Speaker Profile
PMWC LUMINARY AWARD
Developed advancements in CAR T-cell therapy, including innovative clinical trials and improved treatment protocols that have significantly enhanced patient outcomes in pediatric oncology
M.D., Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor, Founding Director Stanford Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford
Biography
Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor at Stanford University, Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Cancer Cell Therapy. Dr. Mackall's 27-year tenure at the National Cancer Institute and her subsequent work at Stanford have significantly advanced immuno-oncology. Her team was among the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of CD19-CAR T cells in pediatric leukemia and developed the CD22-CAR, which received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA and is undergoing potentially pivotal testing. She is leading work with GD2-CARs for pediatric brain tumors and developing new platforms to enhance CAR T cell therapy for solid cancers. She has published over 250 manuscripts, is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a Fellow of the AACR Academy and the Academy of Immunooncology. She has co-founded 4 biotech companies and was recognized as one of the top 20 most influential women in biopharma in 2023.
Talk
Autologous chimeric antigen receptor based therapeutics have transformed treatment of high risk B cell malignancies and increasingly, signals of activity are observed in solid cancers. Exponential progress in CAR manufacturing, potency enhancements and safety features promise to further reduce cost, enhance access and increase the impact of this therapeutic class.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley
Track Chair: Maryland Franklin, Labcorp
- Cross-Application of Oncology Drugs in Rare Diseases
- Razelle Kurzrock, Medical College of Wisconsin
- PMWC 2025 Award Ceremony
Luminary Honoree: David R. Liu, Broad Institute & Crystal Mackal, Stanford University
Pioneer Honoree: Drew Weissman, Penn Medicine
- Breakthroughs in Cancer Immunotherapy: mRNA Vaccines and CAR T-Cell Advances (PANEL)
Chair: Ira Mellman, Medici Therapeutics
- Drew Weissman, Penn Medicine
- Crystal Mackal, Stanford University - Next-Generation ADCs: Challenges and Innovations in Immunotherapy Combinations (PANEL)
Chair: Sandhya Girish, Gilead
- Bin Liu, UCSF
- Hanspeter Gerber, Sutro Bioscience
- Amrita Kamath, Genentech
- Stephen Eck, MacroGenics - Strategic IP Management in Cell and Gene Therapy: Navigating Legal and Practical Challenges
- Janet Xiao, Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Keynote: Base Editing, Prime Editing, and Targeted Gene Integration: Precision Therapeutic Genome Editingn
- David R. Liu, Broad Institute
- Advances in Allogeneic Cell Therapies: Overcoming Hurdles and Expanding Applications (PANEL)
Chair: Elliot Norry, Adaptimmune
- Larry Lamb, IN8bio
- Indu Ramachandran, Century Therapeutics - Bottlenecks in Manufacturing of Cell Therapies
- Fabian Gerlinghaus, Cellares
- Transforming Cancer Treatment: Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Breakthroughs
Chair: Catriona Jamieson, UCSD Health
- Irv Weisman, Stanford
- Collaborations Advancing Genetics-based Diagnostic Testing for Cell and Gene Therapy
Chair: Maryland Franklin, Labcorp
- Data-Driven Innovations in Oncology Cell Therapy Trials
- Prabhu Snehit, Stanford
- Advancements and Future Directions in Therapeutic Ultrasound for Precision Medicine
Chair: Masha Stromme, EXACT Therapeutics
- John de Groot, UCSF
- Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Cordance Medical
- Raag Airan, Stanford
