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BSGCT Conference Speakers

We are assembling a stellar lineup of speakers who are leaders in the gene and cell therapy community. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about our keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and presentations

Florian Merkle

Florian Merkle is a NYCSF-Roberston Stem Cell Investigator and Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge. His group studies the disease mechanisms of metabolic and neurodegenerative disease using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived and animal model systems with the ultimate aim of developing new therapies, covering three main themes. First, he and his group study genetic stability of hiPSCs and are identifying culture methods that minimise the appearance of culture-acquired mutations such a TP53 point mutations. They have nominated the hiPSC line KOLF2.1J as a ‘reference’ for the field that is now used by over 600 groups worldwide and forms the basis of several large-scale genetic studies. Second, Florian’s group differentiates hiPSCs into hypothalamic neurons that regulate appetite and has used this model system to reveal how anti-obesity drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) signal and to identify new candidate appetite-regulatory targets and anti-obesity therapeutic strategies. Finally, the Merkle group studies the mechanisms linking metabolic and neurodegenerative disease including how some anti-obesity drugs are neuroprotective. These studies, bridging hiPSC and mouse models, have the potential to rapidly enter the clinic due to drug repurposing. Florian is also an affiliate member of the Institute of Metabolic Science and Cambridge Stem Cell institute, and serves as an industry consultant, board member, and entrepreneur.

Caroline Le Guiner

Caroline Le Guiner, PhD, TaRGeT Lab (UMR 1089 – INSERM, Nantes Université) Nantes, FRANCE

Team Leader – Translational Gene Therapy for Muscular Diseases Head of preclinical operations, Capacités Biotherapuetics Solutions

Caroline Le Guiner obtained her PhD thesis in 2003, within the specialty of Molecular Biology. She is currently a team leader in the TaRGeT lab (Translational Research for Gene Therapy) in Nantes, France (https://umr1089.univ-nantes.fr/en). She has more than 20 years of experience in translational research in viral vectors-based gene therapy, in particular for the treatment of rare muscle diseases using rAAV vectors. She has coordinated of large international networks, whose aim was the development of gene therapy products, especially for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. She is an active member of the network that has been developed and characterised the DMDmdx rat model.
She has extensive experience in the development and implementation of strategies from the proof of concept phase through the start of Phase I/II clinical trials. She is familiar with experiments in animal models (including large animal models and GLP studies) from the design of the study plan to the compilation and analysis of all the results needed to understand the pharmacology and the pharmacokinetics of a therapeutic product.
She is also the head of preclinical operations at Capacités Biotherapeutics Solutions (CBS), the translational gene therapy business unit created a few years ago by the TaRGeT Lab in order to offer to industrial and academic partners access to the expertise of the Nantes’ gene therapy network.

Uta Griesenbach

Uta Griesenbach, Professor of Molecular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute Imperial College London

Uta is a Professor of Molecular Medicine and has over 25 years experience in developing advanced therapeutics. Her research interests are related to the development of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) and other lung diseases. She has overseen vector and biomarker development, toxicology studies, as well as vector manufacturing and has been a Co-I on several clinical trials. Uta is a member of the UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC) strategy group, Co-director of the Imperial Centre for Excellence in Advanced Therapies, a Co-founder of AlveoGene (Imperial College Spinout) and a Non-executive director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. In addition to her research activities, she has an active role in education and workforce development related to advanced therapeutics in the UK.

Steven Howe

Steven Howe, Resolution Therapeutics

Steven has more than 25 years of experience working in cell and gene therapy, including postdoctoral positions at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, before joining GlaxoSmithKline in 2015 as Senior Director of Product Development leading a team in developing manufacturing processes for advanced therapies.

During his career Steven has led groups researching a wide range of advanced therapies and technologies to apply them, including viral vectorology, stem cell biology and cell processing. His recent positions have focused on Process Development for manufacturing platforms to translate cell and gene therapies into the clinic, for disease areas including rare diseases, metabolic disorders and cancer.

In his current role at Resolution Therapeutics, he leads the team responsible for developing manufacturing approaches to produce regenerative macrophage therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic disease.