Moderator: Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné, Scientific Journalist
	Co-moderator: Laurent Tillement, Director, AI Partnership & Health

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving from a buzzword to a powerful operational tool in cell and gene therapy (CGT). Developers are harnessing machine learning to predict cell behavior, optimize manufacturing conditions, identify critical biomarkers, and de-risk early-stage development. This session will explore practical ways to leverage AI across the CGT lifecycle, with the goal of helping attendees leave with one clear, actionable step to begin, or advance, their AI journey.

AI promises to transform cell and gene therapy development, but what’s realistic today, and what remains aspirational? This session explores where AI is already delivering value in CGT research, manufacturing, and quality systems, and where its potential is still unfolding. Attendees will gain a grounded perspective on how to separate genuine progress from hype and identify meaningful opportunities to apply AI in their own work.

• Irene Rombel, CEO and Co-founder, BioCurie
• Jalil Hakimi, on behalf of ADVA Biotechnology
• Laurent Leblanc, 3P Ecosytem R&D Senior Manager, bioMérieux

The science is proven - cell and gene therapies work. The next challenge is manufacturing them at scale. As the field shifts from clinical success to commercial readiness, the focus turns to building processes that are consistent, cost-effective, and globally scalable.

	Moderator: Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné, Scientific Journalist
	Co-Moderator: Michael May, CEO, CCRM, OmniaBio

	Dr. Denis-Claude Roy, CEO, CellCAN This session provides an overview of Canada’s academic manufacturing ecosystem and how it supports the translation of cell therapies from research to clinical trials. Attendees will gain insight into the infrastructure, collaborations, and innovations that feed the national pipeline and drive advanced therapies toward patients.
	Gayle Piat RQAP-GLP, RAC (CAN) Director UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Alberta Cell Therapy Manufacturing (ACTM) Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
	Nicole L Prokopishyn PhD Director Cellular Therapy Laboratory Transplant & Transfusion Medicine Provincial Program Alberta Precision Labs Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
	Michael May CEO Center for Cell & Vector Production
	­Elizabeth Csaszar Director Cell Processing Laboratory, UHN Center
	Eric Lee  General Manager Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre
	Martin Giroux  Director, Cell Therapy Centre d'Excellence en Thérapie Cellulaire (CETC) CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
	Dr Steven Paraskevas Islet Lab MUHC
	Simon Turcotte, MD, MSc, FRCSC Associate Professor, Université de Montréal Surgeon, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, CHUM Researcher, Cancer Axis, CRCHUM Holder of the Roger Des Groseillers Chair in Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Oncology, Université de Montréal
	Lucie Germain  Director, LOEX Full Professor, Medicine Faculty, Laval University

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion. 

Jean-Sébastien Delisle M.D., Ph.D.

Director at ThéCell
Medical Director at CETC

After completing his medical and hematology training in 2004 at McGill University, and his PhD in biomedical sciences at the Université de Montréal in 2010, Dr. Delisle focused his research on T-cell biology and human T-cell adoptive therapy. He now leads a research program in T-cell biology and translational T-cell immunotherapy at HMR and is the Medical Director of the Centre of Excellence for Cellular Therapy (CECT), a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) cell processing facility. Dr Delisle is also the recently appointed Director of the Québec Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy network (ThéCell), province-wide research group supported by the FRQS and regrouping more than 120 researchers.

Sponsored talk:

This session will explore key immunotherapy modalities—autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo approaches—and their implications for manufacturing capacity and cost of goods (COGs). Matthew Hewitt will discuss how different therapeutic strategies influence scalability, infrastructure requirements, and process efficiency, as well as emerging innovations aimed at improving affordability and access. The discussion will highlight practical considerations for advancing these therapies from development to commercial manufacturing.

Successful cell and gene therapies start with scalable design. This session will explore strategies for integrating commercial-scale considerations early in development, from process design to manufacturing and supply chain, helping developers avoid costly redesigns and accelerate the path from lab to market.

• Jean-Sébastien Delisle
  Director, ThéCell
  Medical Director, CETC
   
• Joelle Laudisio
  Global Head of Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Biologics Testing
  Charles River Laboratories
   
• Donna Rill
  Chief Technology Officer
  Diakonos Oncology

All participants are invited to this Networking event where appetizers and beverages will be served. This is a great way to check out the different exhibitors, network and have fun! 

Sponsored by

	Moderator: Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné Scientific Journalist
	Co-Moderator: Benoit Larose President and CEO BioQuébec

As healthcare systems face mounting financial pressure, payors are redefining how they evaluate premium therapies - especially one-time treatments with uncertain long-term benefit. This session offers a forward-looking view of market access in 2026 and the strategies innovators need to stay competitive.

This session will discuss new and improved business models to support the affordability and accessibility of gene therapy products.

Alice Dragomir
Director, Réseau québécois de recherche sur les médicaments

Michele De Guise
President and CEO, INESSS

France Mignault
Expert Government relations and market access

Boro Dropulić
Executive Director of Caring Cross and CEO of Vector BioMed

	Moderator: Rob Henderson CEO BioTalent Canada
	Domhnall McGowan Chief Training Officer CATTI
	Yoo Jin Park  Director BioHubNet

Gap in workforce is closing slowly, but we are not ready for 2030. What solutions are out there?

Sponsored by

With CGT activity accelerating, Canada must address talent constraints, ensure manufacturing capability, and unify infrastructure to support the therapies of 2030. This session examines the national, long-term planning required to sustain and strengthen the pipeline.

Moderator: Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné, Scientific Journalist

Co-Moderator: Patrycja Thompson
Director of Strategy & Operations
The Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI3), University of Toronto.

In a more risk adverse economy, how can the public and the private sector corporate to stay competitive with nations like the US or China?

At a time of global economic turmoil, Canada could and should be a reliable partner. How to better sell ourselves internationally.

This session will be followed by a panel discussion.