Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshop 2026 Registrations are now open

Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026

Registrations are now open

The Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026 will be held in Naples, Italy, from June 8–12, bringing together leading experts and professionals at the forefront of therapeutic innovation. The English-led program offers a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge strategies in gene and cell therapy, covering key areas such as genome editing, delivery technologies, protein and gRNA design, and safety assessment.

Participants will gain in-depth insights into emerging therapeutic modalities, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), non-coding RNA, and CAR-T cell therapies. The workshops will also address critical components of the development pipeline, from advanced sequencing technologies to clinical translation and trial design.

Click here to download the program of both workshops.

The workshops are organized by: Marcello Maresca (AstraZeneca), Roberto Nitsch (AstraZeneca), Bruno Catalanotti (University of Naples Federico II) and Peter Fenici (AstraZeneca)

The workshops are co-organized by: Astrid Mentani (AstraZeneca), Laura De Cantis (National Center for RNA & Gene Therapy)

Preclinical Design Workshop (June 8–10)

This three-day workshop explores the foundations of gene editing and delivery systems, with a strong focus on safety standards and early-stage development. Participants will gain hands-on experience with sequencing technologies and learn directly from leading experts across academia and industry, including representatives from the AstraZeneca, Axolabs, GenScript, Illumina, University of Freiburg, and University of Naples.

A guided tour scheduled for Wednesday afternoon will round out the program, offering further opportunities for networking and informal engagement.

Clinical Applications Workshop (June 11–12)

This two-day workshop shifts focus to real-world clinical translation, covering investigational new drugs (IND), the groundbreaking case of Baby KJ—the first patient successfully treated with on-demand CRISPR gene-editing therapy—and the challenges of bringing CAR-T therapies from bench to bedside. Sessions are led by international experts from Aldevron, Anemocyte, AstraZeneca, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Evotech, GenScript, IDT, Miltenyi Biotec, PBL, ProBio, University of Freiburg, and University of Naples.

Each workshop offers multiple opportunities for exchange between participants and speakers. Coffee breaks and lunches will extend daily discussions, aimed at fostering interaction in an informal setting.

Poster Categories & Awards

In addition to the scientific program, participants are welcome to present posters, sharing their work with speakers and fellow attendees.

The workshops will feature three thematic poster categories designed to highlight participants’ research across the full translational pathway of advanced cell and gene therapies.

Poster Category I – Editing Platforms and Preclinical Safety
Focus on genome editing technologies, protein and gRNA design, epigenome editing, off-target assessment, chromosomal translocations, preclinical models, and safety evaluation.

Poster Category II – Delivery, RNA Therapeutics and Enabling Technologies
Focus on viral and non-viral delivery systems, LNP technologies, ASOs, non-coding RNA, RNA design and production, sequencing methods, and analytical technologies.

Poster Category III – Clinical Translation, Cell Therapy and GMP Manufacturing
Focus on clinical translation, Road to IND, clinical-grade RNA, in vivo gene therapy, CAR-T cell therapy, GMP manufacturing, automation, AI-enabled production, and regulatory readiness.

Awards will be assigned to the best poster in each thematic category.

Fees

Single Workshop: “Preclinical Design” OR “Clinical Applications”

  • Corporate (non-National Center members): €500
  • Academic and corporate members of the National Center: €250
  • MA students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers: €100

Both Workshops: “Preclinical Design” AND “Clinical Applications”

  • Corporate (non-National Center members): €800
  • Academic and corporate members of the National Center: €400
  • MA students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers: €150

Fees include coffee breaks and lunch

How to register

To complete your registration, please:

1.Fill out the official online registration form

2.Make a bank transfer using the details below:

Recipient/Beneficiary: CENTRO NAZIONALE DI RICERCA-SVILUPPO DI TERAPIA GENICA E FARMACI

IBAN: IT48 Y030 6909 6061 0000 0414 619

SWIFT (BIC): BCITITMM

Payment Reference: SURNAME_NAME_WORKSHOP

Registration is open until June 1, 2026 (11:00 pm CET)

Logistics

The Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026 will take place at the PharmaTech Academy of the University of Naples Federico II (Scampia Campus), located at Via Valerio Verbano 29/31, Naples.

A PDF with detailed logistical information and a PDF with recommended accommodation options are available for download.

For any information, please contact pharmatech.academy@rna-genetherapy.eu

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