When Advanced Therapies USA convenes November 18–19, 2025, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia won’t just be hosting—it will be leading much of the conversation.
With more than 200 speakers across keynotes, panels, and technical tracks, the conference brings together the global cell and gene therapy community. What makes this year especially meaningful is the depth and visibility of Philadelphia’s presence—from Penn, Drexel, CHOP, Cabaletta Bio, and a growing number of regional biotech innovators who are setting the tone for the industry’s next phase.
Among the many voices shaping this year’s Advanced Therapies USA agenda, a few in particular will be speaking on how the industry is evolving and the future of advanced therapies.
Arun Das, Chief Business Officer at Cabaletta Bio, will be joined by Anne Brooks, Senior Vice President of U.S. Commercial at Iovance Biotherapeutics, as part of the Keynote Panel Discussion: State of the Industry Address for Cell and Gene Therapies. A familiar name in Philadelphia’s biotech circles, Das has helped position Cabaletta as one of the region’s most innovative companies in autoimmune cell therapy. His role on the keynote panel places him alongside global industry leaders, offering a chance to reflect on how translational research, platform development, and regulatory alignment are reshaping the market for advanced therapies.
Anne Brooks, who brings a national commercialization perspective rooted in her experience bringing cell therapies to market for oncology indications at Iovance. Together, Das and Brooks represent the dual forces driving the field forward: scientific ingenuity and commercial execution.
If you get into town early, BioBuzz and CGT Circle are hosting a welcome reception sponsored by QIAGEN, Minaris Advanced Therapies and Integral Molecular on November 17th. Visit https://app.biobuzz.io/events to learn more.
Gene Therapy & Viral Vector Delivery: Local Voices at the Controls
Philadelphia innovators are helping set the blueprint for gene therapy delivery, vector design, and translational strategy.
- Dr. Frederic Bushman (UPenn / PennCHOP) chairs sessions and presents on “Mechanisms and consequences of DNA integration.”
- Dr. Denise Sabatino (UPenn) speaks on “Optimizing AAV delivery for gene therapies.”
- Dr. Friederike Herbst-Nowrouzi (UPenn) discusses “Manufacturing for genetically modified cell products.”
- Yan Li (Cabaletta Bio) explores cryopreservation’s impact on CAR-T manufacturing.
- Daniel Chung (Beacon Therapeutics) presents on gene therapy for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.
- Eric Hacherl (Kyttaro Therapeutics) opens the Gene Modified Cell Therapy track with Chair’s Remarks.
Together, these voices span from vector biology to translational execution—illustrating how Philadelphia continues to lead in therapeutic design and delivery.
Cell Therapy, Immune Engineering & Translational Innovation
From biomaterials to therapeutic translation, Philly researchers are redefining what’s possible in cell-based medicine.
- Dr. Xiao Huang (Drexel) presents on “Precision biomaterials for T-cell modulation” and joins a panel on cell therapy innovation.
- Dr. Kara Spiller (Drexel) chairs the Cell Therapy track and covers engineered macrophages, regulatory strategies, and T-cell therapies.
- Dr. Don Siegel (UPenn) shares insights on “CAR-T cells for medullary thyroid cancer.”
- Madelyn Fell (Penn Health System) discusses patient operations and access.
- Daniel Baker (Penn) joins the ex vivo vs. in vivo engineering debate.
- Mark Duckworth (CHOP) contributes hospital-based therapy operations expertise.
- Dr. Gwendolyn Binder (Cabaletta Bio) delivers her keynote on T-cell therapies for autoimmune diseases.
- Arun Das (Cabaletta Bio) speaks on commercialization strategy.
- January McKee and Sarah Yuan (Cabaletta Bio) expand on cell therapy manufacturing and technology scaling.
Manufacturing, Scale & Workforce: Strengthening the Foundation
Philadelphia’s ecosystem is advancing both the technology and the talent pipeline needed for sustainable growth in advanced therapies.
- Dr. Houman Dehghani (Cabaletta Bio) discusses new manufacturing technologies.
- Dr. Vishal Shah (Community College of Philadelphia) focuses on workforce evolution.
- Mary Carty (Drexel) addresses academia–industry collaboration for talent development.
- Dr. Dana Silverbush (UPenn) chairs the Innovation Showcase.
- Dr. David Zuzga (Wistar Institute) discusses workforce development for ATMPs.
- Dr. Irene Rombel (BioCurie) presents “Mechanistic AI-driven decision-making for viral vector production.”
- Francesca Vitelli (Minaris Advanced Therapies) joins a panel on process development.
- Raymond Luke (Verismo Therapeutics) speaks on supply chain readiness.
- Kris Thiruvillakkat (CSL Behring) addresses market access challenges.
Regulation, Access & Patient Delivery: Ensuring Impact
Philadelphia’s strength lies not only in discovery, but in delivery.
- Madelyn Fell and Mark Duckworth share on-the-ground experience from hospital therapy operations.
- Dr. Dana Silverbush brings regulatory foresight to the Innovation Showcase.
- Dr. Frederic Bushman contributes insight into FDA platform designations.
- Dr. Don Siegel’s CAR-T program demonstrates translational excellence.
- Kris Thiruvillakkat adds the payer and policy dimension.
- Arun Das and Anne Brooks (Iovance Biotherapeutics) join a keynote panel on the State of the Industry for Cell and Gene Therapies.
What to Watch: Philadelphia’s Footprint Across the Conference
Expect Philadelphia to influence nearly every track—from scientific discovery to supply chain strategy.
- Cross-talk between gene and cell therapy tracks led by Bushman, Binder, Spiller, and Chung.
- The ex vivo vs. in vivo engineering debate with Penn researchers.
- Manufacturing innovations from Cabaletta Bio, BioCurie, and Minaris.
- Workforce and access conversations featuring Drexel, Wistar, and the Community College of Philadelphia.
- Regulatory and market insights from Silverbush, Thiruvillakkat, and Das.
Sidebar: Philly’s ATMP Speakers at a Glance
Philadelphia’s Moment in the Advanced Therapies Era
From discovery to delivery, Philadelphia continues to define where advanced medicine grows.
This year’s conference underscores what’s long been true—Philadelphia is a cornerstone of the cell and gene therapy revolution. With its concentration of scientific leadership, technical innovation, and workforce talent, the city isn’t just participating in the future of medicine; it’s actively building it.
As Advanced Therapies USA 2025 unfolds, Philadelphia’s leaders will be the ones steering the most important conversations—proof that the city’s biotech ecosystem is not only strong but shaping the trajectory of advanced therapies worldwide.
