Highlights of the Program
2 days business program:
Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.
SHOWCASING INNOVATION:
Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.
leaders talk:
Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
MULTIPLE STREAMS:
A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES:
Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.
roundtable discussion:
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Program
Day 1 :
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026
08:00 - 09:00
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
A NEW APPROACH TO PLASMID DNA CHARACTERIZATION FOR IVT WITH SLALOM CHROMATOGRAPHY
Christian Reidy
Waters Corporation
- Assessing plasmid DNA topology, length, and purity to improve IVT template performance
- Separating plasmid size and structural variants with Slalom chromatography principles
- Complementing plasmid analytics with LC–MS mRNA sequencing and affinity-based assays
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON PLASMID DNA ANALYTICS FOR IVT TEMPLATES
09:40 - 10:05
WHAT 3,000 RNA PROJECTS REVEAL ABOUT ENGINEERING mRNA, saRNA, AND circRNA
Luis Avila
Novoprotein Scientific Inc.
- Distinguishing mRNA, saRNA, and circRNA designs that drive IVT efficiency and translation
- Tuning codons, GC balance, and secondary structure to boost output beyond process optimization tweaks
- Architecting templates to reduce dsRNA, improve capping, and simplify purification workflows
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON INSIGHTS FROM 3,000 RNA PROJECTS ON RNA ENGINEERING
10:10 - 10:35
ENHANCING mRNA–LNP DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING VIA SINGLE-PASS TANGENTIAL FLOW FILTRATION (SPTFF)
Angel Lorenzo
Cytiva
- Framing single-pass tangential flow filtration fundamentals for mRNA–LNP downstream workflows
- Single-pass performance characterization, operation, and diafiltration – hybrid visualizations
- Relating SPTFF characterization results to saRNA‑in‑LNP potency and drug product quality
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON SPTFF FOR mRNA–LNP DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
Sponsored By CATUG BIOTECHNOLOGY
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON AI/ML-DRIVEN ADVANCEMENTS IN RNA THERAPEUTICS MANUFACTURING
- Discussing design for manufacturability using AI to generate mRNA sequences meeting performance and CMC constraints
- Connecting production line and logistics data into unified pipelines that reliably power AI-driven manufacturing decisions
- Clarifying patent strategy and inventor attribution for AI-designed nucleic acids and RNA therapeutics
- Highlighting AI-enabled manufacturing innovation, including containerized vaccine production and RNA-based diagnostics scaling insights
| Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Moderator
| Gardn Biosciences
| Hongene Biotech Corporation
| Lathrop GPM LLP
| Harman PhD Consulting
11:30 - 11:55
HIXcap™: CAP ANALOGS RATIONALLY DESIGNED FOR IMMUNE EVASION AND TRANSLATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN mRNA THERAPEUTICS
Tao Jiang
Hongene Biotech Corporation
- Structuring novel 5′ cap analogs to improve translation in immunologically active environments
- Counteracting IFIT1-mediated suppression to enhance mRNA output under inflammatory conditions
- Positioning HiXCap™ E2 for trials after efficacy in JAWS II cells, LPS mice, and case studies
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON 5' CAP ANALOGS FOR mRNA TRANSLATION
12:00 - 12:25
PROBLEMS WITH LONG mRNA SYNTHESIS? – CONGESTION ON THE DNA TEMPLATE GENERATES RNA FRAGMENTS VIA POLYMERASE BUMPING
Craig Martin
University of Massachusetts
- Investigating polymerase bumping on crowded DNA templates that generate truncated RNA
- Quantifying how polymerase density on DNA governs collision frequency and fragment yield
- Preventing bumping through co-tethered transcription to restore full-length mRNA output
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON POLYMERASE BUMPING IN mRNA SYNTHESIS
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE mRNA EXHIBITION
13:30 - 13:55
PHASE-APPROPRIATE CMC STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF RNA-BASED THERAPIES FOR CONCURRENT APPROVALS IN THE US AND THE EU
Rajiv Gangurde
Parexel
- Aligning early and late-stage CMC plans across diverse RNA therapies to de-risk scale-up
- Sequencing CMC work to stay off the critical path while regulatory guidance remains limited
- Navigating the US and the EU requirements to build a global approval strategy for RNA-based therapies
13:55 - 14:00
Q&A SESSION ON PHASE-APPROPRIATE CMC FOR RNA THERAPIES
14:00 - 14:25
RISKS AND REWARDS OF ACCELERATING mRNA THERAPEUTICS FROM DEVELOPMENT TO THE CLINIC
Marieke Zhao
Syner-G
- Identifying bottlenecks that constrain mRNA development timelines from the lab to the clinic
- Defining regulatory requirements for starting materials used in mRNA manufacturing supply chains
- Examining a case study linking starting material quality to downstream mRNA quality attributes
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON ACCELERATING mRNA THERAPEUTICS TO THE CLINIC
14:30 - 14:55
MASS PHOTOMETRY AS A NEXT-GENERATION PLATFORM FOR MULTI-ATTRIBUTE RNA THERAPEUTIC ANALYTICS
Matthew J Ranaghan
Refeyn
- Characterizing native m/saRNA length, purity, aggregation, and degradation in one readout
- Measuring integrity and purity of up to 10 kb m/saRNA with under 5% error from ng of material
- Resolving dsRNA impurity profiles directly in heterogeneous mRNA samples for decisions
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON MASS PHOTOMETRY FOR MULTI-ATTRIBUTE RNA ANALYTICS
15:00 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
Sponsored By WATERS CORPORATION
15:30 - 15:55
KEY CMC CONSIDERATIONS FOR mRNA THERAPEUTICS TOWARDS IND APPROVAL
Xijun Piao
CATUG Biotechnology
- Deciphering end-to-end mRNA therapeutic workflows that underpin CMC readiness for IND
- Prioritizing key CMC considerations across materials, process development, and controls for IND submission
- Showcasing CATUG Biotechnology’s one-stop CMC service to streamline development toward filing
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON KEY CMC STEPS TOWARDS IND APPROVAL
16:00 - 16:25
GENERATIVE DESIGN OF COMPLETE THERAPEUTIC mRNA MOLECULES
Aidan Riley
Gardn Biosciences
- Integrating 5′ UTR, coding sequence, and 3′ UTR in one pass to optimize full-length mRNA
- Showing optimized linear mRNA constructs outperform circular RNA in expression and in vivo utility
- Achieving cell type specificity, lower immunogenicity, and manufacturability via end-to-end design
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON GENERATIVE DESIGN OF THERAPEUTIC mRNA
16:30 - 16:55
RNA THERAPEUTICS: MULTI-MODALITY POTENTIAL FROM GENE SILENCING THROUGH THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS
Anis H Khimani
ZeptoMetrix Corporation
- From transcriptional paradigm to therapy applications – a historical perspective
- Broad spectrum pipeline across therapeutic areas
- Challenges and future opportunities
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON MULTI-MODAL RNA THERAPEUTICS
17:00 - 18:00
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026
08:30 - 09:00
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:00 - 09:10
OPENING ADDRESS
09:10 - 09:35
LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN mRNA FORMULATION AND DELIVERY TECHNOLOGIES
Pintu Kanjilal
Strand Therapeutics
- Emphasizing the need for robust delivery platforms enabling clinical mRNA therapies
- Enumerating delivery strategies applied to achieve efficient, reliable mRNA transport
- Affirming LNPs as preferred vehicles for mRNA drug products in development and commercialization
- Summarizing key learnings from recent LNP programs spanning formulation and safety
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCES IN mRNA FORMULATION AND DELIVERY
09:40 - 10:05
ENGINEERED EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES ENGINEERED WITH mRNA FOR TREATMENT OF DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
Wenchun Qu
Mayo Clinic
- Highlighting potent immunomodulatory effects of mRNA-engineered extracellular vesicles (EV)
- Addressing disc regeneration using mRNA-based therapeutics to restore structure and function
- Contextualizing EV design and delivery variables that influence targeting to disc tissues
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON ENGINEERED EV FOR mRNA THERAPEUTICS
10:10 - 10:35
OBTAINING BROAD PATENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
Laura A Labeots
Lathrop GPM LLP
- Interpreting Amgen v. Sanofi to clarify enablement under 35 USC 112(a) for biotech
- Distilling core enablement principles that shape biological drug and antibody claim scope
- Drafting broad, defensible claims using practical strategies and specification-supported approaches
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON BROAD BIOTECHNOLOGY PATENT CLAIM STRATEGIES
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
Sponsored By WUXI APPTEC
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON FUNDING AND SCALING THE NEXT GENERATION OF mRNA BIOTECH COMPANIES
- Building academic spinouts around mRNA innovation through translational support, investor syndicates, and early capital
- Connecting academia and industry to fund emerging mRNA platforms, address unmet needs, and expand global development capacity
- Navigating investor concerns and policy shifts by prioritizing serious disease programs and flexible global trial strategies
| MasterSwitch Bio | Moderator
| University of Pennsylvania
| Penn Institute for RNA Innovation
| MasterSwitch Bio
11:30 - 11:55
NANOPRIMER TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED EFFICACY OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED VACCINES
Julie Devalliere
Nanobiotix
- Reducing hepatic clearance by transiently occupying phagocyte cells that clear nanoparticles
- Pre-treating with Nanoprimer to increase IV bioavailability during the therapeutic activity window
- Eliciting stronger CD8⁺ T cell priming and IFN-γ responses across mRNA and peptide vaccines
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON NANOPRIMER TO BOOST IV VACCINE IMMUNOGENICITY
12:00 - 12:25
MECHANISMS OF ENDOSOMAL ESCAPE AND INTRACELLULAR DELIVERY MEDIATED BY LIPID NANOPARTICLE COMPONENTS
Ismail Hafez
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Establishing how lipid nanoparticles enable intracellular delivery of mRNA via endosomal pathways
- Differentiating the roles of ionizable, helper, and sterol lipids in endosomal rupture and mRNA release
- Evaluating revised models of ionizable lipid-mediated endosomal escape against current evidence
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON LNP ENDOSOMAL ESCAPE AND DELIVERY MECHANISMS
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE mRNA EXHIBITION
13:30 - 13:55
A NOVEL CIRCULAR RNA PLATFORM THAT PREFERENTIALLY TARGETS PROTEIN-PRODUCING CELLS
Peter Weinstein
Circurna
- Stabilizing thermostable ciRNA™ delivered by microneedle patches for dermal protein output
- Administering ciRNA™ to dermis cells that drive in vivo protein production for therapy response
- Sustaining protein expression for over a week, enabling one or two doses to reach the desired effect
- Extending two-dose vaccine efficacy into programs for cancer, fibrosis, and autoimmune disease
13:55 - 14:00
Q&A SESSION ON ciRNA™ PLATFORM TARGETING PROTEIN-PRODUCING DERMAL CELLS
14:00 - 14:25
REVSELECT™ AI-POWERED 5′ UTR OPTIMIZATION DRIVING 65% HIGHER PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND ACCELERATED PATHWAYS FOR PERSONALIZED mRNA THERAPEUTICS
Molly McGlaughlin
Revolution Biomanufacturing Inc.
- Optimizing 5′ and 3′ UTRs with AI models to refine ribosome loading and translation outcomes
- Leveraging pretrained language models and structural features to predict translational efficiency
- Demonstrating 65% gains in protein expression using validated UTR designs across models
- Uncovering novel IRES elements with improved precision to advance personalized mRNA applications
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON AI-POWERED UTR OPTIMIZATION FOR mRNA
14:30 - 14:55
ADVANCING EXTRAHEPATIC TARGETED DELIVERY TO ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS
ShunChuan Zhang
WuXi AppTec
- Mapping nucleic acid therapeutics and LNP delivery basics toward extrahepatic targeting
- Screening LNP libraries through synthesis and evaluation to select candidates for delivery
- Directing passive and active targeting for extrahepatic delivery, enabling in vivo CAR-T therapies
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON EXTRAHEPATIC TARGETED LNP DELIVERY FOR NUCLEIC ACIDS
15:00 - 15:25
IMPURITY CHARACTERIZATION AND CONTROL DURING mRNA PRODUCTION
Kok-Seong Lim
Independent Expert
- Pinpointing key impurity sources in mRNA production, including dsRNA and mRNA–lipid adducts
- Implementing analytical methods for accurate detection and quantification of impurities
- Minimizing impurities via practical steps, in-process controls, and post-purification optimization
15:25 - 15:30
Q&A SESSION ON IMPURITY CONTROL IN mRNA PRODUCTION
15:30 - 15:45
FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW
15:45 - 16:00
CLOSING REMARKS
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