Skip to content
Bridge the Gap CGT Webinar Series
WEBINAR SERIES

Join Us for the Bridging the Gap Webinar Series

A monthly panel discussion on emerging topics that are changing the field of cell and gene therapy 

Cell and Gene Therapy Discussion Panel

The expanding use of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) is presenting a new set of challenges for staff and infrastructure at point of care centers. Our “Bridging the Gap” webinar series opens a platform to discuss industry questions, address pressing issues, hear from cell and gene therapy leaders, and network with peers.

Featuring prominent guest speakers spanning fields from scientific discovery to clinical introduction of cell and gene therapies, this webinar series roundtable is created by leaders in the field for their peers. Join us to hear discussions of hot topics, address critical areas of need, and share insights not being discussed anywhere else.  Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from the live panel.

Sign up for the series. You’ll receive a webinar log-in code several days before each event. You can unsubscribe (or resubscribe) at any time by emailing: bridgethegap@azenta.com

Sponsored by Azenta Life Sciences and the Emily Whitehead Foundation with industry-leading guest hosts and speakers.

READ THE RECAP BLOGS LISTED BELOW

 

Register for the series

Complete the form to register for the webinar series. You'll receive a new link each month to log in to the webinar. You may unsubscribe anytime.

Monthly Virtual Panel Discussion

Who:  Industry leaders, providers of cell and gene therapies, and all interested stakeholders 

What:  Various featured panelists from clinic and industry, along with host Tom Whitehead of the Emily Whitehead Foundation 

Why:  Address emerging challenges around implementation of cell and gene therapies, and raise awareness of clinical trial opportunities 

Where:  Online via GoTo Webinar

When:  First Friday of each month. Days and times may change so make sure you register to receive updates.

NEXT WEBINAR 

Date: Friday, October 3, 2025

Time:  8am PST/ 11am EST/ 5pm CET

Topic: From Transplants to Engineered Futures – Reflecting at Year Two of Bridging the Gap

With Panelists: Dr. Patrick Hanley, Professor and Director of the Cellular Therapy Program at Children’s National Hospital; Al Ribickas, Assistant Director of Cell Therapy Facility Operations, Moffitt Cancer Center; and George Eastwood, Executive Director, The Emily Whitehead Foundation.

As well as our hosts, Tom Whitehead, Founder, The Emily Whitehead Foundation, and Olga Bukatova, Assoc. Director Business Development, CGT, Azenta Life Sciences. 

Upcoming Guest Speaker

Broadening Global Access to Cell and Gene Therapies

Friday, May 2, 2025

 

Madhusudan Peshwa

Madhusudan V. Peshwa, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, MKC Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Madhusudan Peshwa is a seasoned life sciences executive, entrepreneur, and investor with a track record of guiding biopharmaceutical innovations from early concept to commercial success. With leadership roles spanning private startups to public enterprises, he has driven FDA approvals, global partnerships, and strategic licensing agreements across the U.S. and Asia. Dr. Peshwa’s expertise spans cellular therapies, biologics, and vaccines, with deep experience in process and product development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing operations, and fundraising.

He has served as CEO of MKC Biotherapeutics, held CTO roles at Tessera Therapeutics, Mana Therapeutics, and GE Healthcare, and is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Known for building high-performing teams and forging impactful collaborations with academia, government, and industry, Dr. Peshwa remains at the forefront of therapeutic innovation—driven by a passion for advancing science to improve global health.


Decentralizing CAR-T in Europe: Inside and Beyond Hospital Clínic de Barcelona ARI Program

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

Carolyn Riley Chapman headshot

Carolyn Riley Chapman, Ph.D. MS

Lead Investigator, Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard

Carolyn Riley Chapman, PhD MS, joined the MRCT Center in October 2023. She is a Member of the Faculty of the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Lead Investigator in the Division of Global Health Equity (DGHE), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Carolyn’s work involves collaboration with diverse stakeholders to identify and address challenges in the research and development of precision medicine, including cell and gene therapies.

Prior to joining the MRCT Center, Carolyn was Faculty in the Center for Human Genetics and Genomics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine with a primary appointment as Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health (Division of Medical Ethics). At NYU, she also served as Director of Research Ethics Education in the Translational Research Education and Careers (TREC) Unit of the Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and as the organizer of and lecturer in the NYU component of the WCG International Fellows Program. In the past, she has also worked as an Associate/Lecturer and as Interim Associate Director for the Columbia Bioethics program; as a business strategy management consultant in the biopharmaceuticals industry at L.E.K. Consulting; at a start-up biopharmaceutical company, Aton Pharma; and as a freelance science/medical writer.

Carolyn graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College with a BA in Biology. She has a PhD in Genetics from Harvard University and an MS in Bioethics from Columbia University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in medical ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a Graduate Certificate in Survey Research at UConn’s School of Public Policy.

BTG_Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Dr. Manel Juan Otero

Manel Juan Otero, M.D. Ph.D.

Head of the Immunology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona

Dr. Manel Juan Otero is a Spanish immunologist and Head of the Immunology Department at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, a position he has held since 2020. He also co-leads the joint Clinical Immunotherapy Platform with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona since 2011 (previously at the Autonomous University of Barcelona from 1997 to 2007).

He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, supervised 15 doctoral theses, and is the inventor on 9 patents in the field of immunology. Since 2019, he has led the IDIBAPS group on Immunogenetics and Immunotherapy in Autoinflammatory and Immune Response (R4), where his research focuses on T cell biology, HLA polymorphisms, and the development of advanced anti-tumoral cell immunotherapies - particularly CAR-T anti-CD19, CAR-T anti-BCMA, and other engineered T cell therapies.

Under his leadership, Hospital Clínic has become a pioneer in academic CAR-T programs, including ARI-0001 and ARI-0002h (approved by the Spanish Agency of Medicines), which have enabled treatment of more than 500 patients within Spain’s public health system. He has served as principal investigator in 24 competitive research projects.

Dr. Juan’s scientific impact is reflected in a cumulative impact factor exceeding 710 and an H-index of 57 (40 in the last five years), positioning him among the leading immunologists in Spain.

BTG_Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Sergio Navarro Velázquez

Sergio Navarro Velázquez M.Sc

Co-Manager Immunology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona

Sergio Navarro Velázquez is a Spanish immunologist and biochemist specializing in Immunology and CAR-T cell manufacturing. He is co-manager of the Immunotherapy Section in the Department of Immunology at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and an Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona, where he teaches in the Medicine program and in several master’s degrees, including Translational Medicine and Autoimmune Diseases.

During his medical specialization, midway through his second year, he broadened his training by completing a master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics. This expertise, combined with his background in Immunology, has enabled him to participate in innovative projects at the intersection of biomedical research and artificial intelligence, such as AIDPATH (Artificial Intelligence-driven, Decentralized Production for Advanced Therapies in the Hospital). This project focuses on automating CAR-T cell manufacturing and applying AI systems to monitor patient outcomes.

He also holds a postgraduate degree as an Expert in Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy. Currently, he combines his clinical and academic work with his PhD research in Dr. Manel Juan’s Immunogenetics and Immunotherapy group (IDIBAPS). His doctoral studies focus on the characterization of subpopulations and clinical outcomes of ARI-0001, a pioneering CAR-T cell therapy developed in Spain.

Sergio is an early-career scientist with several high–impact publications in the field of CAR-T cell therapies.

Upcoming Guest Speaker

Broadening Global Access to Cell and Gene Therapies

Friday, May 2, 2025

 

Madhusudan Peshwa

Madhusudan V. Peshwa, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, MKC Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Madhusudan Peshwa is a seasoned life sciences executive, entrepreneur, and investor with a track record of guiding biopharmaceutical innovations from early concept to commercial success. With leadership roles spanning private startups to public enterprises, he has driven FDA approvals, global partnerships, and strategic licensing agreements across the U.S. and Asia. Dr. Peshwa’s expertise spans cellular therapies, biologics, and vaccines, with deep experience in process and product development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing operations, and fundraising.

He has served as CEO of MKC Biotherapeutics, held CTO roles at Tessera Therapeutics, Mana Therapeutics, and GE Healthcare, and is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Known for building high-performing teams and forging impactful collaborations with academia, government, and industry, Dr. Peshwa remains at the forefront of therapeutic innovation—driven by a passion for advancing science to improve global health.


UPCOMING WEBINAR

From Transplants to Engineered Futures —Reflecting at Year Two of Bridging the Gap

October 3, 2025

Cell and gene therapy stands at a pivotal moment—transforming from lifesaving transplants to engineered treatments that redefine what’s possible for patients. As Bridging the Gap reaches its two-year milestone, this session takes a reflective look at how far the field has come and the challenges that still lie ahead. Join us for a discussion that revisits highlights from 25 sessions and explores how insights from clinicians, researchers, patients, and advocates are shaping the future of care.

Our panelists will be Dr. Patrick Hanley, Professor and Director of the Cellular Therapy Program at Children’s National Hospital; Al Ribickas, Assistant Director of Cell Therapy Facility Operations at Moffitt Cancer Center; and George Eastwood, Executive Director of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, along with webinar hosts Tom Whitehead of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, and Olga Bukatova of Azenta Life Sciences.

Our panel will honor milestones like Moffitt Cancer Center’s 10,000th transplant, examine lessons learned from recurring themes in the series, and share updates from initiatives at Children’s National Hospital and the Emily Whitehead Foundation. 

HOSTS AND PANELISTS

Meet Our Hosts and Panelists

tom whitehead

Co-host: Tom Whitehead

Co-Founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation

Tom Whitehead is a keynote speaker, author, and co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer immunotherapy research. Tom and his wife Kari founded the Emily Whitehead Foundation in honor of their daughter Emily who was diagnosed at age five with an aggressive form of leukemia that failed to respond to chemotherapy. As a last hope, Emily was enrolled in a clinical trial and became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The therapy worked and Emily is now 11 years cancer free and considered cured.

 

Olga Bukatova

Co-host: Olga Bukatova

Assoc. Director Business Development, CGT at Azenta Life Sciences

With a decade-long commitment to advancing GMP manufacturing technologies for Cell and Gene Therapies, Olga Bukatova’s expertise spans critical domains, including process automation, cryopreservation and thawing, isolator technologies, and aseptic fill & finish. Throughout her career, Olga focused on delivery of these transformative treatments to patients, working with start-ups, public organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and their CDMOs. As a member of the ISCT cold chain working group, she keeps on addressing the multifaceted challenges within the CGT landscape.

 

Albert Ribickas

Panelist: Albert Ribickas

Assistant Director of Cell Therapy Facility Operations, Moffitt Cancer Center

Al Ribickas is the Assistant Director of Cell Therapy Facility Operations at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He is board certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology as a Medical Technologist, a Specialist in Blood Banking, and as a Hemapheresis Practioner.  Al has worked on the production of various cellular therapies clinical trial products, and the implementation of commercial FDA approved products.

 

hanley_p_525

Panelist: Patrick Hanley, Ph.D.

Director of the Cellular Therapy Program at Children’s National Hospital

Dr. Hanley, Chief and Director of the Cellular Therapy Program and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children's National Hospital and George Washington University, has 16 years of experience translating 550+ cellular therapy products across 25 protocols into clinical practice. He's VP-North America of ISCT, on its board, and co-founded the Early Stage Professionals committee. Dr. Hanley is the commissioning editor of Cytotherapy and a board member of FACT. He advises various cell and gene therapy biotech companies and, in his free time, engages with scientists and Bills fans on Twitter, enjoys soccer, cycling, cooking, and traveling.

 

BridgingtheGap-Presenter-EastwoodG

Panelist: George Eastwood

Executive Director for The Emily Whitehead Foundation

George Eastwood is the Executive Director of The Emily Whitehead Foundation. Since its inception in 2015, the foundation has focused on funding groundbreaking research to create less toxic treatments for pediatric cancer patients, while also advocating for increased access to these therapies and supporting patients on their journey to clinical trials. George brings a strong background in cell-based therapeutics, having led global sales at HemaCare and held leadership roles at startups like Kytopen and Excellos. He also serves on the advisory board of Truetrials.org and the board of CGT digitization company Autolomous.


PREVIOUS SESSIONS

Register to watch previous webinars on demand

September 2025 - Decentralizing CAR-T in Europe: Inside and Beyond Hospital Clínic de Barcelona ARI Program

August 2025 - Post-BIO 2025, Accessible Cell and Gene Therapies: The World Can’t Wait

July 2025 - From BIO 2025 to Bedside: The World Can't Wait -Accelerating the Path from Approval to Access

June 2025 - Ethical Issues in CGT trials: Benefits, Risks, Long Term Follow-Up, and Beyond

May 2025 - Broadening Global Access to Cell and Gene Therapies

April 2025 - From Philly to Rio, International Collaboration on CAR T-Cell Manufacturing & Delivery

March 2025 - Tony Ting - Living a Landmark Moment for Stem Cell Therapy

February 2025 - Dr. Adair, Bold Vision, Real-World Impact: The Global Gene Therapy Initiative

January 2025 - A Year in Review: Bridging the Gap CGT Webinar Series Recap  

December 2024 - Brent Rice - From Academia to Commercialization: Developments in Next-Gen Cell Therapies

November 2024 - Urnov & Olaghere - Gene Therapies For All: Bridging CAR-T and Gene Editing's Established Curative Potential to the Unmet Medical Need 

October 2024 - Tim Hunt - Fireside Chat with ARM: Beyond the State of the Industry Briefing

Sept. 2024 - Dr. Barry - Equity of Access to Advanced Therapies: Considerations and Best Practices

Aug. 2024 - Laura Alquist - Breaking Bottlenecks: Enhancing Autologous Cell Therapy Manufacturing

July 2024 - Dr. Puri - Attacking Solid Tumors: TIL Revolution and Next Generation Advanced Therapies

June 2024 - Dr. Mukherjee - Bridging the Global Access Gap to Advanced Therapies

May 2024 - Dr. Forte - Shaping Tomorrow’s Standards of Care: Improving Patient Access to Advanced Therapies

April 2024 - Dr. Hege - Trailblazing Paths in Cancer Immunotherapy

March 2024 - Dr. Ledergerber - Off the Beaten Path: Lessons in Decentralized CGT Manufacturing

Feb. 2024 - Dr. Levine - What's Next in CGT: Anticipating the Next Advanced Therapy Breakthroughs

Dec. 2023 - Dr. Warkentin - The Journey Toward Standardization in the Advancement of Cell Therapy

Nov. 2023- Dr. Grupp - Reflecting on the Past Decade of Treating Patients with Advanced Therapies 


Read the Recap Blogs

We've summarized and recapped the highlights from the previous webinar sessions. Follow the links below to read the blogs. 

BridgingTheGap_wTagline_FullColor_BlackType@3x

About this Webinar Series

This webinar series began organically in 2020 as a monthly virtual panel discussion called “First Fridays” to raise awareness and invite open dialogue between the creators of cell and gene therapies and those administering them.

The original series has been re-launched and expanded as “Bridging the Gap” and continues as a monthly virtual panel discussion sponsored by Azenta Life Sciences and the Emily Whitehead Foundation.

It is hosted each month by Tom Whitehead of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, along with a featured guest and host from the cell and gene therapy space. These discussions focus on receipt, storage, and handling of cryogenically preserved therapies, SOP challenges, and solutions that can move the industry forward.

Presented by:
Azenta-Logo_PublicWeb_Digital
emily whitehead foundation logo

Suggest a topic

Have a topic you’d like us to consider for an upcoming session?  Submit it on the form above.