Commercialising Cell and Gene Therapies: From Idea to Patient Impact
Schedule
Wed Apr 15 2026 at 10:00 am to 02:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
The Frederick Douglass Centre | Newcastle upon Tyne, EN
About this Event
Join us for a free, dynamic, interactive event bringing together the people, expertise and perspectives that drive the translation of cell and gene therapy innovations from bench to bedside. This half‑day event marks the launch of the Academy of Medical Sciences’ North of England Cross‑Sector Hub, hosted by the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA), creating a new regional focal point for collaboration across academia, the NHS, industry, patient involvement and other key stakeholders.
Our cross-sector networking event aims to:
- Promote inclusive networking across career stages and sectors.
- Support translational readiness and commercialisation understanding.
- Showcase northern strengths across the commercialisation pathway for cell and gene therapies.
- Stimulate new opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and successful applications to Academy and other funding opportunities.
Discussions exploring pressing cell and gene therapy challenges, include:
- What successful cell and gene therapy translation really requires
- The journey to successful commercialisation for patient benefit
- How the northern ecosystem can support researchers and clinicians
This event is ideal for:
- Early Career Researchers (academia and industry)
- Researchers across all academic career stages
- Academy of Medical Sciences Fellows
- Clinical and NHS colleagues
- Cell and gene therapy industry partners
- Patient advocates and public contributors
- Third sector organisations and innovation ecosystem partners
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Registration
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Welcome and Launch of the North of England Cross-Sector Hub
Info: Speakers:
Hannah Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Health Science Alliance
Rosalind Campion, Chief Executive Officer, Academy of Medical Sciences
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Commercialising Cell & Gene Therapies: From Idea to Patient Impact - Keynote
Info: Speaker: Professor Mimoun Azzouz, Chair of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield and Co-founder, BlackfinBio and Crucible Therapeutics
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Early Career Researcher (ECR) presentations
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Networking break and refreshments
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
From bench to bedside for patient impact:
Host: Intro: Regenerative Cell Therapy Consulting (Regen CTC)
Info: How the North of England ecosystem can support your commercialisation journey
- Intro: Regenerative Cell Therapy Consulting (Regen CTC) - Dr. Zoe Hewitt, Co-Founder and CEO
- Newcastle Advanced Therapies - Dr. Mark Jarvis, Director of Newcastle Advanced Therapies
- Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC), Sheffield – Dr. Joe Cartwright, Head of Projects
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside - Prof. Safwan Akram, Professor of Biomanufacturing, Engineering Biology and Innovation in Biosciences
- Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres (ATTC) network and iMATCH, Manchester - Prof. Fiona Thistlethwaite, Director, Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub (iMATCH)
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Panel Q&A / Interactive advisory clinic on commercialisation
Info: Panel moderator: Dr. Zoe Hewitt, Co-Founder and CEO, Regen CTC
Panellists as above, plus additional panellists TBC
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:10 PM
Closing remarks
🕑: 01:10 PM - 02:00 PM
Networking lunch
🕑: 02:00 PM
Satellite event close (main BSGCT conference starts 14:30)
Where is it happening?
The Frederick Douglass Centre, Helix Science Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00

















