Wide conference banquet hall with rows of seated attendees facing a large stage, warm amber and navy lighting, professional business gathering mood

22–25 January 2018 · Hyatt Regency, Miami

Conference program overview

Cell & Gene Therapy World 2018 brought together over 850 senior executives across biotech, pharma, and investment for three days of strategic partnering, co-located with the World Stem Cell Summit.

Program Structure

Built around a personalized planner

Attendees could work through a personalized event planner to map sessions, hubs, and networking moments across the three-day schedule, aligning their time with manufacturing, supply chain, market access, and investment tracks.

The final agenda was made accessible online ahead of the event, giving delegates visibility into session timing, optional add-ons, and collaboration opportunities before arriving in Miami.

Cell and gene therapy has shifted from a specialized research area into a defining force across modern medicine, reshaping how clinicians approach inherited disorders, cancer, and degenerative conditions. As investment flows into manufacturing capacity and clinical infrastructure, the field is increasingly defined by collaboration between academic pioneers, biotech innovators, and pharmaceutical leaders working toward scalable, patient-ready treatments. Events that gather these communities help translate laboratory progress into accessible therapies, creating shared language around regulation, reimbursement, and long-term supply strategy.

A well-designed conference program reflects the maturity of the sector itself, balancing deep scientific sessions with practical tracks on manufacturing, supply chain, market access, and investment. Attendees benefit from personalized planners that allow them to navigate parallel hubs, choosing between immuno-oncology breakthroughs, stem cell advances, and translational discussions on commercialization. Co-locating a cell and gene therapy meeting with broader stem cell and regenerative medicine gatherings amplifies cross-disciplinary insight and helps align timelines across development pipelines.

Beyond formal sessions, the value of a major industry gathering often lies in the conversations that happen between presentations, during shared meals, and at evening receptions. Senior executives from biotech, pharma, and venture groups use these moments to forge partnerships, scout emerging technologies, and pressure-test clinical and commercial assumptions. A neutral, well-organized venue with comfortable accommodation and intuitive logistics allows participants to focus on the work of advancing therapies, strengthening the connective tissue that turns isolated discoveries into collective progress.

Co-located Event

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Cell & Gene Therapy World 2018 ran alongside the World Stem Cell Summit, extending the strategic partnering and learning opportunities available to attendees across both programs.

Advisory Board

Guided by industry advisors

The conference program was shaped with input from an advisory board of senior figures across cell and gene therapy, biotech, and pharma, helping to inform session topics and speaker selection.

  • Anne-Virginie Eggimann Bluebird Bio, Inc. — contributed to attendee feedback on the program.
  • Klaus Kühlcke Provided input reflected in the conference's testimonials and program direction.

Access the Program

Sessions, hubs, and add-ons

Agenda & Sessions

Three days of strategic partnering sessions, including optional sessions and the I-O Collaboration Lunch. Full details are on the agenda page.

Speaker Line-up

Speakers covered manufacturing, supply chain, market access, and investment topics relevant to advanced therapies.

Conference Features

Program elements included the BioProcess Hub, Supply Chain & Logistics Hub, Translational Academy, and Japan Symposium.