrepreneurs and operators who have approached the sector from different angles. The conversation explored how experienced founders evaluate new opportunities, what they expect from emerging companies, and how partnerships can turn promising science into a sustainable business.
12:30 – Lunch in the exhibit
Lunch break with space to connect with peers across the Dutch CGT ecosystem. A moment to meet founders, developers and specialists in an informal setting.
13:45 – Parallel Program
The next parallel sessions split into two tracks. One examined the practical challenges developers encountered in early clinical work, while the other turned to digitalization and showcased tech companies advancing tools for CGT development.
Jos Joore
Mimetas
Monique den Boer
Prinses Maxima Centrum
In the Clinic
Once a CGT therapy reaches the clinic, the challenges shift quickly. Clinical infrastructure, trial logistics, and real patient care introduce complexities that rarely appear in early planning. In this session, clinicians and trial leaders reflected on their experiences running advanced therapy trials, discussing what tends to go wrong, what teams underestimate, and how thoughtful preparation can prevent costly setbacks.
Hans de Munter
NeuroPlast
Bart Jacobs
Kite Pharma
15:30 – Break
16:00 – FAST’s connecting platform ATMP-NL
During this talk, ATMP-NL showed how the Dutch ATMP community is joining forces to make development smoother and more predictable. The platform is building practical tools that help developers plan smarter, avoid avoidable delays, and navigate key steps with more clarity.
Mike Broeders
FAST: ATMP-NL
16:10 – Closing keynotes
We closed with two keynotes from an academic CGT veteran and seasoned entrepreneur who shared their lessons learned and vision of the future of CGT.
17:00 – Networking in the exhibit
The networking will be an informal close to the programme, designed to make it easy to continue conversations that started during the sessions. You can meet speakers, connect with other developers and partners, and discuss your favorite topics at your own pace.