Cell Therapy Training Course

Cell Training Therapy Course, a partnership between ASTCT and ISCT, logo


Sponsored Full-Tuition Scholarship Program Designed to Train the Next Generation of

Clinical Translational Experts in Cell and Gene Therapy


Cell Therapy Training Course


The fourth biennial ISCT – ASTCT Cell Therapy Training Course (CTTC) aims to address the need for in depth training in the development and translation of cellular therapies and expose Scholars to topics that are not part of their formal education. The Course covers all aspects of translation from pre-clinical research to cell manufacturing and clinical trials in cellular therapy, including regulatory components.

2023 CELL THERAPY TRAINING COURSE


Applications Now Closed
Course Dates: October 23 - 27, 2023
Hosted at Penn Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA, USA

Program Format

5-day in-person intensive teaching, collaboration, and networking among the Scholars and Faculty.

The components of the course include:
  • An initial proposal for a cellular therapy product or trial by the scholar presented at the beginning of the course, to be refined in small group discussion with faculty, and presented as a final version at the end of the course
  • Didactic lectures
  • Visits to GMP facilities for cell products
  • Breakout sessions on select topics with case-based examples
  • Informal discussions and networking with Faculty on career development and mentorship

.

Application Information


Eligibility 
  • Applicants must be a Fellow-in-Training or have a Junior Faculty (two years or less teaching in the BMT and Cellular Therapy field) position.
  • Must be an ISCT and/or ASTCT member and sponsored by an ISCT and/or ASTCT member.

Previously unselected applicants are eligible and encouraged to apply for the 2023 Course.

*Past ISCT-ASTCT Cell Therapy Training Course Scholars and previous ASTCT Clinical Research Training Course Scholars are not eligible for the 2023 course.

 


Application
  • 1-2 page letter of application detailing the applicant’s background, training, interest in cellular therapy and clinical research, and career goals.
  • A detailed proposal for a translational research project in cell therapy to be further refined at the course.
  • Current curriculum vitae (CV).
  • 1-page letter of recommendation from the applicant’s mentor. 





Full Application Instructions & Criteria


The Course Aims to Cover



  • Pre-Clinical Development 1 (cell type)
  • Pre-Clinical Development 2 (scale up, vector)
  • Career Development
  • IND Development
  • Team Science/ Building Cross-Functional Teams
  • Study Design, Conduct and Analysis of Clinical Trials
  • Correlative Studies
  • Facility Tour (CVPF)
  • Manufacturing
  • Release Testing


  • Manufacturing and Analytics of Viral Vectors
  • Quality Assurance Development
  • Regulatory Affairs Case Studies
  • Clinical Trial Case Studies: Delivery of Cell Therapy Products (Infusion)
  • Ethics
  • Funding Sources
  • Evolving Financial Models for CAR-T and Gene Therapies
  • Routes to Commercialization
  • Hot Topics and Controversies in Cell and Gene Therapy


Planning Faculty 





Co-Chair
Bruce Levine, PhD
Barbara and Edward Netter Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, USA


Co-Chair
Marcela Maus, MD, PhD
Director, Cellular Immunotherapy Program
Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA, USA




Andrew Fesnak, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine
Director, Cell Manufacturing and Development, CVPF
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, USA






Emily Hopewell, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing
Indiana University
Indianapolis, IN, USA




Olalekan Oluwole, MBBS, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine Hematology/ Oncology
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN, USA




Nirali Shah, MD
NIH Distinguished Scholar
Head of the Hematological Malignancies Section
Pediatric Oncology Branch
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda, MD, USA

Sponsorship Opportunities

Be a part of a legacy training the next generation of cell and gene therapy leaders
Why Support the Cell Therapy Training Course?

  • Showcase your organization as a solution provider in the CGT product development pipeline.
  • Network and create lasting relationships with current and future leaders in CGT.
  • Increase visibility and maximize brand awareness with a relevant and targeted audience.
  • Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility by participating in a critical program that addresses the workforce development crisis.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities contact Meagan Pasternak at meagan@isctglobal.org.

VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


Featured Past Scholars - Where Are They Now?




2017 Scholar
Daniel Dever, PhD
Co-Founder & Head of Discovery Research,
Graphite Bio,
United States



“The CTTC course offered a mountain top overview of how to translate discoveries in the laboratories to commercialized cell and gene therapy personalized drug products. Clearly, it takes a village with high-level communication to synchronize and move forward translational products. The CTTC course described every facet of this" village" and how to streamline it. They covered everything from cell manufacturing to clinical trial design to regulatory affairs and to even the logistics of delivering the drug product to the hospital for infusion. In particular, my favorite aspect of the course was listening to world cell and gene therapy experts (with greater than 75 years of experience combined), like Bruce Levine, David DiGiusto and Stanley Riddell, describe their trials and tribulations over many years of hard work and dedication with the ultimate focus of developing a new drug to benefit patients with unmet medical needs. This type of knowledge is highly motivating and more importantly, is invaluable for me and the next generation of cell and gene therapy leaders. I highly recommend this course for medical professionals who are interested in a career of cell and gene therapy!”





2017 Scholar

Anton Terwisscha van Scheltinga, PhD
Director, QA Operations,
Bristol Myers Squibb,
Netherlands



2015 Scholar
Mireya Paulina Velasquez, MD
PI of Velasquez Lab,
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,
United States




2017 Scholar
Zlatibor Velickovic, PhD
Facility Director, Cell and Tissue Therapies WA,
Royal Perth Hospital,
Australia

Cell Therapy Training Course Archive


CTTC 2019 Philadelphia, PA, USA

CTTC 2017 Seattle, WA, USA

CTTC 2015 Houston, TX, USA

Visit Archive of Past Courses & Scholars