ELRIG Announces Drs Stephen Ward and Annarita Miccio as Keynote Speakers for Cell and Gene Therapy 2026

• Inaugural event takes place from 9–10 March at Hinxton Hall in Cambridge, UK
• Programme spans neurological disorders, sensory diseases, rare conditions, and cancer immunotherapy

Cambridge, UK, 20 January 2026: ELRIG, a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation dedicated to the global drug discovery community, today announced the keynote speakers for Cell and Gene Therapy 2026. Drs Stephen Ward (Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult) and Annarita Miccio (Imagine Institute) will lead the inaugural two-day event taking place at Hinxton Hall in Cambridge, UK from 9–10 March.

Cell and Gene Therapy 2026 is a free-to-attend event bringing together leading scientists, economists and patient advocates to explore breakthroughs shaping the future of medicine. The programme, focussing on translational impact and patient perspectives, includes talks and poster presentations covering neurological disorders, sensory diseases, rare conditions, and cancer immunotherapy. There will also be an exhibition hall and networking opportunities, providing a platform for collaboration between academia, biotech, pharma and investors from across the drug discovery community. The Early Career Professional Poster Award will recognise the outstanding contributions from the next generation of scientists.

Dr Stephen Ward has over two decades of cell and gene therapy expertise, within a career spanning biological medicine research, development and manufacturing. He has been with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult for over 10 years, playing a pivotal role building its pioneering process development and analytical capabilities; and leading major strategic manufacturing, supply chain, skills and industrial growth programmes. In 2024, he became Chief Technology Officer, shaping the organisation’s technology development strategy. Dr Ward is also Vice Chair of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership. He will present “Is the Coming of Age of Advanced Therapies Now Within Our Grasp or Ephemeral Hope?” on day one of the conference.

Dr Annarita Miccio directs the laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development at the Imagine Institute in Paris, France. Her work focusses on transcriptional control of haematopoiesis and developing therapies for beta‑haemoglobinopathies. In particular, she optimised the design of lentiviral vectors currently employed in a clinical trial for sickle cell disease and developed CRISPR/Cas9 strategies for beta-haemoglobinopathies. Dr Miccio is the author of over 70 publications and more than 15 patents, she has led major EU- and national‑funded projects and received multiple scientific awards. She will discuss the “Successes and Challenges in Gene Therapy: The Example of Beta-Haemoglobinopathies” during her presentation on the second day.

Dr Verena Brucklacher-Waldert, Board Member and Conference Director, ELRIG, and Head of Research Operations, Laverock Therapeutics, said: “ELRIG is committed to connecting the scientific community and accelerating innovation across all aspects of drug discovery. We’re delighted to be delivering this two-day event in direct response to our community’s needs, creating the space to explore breakthrough’s shaping the future of healthcare. Cell and Gene Therapy 2026 is not just a conference — it’s a catalyst for collaboration. By uniting experts and encouraging dialogue across disciplines, ELRIG is accelerating the journey from discovery to delivery for life-changing therapies.”

Dr David Baker, Conference Director, ELRIG, and Associate Director, AstraZeneca, added: “We have curated a programme that combines cutting-edge talks, interactive panel discussions, and dedicated networking opportunities to foster collective progress and spark new ideas. Drs Ward and Miccio are both renowned leaders in cell and gene therapy and we are privileged to have them on board as keynote speakers to share their perspectives and expertise. We look forward to welcoming scientists from academia and industry, patient advocates, investors and policy makers to be part of the conversation that will define the next era of cell and gene therapy.”

Dr Stephen Ward, Chief Technology Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, said: “We sit on the cusp of an exciting era that could offer patients game-changing treatment choices and reduce the healthcare burden for policy makers. I look forward to sharing examples of how the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is supporting the UK and the global sector through collaboration to tackle hurdles and enact real change at this foremost ELRIG conference.”

Dr Annarita Miccio, Lab Director, Imagine Institute, and Senior Researcher, Inserm, said: “It’s an honour to be invited to share our research into different genome editing strategies for safe and effective treatment of beta-haemoglobinopathies. ELRIG provides a unique platform to engage with diverse audiences from across the drug discovery community and I very much look forward to discussing the successes and challenges in gene therapy with them at the conference.”

For further information about Cell and Gene Therapy 2026, please visit: https://elrig.org/portfolio/cell-gene-therapy-2026/