Dr. Miguel Forte MD PhD

• President & Chair @International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) 

• Board Member & Executive Committee @Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM)

• CEO & Co-Founder @Kiji Therapeutics and Executive Chariman @StemBond

Miguel Forte is an internationally recognized leader in cell and gene therapy, translational medicine, and biotechnology commercialization. With over two decades of experience in industry, regulation, and academia, he has been pivotal in advancing innovative therapeutic platforms. In June 2024, he became President and Chair of the Board at the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), following his tenure as Chief Commercialization Officer and Chair of the ISCT Commercialization Committee, where he enhanced the society’s industrial engagement and translational impact.

Forte is CEO and Co-Founder of Kiji Therapeutics and Executive Chairman of StemBond. He also advises various organizations through mC4Tx and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM). His executive career includes leading Bone Therapeutics (2019–2022) through strategic repositioning and a successful M&A, as well as key CEO roles at Zelluna Immunotherapy (2017–2019) and as CMO/COO of TxCell.

Earlier, he held senior roles at UCB, Nabi Pharmaceuticals, and BMS, and he contributed to regulatory policy during his tenure at the European Medicines Agency. He holds an M.D. and specialization in Infectious Diseases from the University of Lisbon, a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Birmingham, and a certificate in Health Technologies Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Prof. Hideyuki Okano MD PhD

• Distinguished Professor  @Keio University

• Director @Keio University Regenerative Medicine Research Center

• President Elect @International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)

Professor Hideyuki Okano is a leading figure in neuroscience and regenerative medicine. He earned his M.D. (1983) and Ph.D. in Medical Science (1988) from Keio University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has held professorships at Tsukuba University (1994) and Osaka University (1997) and returned to Keio University in 2001, where he served as Dean of the School and Graduate School of Medicine (2007–2021). In 2022, he was appointed Visiting Professor at MIT.

Currently, he is the Director and Distinguished Professor of Keio University Regenerative Medicine Research Center, focusing on stem cell therapies for spinal cord injuries and iPSC-based disease modeling and drug discovery for ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. His work has paved the way for groundbreaking clinical applications in regenerative medicine.

Among his numerous accolades are the Medal with Purple Ribbon (2009), the Erwin von Bälz Prize (2014), and the Uehara Prize (2022). As President of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine and President-Elect of the ISSCR, Professor Okano is shaping the future of stem cell research.

Dr. Ilona Reischl PhD

• Chair of Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) @European Medicines Agency (EMA)

• Quality Assessor, Clinical Trials Unit @Austrian Medicines and Medical Devices (AGES MEA)

Dr. Ilona Reischl, PhD, is a prominent regulatory expert in clinical trials, biologics, and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). She serves as the Chair of the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), a role that highlights her leadership in shaping regulatory frameworks for innovative therapies. Since 2006, Dr. Reischl has also been a Quality Assessor in the Clinical Trials Unit at the Austrian Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (AGES MEA), where she plays a key role in assessing and overseeing the safety and efficacy of medicinal products in clinical development.

Her work is at the forefront of bridging regulatory and scientific efforts to facilitate the development and approval of cutting-edge therapies. Dr. Reischl’s expertise extends to the interface of medicinal products and medical devices, ensuring seamless integration of novel technologies like in vitro diagnostics throughout the lifecycle of medicines.

Prof. Johnna S. Temenoff PhD

• Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Chair, Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering @Georgia Tech, Emory University

• Director @NSF Engineering Research Center on Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT)

• Director @Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing

Dr. Johnna S. Temenoff, PhD, is a distinguished biomedical engineer and professor at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program between Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University.

She earned her PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University and has built an esteemed career specializing in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, with a focus on musculoskeletal repair. She has co- authored the widely used textbook "Biomaterials: The Intersection of Biology and Materials Science", influencing generations of students and researchers in the field. 

Her research explores biomaterial-based strategies for cartilage, tendon, and muscle regeneration. She has received numerous prestigious grants and awards, including funding from the NIH and NSF, and has published in high-impact journals. Dr. Temenoff has also played a key role in mentoring early-career researchers, promoting diversity in STEM, and leading interdisciplinary collaborations to advance biomaterials research.

Prof. Markus Scheibel MD

• Chairman & Chief Physician, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery @Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland

• Visiting Professor, Centrum für Muskuloskeletale Chirurgie (CMSC) @Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

• General Secretary and Former President @German-Austrian-Swiss Association for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (DVSE)

Prof. Markus Scheibel is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery. He is the Chairman of the Schulthess Clinic in Zurich, one of the leading international centers for musculoskeletal medicine. Additionally, he serves as a Visiting Professor at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, contributing to academic research, clinical education, and innovation in orthopedic surgery.

He plays a key leadership role in the field as the General Secretary and Past President of the German-Austrian-Swiss Association for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (DVSE), fostering collaboration, education, and research within the international orthopedic community.

Prof. Scheibel’s research is focused on optimizing tendon-to-bone healing in degenerative tendon pathologies, particularly in rotator cuff repair and shoulder reconstruction. His work aims to improve surgical techniques, enhance biomaterial applications, and refine rehabilitation strategies to maximize functional recovery and long-term patient outcomes.

Beyond his clinical and research contributions, Prof. Scheibel is dedicated to mentoring and training the next generation of orthopedic surgeons, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration, and shaping the future of shoulder and elbow surgery.