Webinar on Demand: Enabling novel technologies to effectively develop  T and NK cell-based therapeutic products

Enabling novel technologies to effectively develop T and NK cell-based therapeutic products

Speakers from BioLegend and Nexcelom Bioscience discuss enabling novel technologies to effectively develop T and NK cell-based therapeutic products.

T cell and NK cells are the most promising cell types for providing treatments that could potentially offer cures to cancer and other diseases. Unfortunately, the processes to effectively develop and manufacture safe, high efficacy cellular therapeutic products are complex and costly. Both autologous and allogeneic cell therapies start with the isolation of selected immune cells followed by activation, expansion, and ex vivo genetic modification. To ensure the safety and efficacy of the “living drug”, immune cells require robust analytical methods and all materials used in the manufacturing process must have high quality and controllable batch-to-batch variation based on FDA guidelines (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) Information for Human Gene Therapy Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs)- 2020 FDA).

In this webinar, Dr. Vanda Sofia Lopes will describe the development and validation of “A novel Xeno-free serum substitute for T and NK cell culture to support clinical-grade manufacturing”. With the replacement of FBS and human-derived sera in T cell culture, the reproducibility of the cell culture can be better controlled to support the manufacture of defined cell products.

Our second speaker, Dr. Mojica will highlight innovative imaging cytometry tools for accurately counting cells and performing in-vitro immune cell functional analysis with reliable, robust, trackable, and easy workflows to ensure the manufacture of high-quality cell therapy products.

Key Learning Points:

  1. Development and validation of a reagent to replace FBS and hAB serum for better reproducibility, safety, and productivity in GMP manufacture of T cells and NK cells
  2. Image cytometry and its major applications in the development and manufacture of cell and gene therapies
  3. Application of high-speed and high-throughput image-based cytometry systems to reliably count and analyze immune cells in product development and manufacturing processes

Presenters

Vanda Sofia Lopes, Ph.D.
GMP Bioprocessing Program Manager, BioLegend

Vanda Lopes received a Ph.D. in London in 2007, and post-doctoral studies at UCLA. She then joined Fujifilm Irvine Scientific where she worked in media development for cell therapy products. Vanda joined BioLegend in 2019 and since then has worked in the development of new cell culture reagents for Bioprocessing.

A novel Xeno-free serum substitute for T and NK cell culture to support clinical-grade manufacturing

Sergio A. Mojica Ph.D.
Field Application Scientist, Nexcelom Bioscience

Dr. Sergio A. Mojica is a microbiologist and imaging specialist with expertise in cell culture, microbiology, and infectious disease. He received his Ph.D. in 2015 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, studying the molecular mechanisms of how type-III secreted effectors facilitate intracellular bacterial infection. When not in the lab, Sergio enjoys dancing and exercising while planning his next international adventure.

High-Throughput Imaging Cytometry Technology and Applications for Developing Cell Therapy Products