Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Director of the Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke
Biography
Charles A. Gersbach, PhD, is the John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and Director of the Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies. His research focuses on developing and applying genome engineering technologies, particularly CRISPR-based methods, for therapeutic genome editing, synthetic biology, and functional genomics. Dr. Gersbach's work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical applications, significantly advancing gene and cell therapies for genetic diseases and regenerative medicine. His contributions have been recognized with awards such as the NIH Directors Pioneer Award, and he has been inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows. Dr. Gersbach earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley
Track Co-Chairs:
Yael Weiss, Mahzi Tx
Morten Sogaard, Astellas Gene Therapies
- PMWC 2025 Award Ceremony
Pioneer Honoree: James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania
Luminary Honoree: Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford
- Keynote: Bioorthogonal Chemistry, from Basic Science to Clinical Translation
- Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford
- Keynote: The Promise of Genetic Medicines Unless You're Too Poor or Too Rare
- James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania
- Reimbursement for Genetic Medicines in Rare Diseases
Chair:
- Erin Satterwhite, Optum Specialty Pharmacy
- Next-Generation Delivery Systems for Gene Therapies (PANEL)
Chair: Morten Sogaard, Astellas
- Mathieu Nonnenmacher, Voyager Therapeutics
- Kevin Friedman, Kelonia Therapeutics
- Kunwoo Lee, GenEdit
- Haig Aghajanian, Capstan Therapeutics
- James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania
- Beyond the Genome: Harnessing Epigenetics in Rare Disease Treatment (PANEL)
Chair: Charles Gersbach, Duke
- Prashant Mali, UCSD
- Nadav Ahituv, UCSF
- Blythe Sather, Tune Therapeutics
- Fyodor D Urnov, Berkely University
- Navigating the Regulatory Landscape for Gene and Cell Therapies (PANEL)
Chair: Yael Weiss, Mahzi Tx
- Courtney Silverthorn, Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium (BGTC)
- Peter Marks, FDA
- Ben Dewees, Kyverna Therapeutics
- AI-driven Improvements in Gene and Cell Therapy (PANEL)
Chair: Morten Sogaard, Astellas
- Francois Vigneault, Shape Therapeutics
- John Androsavich, Ginkgo Bioworks
- Yogev Debbi, mana.bio
