PhD in Biology/Biochemistry from Gothenburg University. 50 + publications in peer reviewed journals, several book chapters and patents. Ten years within AstraZeneca R&D in Cardiovascular Diseases, twelve years at Cellartis/Cellectis as VP Regenerative Medicine, responsible for e.g. the major collaboration with Novo Nordisk on development of a human embryonic stem cell derived beta cell treatment for diabetes. Also, responsible for development of human pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. As of February 2014, CEO of VERIGRAFT AB, a pioneering company within tissue engineering and advanced regenerative medicine for use in treatment of cardiovascular, neuronal and other diseases.
Tristan Pritchard-Meaker a Business Development Manager at Leiden University Medical Centre. He is responsible for engaging collaborations and commercial projects. Tristan completed a Master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering at University College London (UCL) going on to work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations including GSK, Isolagen, Jacob’s Engineering and Lonza. He returned to research becoming a stem cell scientist again at UCL working with embryonic stem cells and neural differentiation. Later returning to commercial organisations working as a Stem Cell Specialist at Miltenyi Biotec and Business Development Management positons at Axiogenesis and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
Ivan Wall is Professor of Regenerative Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Bioprocessing at Aston University in Birmingham, UK. He obtained his PhD in cell and molecular biology of wound healing from Cardiff University (2007) and subsequently took postdoctoral research posts at the Eastman Dental Institute and the Institute of Ophthalmology, both at University College London (UCL). He obtained his first academic post at UCL in the Department of Biochemical Engineering (2009-2017), progressing from Lecturer to Reader (Associate Professor) before taking up his current post. His research interests span bioprocess and analytical development for advanced therapy products and have been enabled through numerous collaborations with academic and industry partners around the world. He has published 70 papers to date and has been a visiting professor at Dankook University in South Korea since 2010. With partners in the UK and Ireland he has recently established a Centre for Doctoral Training that focusses on technologies for advancing regenerative medicine.
Roystein Bulman, European Applications Manager. Formally working in mammalian cell culture process development, currently responsible for BioProfile applications at Nova Biomedical for the European territory. Over 12 years bioprocessing experience, specifically in cell culture analysis, automation and system validation
A well-known international expert in cell therapy with extensive knowledge of the industry. Dr Karnieli is the founder and CEO of Adva Biotechnology, a leading automation platform for cell and gene therapy. Dr Karnieli was the founder and former President of Atvio Biotech, a specialized cell and gene therapy innovation center which was sold to Orgenesis Inc. Former VP of Technology & Manufacturing at Pluristem Therapeutics, and the former VP medical device at Goji solutions. Dr Karnieli served as the chair of several industry committees such as the process & product development committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapies, expert member in the ISO TC276 Biotechnology standard committee and the former chair of the science and technology committee of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. Furthermore, Dr Karnieli serves as an advisor and board member to several of the lead cell therapy developing companies. Dr Karnieli earned his PhD on Cell and Gene Therapy in the Sackler School of Medicine of the Tel Aviv University. Furthermore, he holds an MBA from the Haifa University business management school.
Dr. Meyers is an experienced drug developer with 22 years industry experience in pharma (SB/GSK, Daichi Sankyo), Biotech (Alizyme Therapeutics, Phytopharm) and Consultancy (PPD), prior to joining Boyds in 2016. He has a track record of high-quality delivery, managing internal and out-sourced programs (small molecules, biologics and ATMPs) in multiple therapeutic areas, with expertise spanning many of the disciplines required for drug development, and promoting the importance of linking development with commercial strategy. A key motivation for Dr. Meyers’ is to help start-ups and spinouts add value to their programs and bridge the gap until they achieve critical mass internally and developing long-term relationships with clients wishing to pursue a virtual development model. Dr. Meyers’ industry career was preceded by post-doctoral research fellowships in molecular virology at the University of Cambridge and in the UK civil service, after gaining a Ph.D at Cranfield University of and undergraduate studies in Oxford.
Stefano Baila received his PhD in 2007 based upon translational research and development of gene therapies for hemophilia at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since that time he has been actively involved in the process development and manufacturing of advanced therapeutic medicinal products through business development and strategic marketing roles at Areta International, a CDMO, and by leading field implementation and commercialization activities for the cell processing unit of Terumo BCT. Stefano also worked as Industrialization Manager at Celyad where he led process development and automation efforts for CAR-T. Now he serves as Director of Operation and BD for Anemocyte
PhD in Biology/Biochemistry from Gothenburg University. 50 + publications in peer reviewed journals, several book chapters and patents. Ten years within AstraZeneca R&D in Cardiovascular Diseases, twelve years at Cellartis/Cellectis as VP Regenerative Medicine, responsible for e.g. the major collaboration with Novo Nordisk on development of a human embryonic stem cell derived beta cell treatment for diabetes. Also, responsible for development of human pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. As of February 2014, CEO of VERIGRAFT AB, a pioneering company within tissue engineering and advanced regenerative medicine for use in treatment of cardiovascular, neuronal and other diseases.
Dr. Elsa Abranches has a PhD in Stem Cell Biotechnology and over 17 years of research expertise working in the pluripotent stem cell field. Since December 2015, Dr. Elsa has joined the UK Stem Cell Bank team and as of January 2019, she has been appointed as the Group Leader of the Section of Stem Cell Biology and Director of the UK Stem Cell Bank. Her primary focus is developing and delivering a programme of standardisation and research & development that assures the quality of both research and clinical grade human pluripotent stem cell lines.
Andrea is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of UCL, deputy-chair of the IChemE Fluid Mixing Process Subject Group and UK-delegate of the EFCE Working Party on Mixing. He graduated in Aerospace Engineering in the University of Pisa in 1999, and received his PhD from King’s College London in 2004. His research expertise lies in fluid and mixing dynamics and is applied to a broad range of flows of fundamental, industrial and healthcare relevance. The core of his research addresses the flow and mixing aspects in chemical and biochemical reactors, where a multi-scale approach is employed towards the creation of advanced engineering tools for improved scaling up/down strategies. A thorough understanding of the complex phenomena and interaction occurring between the flow/mixing scales and the growing cells is central to the future design and control of biological systems, and crucial to deliver impacts in the biopharmaceutical and chemical sectors.
Dr. Marina Tarunina, research director at Plasticell Ltd, is an experienced scientist with a broad knowledge across different aspects of stem cell therapy development and commercialisation. She plays a major role in driving Plasticell’s internal R&D and external scientific collaborations on stem cell technologies. She joined Plasticell 12 years ago and was involved in the development of Plasticell’s main technological platform CombiCult® and its multiple applications in different areas of stem cell biology. Prior to joining Plasticell she worked as senior scientist at Inpharmatica Ltd focusing on drug discovery in the therapeutic area of metabolic diseases. Her academic career includes postdoctoral fellowships at Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Marie Curie Research Institute where she conducted research on tumour suppressors and senescence.
David Gilham joined Celyad as Vice President, Research & Development and member of the Executive Management Committee in September, 2016. After completing his Ph.D studies under the supervision of Professor Roland Wolf at the University of Dundee, Scotland, David joined Professor Robert Hawkins at the University of Bristol in 1996 to work on engineered T cells for cancer therapy. The group moved to the Paterson Institute, University of Manchester in 1998 where the focus of work was on developing T cell therapy including CAR T cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Upon achieving the position of Reader, Group leader and Faculty member of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, David moved into Industry in 2016 to continue exploring the development of CAR T cell therapy within a biotechnology company.
Christiane has spent 12+ years in medicines, tissue, cell and gene therapy regulation, last with the MHRA, where she worked for 8 years until August 2019 assessing all groups of biological medicines and managing the Biologicals Unit. She was the UK representative at the EMA committee for advanced therapies (CAT) and the Rapporteur/ Co-Rapporteur/ CMC assessor for several ATMPs. She acted as the Rapporteur for the EMA gene therapy guideline and was drafting group member for many other CAT guidelines. Prior to joining the MHRA, Christiane worked for the UK competent authority responsible for the European Tissues and Cells Directive as an assessor and inspector. She has a Ph.D. and research background in cell-signalling, cancer and stem cells and obtained a law degree in 2005. She has set up her own consultancy company in September 2019.
Dr. Luca Crippa is downstream supervisor in MolMed Process Development unit. After obtaining his degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies at the University of Milan, he worked several years as research biochemist in San Raffaele Scientific Institute, with particular focus on protein purification. He joined MolMed in 2012 as downstream specialist and is currently involved in the development, optimisation and industrialization of purification strategies for GMP-grade large scale productions of both lentiviral and retroviral vectors for cell and gene therapy.
