Global Experts Convene in Naples for the Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026

15 June 2026, Naples — Scientists, clinicians, biotechnology innovators, and industry professionals from across Europe, North America, and Asia gathered in Naples for the inaugural Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026, a five-day event dedicated to advancing research, development, and clinical translation in cell and gene therapies organized by the National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology and the University of Naples Federico II.

The program brought together a diverse international community representing academia, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, clinical research centers, and national research initiatives. Participants traveled from throughout Italy—including Naples, Milan, Rome, Trento, Messina, Turin, Rovigo, Verona, Modena, and many other cities—as well as from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Finland, Sweden, China, and the United States.

In total, the workshops welcomed 46 participants in the Preclinical Design Workshop, 32 participants in the Clinical Applications Workshop, and 29 expert speakers, creating a dynamic environment for scientific exchange and collaboration.

A Comprehensive Program Covering the Advanced Therapeutics Landscape

The workshops provided a broad overview of the rapidly evolving field of advanced therapeutics, addressing key topics including genome editing, delivery technologies, protein and guide RNA (gRNA) engineering, safety assessment, sequencing technologies, regulatory development, and clinical implementation strategies.

Reflecting the broad interest in advanced cell and gene therapies across the sector, participants represented a diverse range of organizations, including leading Italian and European research networks and universities, clinical and translational research centers, multinational biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, emerging startups, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), technology providers, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This multidisciplinary mix fostered rich discussions across the entire therapeutic development continuum, from fundamental research and technology innovation to clinical translation and manufacturing.

Throughout the week, attendees explored emerging therapeutic modalities including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), non-coding RNA therapeutics, gene editing technologies, and CAR-T cell therapies, examining both scientific foundations and translational pathways from discovery to patient treatment.

Preclinical Design Workshop Highlights

The opening three-day Preclinical Design Workshop focused on the foundational principles of gene editing and delivery systems, emphasizing early-stage development strategies and rigorous safety evaluation.

Participants received hands-on exposure to advanced sequencing technologies and attended expert-led sessions covering genome editing platforms, protein and gRNA engineering, off-target analysis, chromosomal translocations, and preclinical modeling approaches.

Leading scientists from academia and industry—including representatives from AstraZeneca, Axolabs, GenScript, Illumina, the University of Freiburg, and the University of Naples Federico II—shared insights into the latest technological advances shaping the future of therapeutic development.

From Discovery to the Clinic

The concluding Clinical Applications Workshop shifted focus toward therapeutic translation and real-world implementation.

Sessions addressed critical aspects of clinical development, including investigational new drug (IND) applications, regulatory pathways, clinical-grade manufacturing, and advances in CAR-T therapies. Particular attention was given to the landmark case of Baby KJ, recognized as the first patient successfully treated with an on-demand CRISPR gene-editing therapy, illustrating the transformative potential of personalized genomic medicine.

Speakers from across the global biotechnology and clinical ecosystem discussed strategies for bringing advanced therapies from bench to bedside. Contributors included experts from Aldevron, Anemocyte, AstraZeneca, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Evotec, GenScript, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), Miltenyi Biotec, PBL Assay Science, ProBio, the University of Freiburg, and the University of Naples Federico II.

Poster Session Highlights Emerging Innovation Across the Translational Pipeline

To foster interaction, scientific discussion, and knowledge exchange among participants, the workshops featured a dedicated poster session showcasing cutting-edge research spanning the full translational spectrum of advanced cell and gene therapies. Researchers presented their work across a range of thematic categories, providing attendees with valuable opportunities to discuss novel findings, receive feedback from experts, and explore potential collaborations.

Poster Category I – Editing Platforms and Preclinical Safety

This category highlighted advances in genome editing technologies, protein and guide RNA (gRNA) design, epigenome editing, off-target assessment, chromosomal translocations, preclinical models, and safety evaluation strategies.

Award Winners

  • Editing Platforms: Evangelia Anagnostou, PhD Candidate, University of Freiburg
  • Preclinical Safety: Federica Grasso, University of Messina
Roberto Nitsch, Evangelia Anagnostou, Bruno Catalanotti, Marcello Maresca
Roberto Nitsch, Giovanni Paolo Stola, Bruno Catalanotti, Marcello Maresca

Poster Category II – Delivery, RNA Therapeutics and Enabling Technologies

Research presented in this category focused on viral and non-viral delivery systems, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), non-coding RNA therapeutics, RNA design and manufacturing, sequencing methodologies, and enabling analytical technologies.

Award Winners

  • Delivery Technologies: Sonia Panico, PhD Student, University of Naples Federico II
  • RNA Therapeutics: Elsa Fabbretti, University of Trieste
  • Enabling Technologies: Giovanni Paolo Stola, Co-founder of PoliRNA and PhD Student in Bioengineering and Medical-Surgical Sciences, Politecnico di Torino

Poster Category III – Clinical Translation, Cell Therapy and GMP Manufacturing

This category showcased innovations supporting the path from laboratory research to clinical application, including IND-enabling studies, clinical-grade RNA production, in vivo gene therapy, CAR-T cell therapies, GMP manufacturing, automation, AI-enabled production systems, and regulatory readiness.

Award Winner

  • Clinical Translation, Cell Therapy and GMP Manufacturing: Antonia Valeria Esposito, PhD Student, University of Padua

The poster competition concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding scientific contributions across all thematic areas. The high quality and diversity of the research presented reflected the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced therapeutics and underscored the important role of early-career researchers in driving innovation within the field.

Marcello Maresca, Roberto Nitsch, Antonia Valeria Esposito, Bruno Catalanotti

Advancing Collaboration in Cell and Gene Therapy

The Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Workshops 2026 underscored the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in accelerating the development of next-generation therapeutics. By bringing together expertise from academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and clinical practice, the event fostered a vibrant environment for scientific exchange, innovation, and future partnerships.

As the field of advanced therapeutics continues to evolve at remarkable speed, the Naples workshops provided participants with both the technical knowledge and collaborative networks needed to help shape the future of precision medicine and transformative patient care.

The success of this inaugural edition was made possible through the efforts of organizers Marcello Maresca (AstraZeneca), Roberto Nitsch (AstraZeneca), and Bruno Catalanotti (University of Naples Federico II), together with co-organizers Astrid Mentani (AstraZeneca) and Laura De Cantis (National Center for RNA & Gene Therapy).

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