WIB-Pittsburgh: Cell and Gene Therapy – The Next Frontier in Healthcare

Women In Bio Pittsburgh recently hosted a vibrant panel discussion at Cook Myosite, focusing on the rapidly evolving fields of cell and gene therapies. Our panelists—industry leaders Katie Jorgensen (ElevateBio), Kim Jaffe (BlueSphere Bio), Susan Catalano (Circle Biopharma), and Parul Nisha, PhD (Cook MyoSite), along with our moderator Anna Mamo, MS, MBA (UPMC Enterprises)—shared insightful perspectives from their diverse experiences and discussed current trends, challenges, and future opportunities in this innovative space.

Key highlights from the event included:

•  Innovative Technologies: Excitement about transformative advances in cell and gene therapy technologies and the substantial impact they're already making on patient lives.
•  Manufacturing Complexities: Discussions around the unique challenges and opportunities in manufacturing scalable therapies, emphasizing the critical importance of developing robust platform approaches and automation solutions.
•  Regulatory Insights: Insights into navigating complex regulatory landscapes, including practical advice on maintaining continuous dialogue with regulatory bodies and adapting clinical strategies to evolving FDA guidance.
•  Patient Impact: A thoughtful exploration of patient engagement in clinical trials, challenges around patient recruitment for rare diseases and broader conditions, and the profound impact these therapies can have on quality of life.
• Emerging Trends: Considerations for equitable access to treatments, the evolving role of real-world evidence and AI in clinical trials, and strategies for managing the economic implications of high-cost, life-changing therapies.

The event underscored the resilience, creativity, and dedication of professionals within Pittsburgh's thriving life sciences community. Thank you to our fantastic panelists, our engaged audience, and Cook MyoSite for hosting us! We look forward to continuing this vital conversation and seeing you at our upcoming WIB events.

Submitted by Tiffany Prince