Member Profiles
Getting to Know Kurt
Kurt C. Gunter, MD, FASCP
ISCT President, 2012-2014
Chief Medical Officer, Cell Medica Inc.
It seems like the 2012 Annual Meeting was only yesterday, but already the summer has passed and Fall will be here shortly (at least in the Northern Hemisphere, where I am writing this note). Since the annual meeting, among other summer pursuits, I have had some opportunity to reflect on ISCT, what we have accomplished in the past 20 years, as well as the future for ISCT and our field of cell therapy.
I think the best place to begin is to thank you, the members, for your confidence in me and our Executive Committee to look out for the best interests of ISCT and the patients for whom we are developing products. Serving in this role, I feel a great sense of pride and an immense sense of responsibility. I would also like to thank the past presidents and global and regional officers of ISCT, especially Ed Horwitz, for two years of outstanding leadership as President, and Mary Laughlin, for her past two years as Chair of the Advisory Committee and a two year term as President before that. They both have left some very large shoes to fill, and I will do my best to follow in their footsteps and to build on their accomplishments, with the same focus on excellence.
What has ISCT and the field of cell therapy accomplished in the past 20 yr?
- We have witnessed the expansion of cell therapy from the hematological arena to practically all fields of medicine.
- We have developed a highly regarded and prestigious society journal--Cytotherapy, thanks to John Barrett’s leadership and the work of many others.
- We have seen the successful translation of some cell therapies to patients, and we now have the supportive data, the technology and most importantly, the people to deliver on an optimistic future for this field.
- We have expanded the Society so we are now “Truly Global”, as championed by our Past President Ed Horwitz.
- There have been some failures, to be sure, both on the business and technical side. This is to be expected at this stage in the evolution of our field. What matters is that we learn from our failures.
- Most importantly, ISCT is now regarded as the “GO TO” translational society in the field of cell therapy, thanks to the work of all our members and leaders.
What is my vision for ISCT in the future? ISCT will be a globally connected and patient focused society. In the future, it will be important to ensure our focus is not on ourselves, but outward to our patients. My challenge to the members (and myself) is: How can we facilitate the translation of cell therapy to patients?
I have some ideas on that front, but first, let‘s review what is unique about ISCT:
- We are diverse, both geographically and in the demographics of our members. Our members include technologists, scientists, regulatory experts, clinicians, manufacturing specialists, and industry professionals.
- We have an established track record and reputation. In our twenty years as a society, we have witnessed tremendous growth of the field, thanks to our leadership.
- We have strong translational scientific leadership and influence, based on the status of our journal, Cytotherapy, and the ongoing work of our scientific committees.
- We are the only society that combines immunotherapy, stem cells, differentiated cells and regenerative medicine, providing a unique technological platform based on a common player: the cell.
- We have a unique and productive relationship with regulatory agencies, as demonstrated by our leadership of the FDA Cell Therapy Liaison Meeting, our representation on the EMA Committee for Advanced Therapies and our international leadership at the yearly Global Regulatory Perspectives Workshop, under the guidance of Scott Burger and Karen Edward.
How will we accomplish our vision of a globally connected and patient focused society? We need to focus on our strengths, work together, and leverage all the unique attributes of our society (diversity, expertise, track record/reputation and relationships with regulators). When we work collectively, I am confident we will be able to achieve our goals.
To achieve our vision it is most important that we build our membership base. Accordingly, I have asked all the Regional Vice Presidents to develop unique regional growth strategies and I am delighted to report that we have an exceptionally committed Executive Committee, with outstanding representation from all ISCT regions. Importantly, we now have plans in place to grow membership in all regions. Now, it’s about execution on those plans!
To all ISCT members, please consider the many valued benefits of ISCT membership to Connect, Communicate, Translate including discounted rates to ISCT-sponsored events such as the Annual Meeting, regional meetings, webinars and partnered meetings, a subscription to Cytotherapy, as well as Telegraft - ISCT’s bi-monthly e-newsletter. Membership gives access to ISCT’s three pillars of value (Academia, Regulatory and Commercialization) through the member networking database or participation in stakeholder committees. Our web based services for members provides free downloads from the ISCT webinar library and access to past meeting presentations and more! I am asking all ISCT members to rally around our growth strategy. Please try to disseminate the ISCT vision and recruit your colleagues, and if you have suggestions to help grow ISCT, please contact Rony Ganon, ISCT Member Services Administrator at rony@celltherapysociety.org to share your ideas.
Cell therapy continues to advance as a science and as a viable therapeutic option in many disease states, and there are multiple reasons to be optimistic about the field. There continues to be countless unmet medical needs, especially with the aging of the population in more developed countries. We already have proof of principle that cell therapy may be safe and effective thanks to the work of pioneers in the hematopoietic stem cell, mesenchymal cell, tissue engineering and other fields. There is a growing and maturing regulatory infrastructure around the world. Finally, there is increasing interest by big pharma and big biotech in cell therapy.
Keeping this growth in mind, what will our society look like at the end of the third decade?
- We will have grown robustly in not only our established regions (North America/Europe/Australia-New Zealand) but also in the newer regions where cell therapy is rapidly expanding --Asia and South/Central America.
- We will have solidified our reputation as the premier translational cell therapy society.
- But more importantly:
- There will be multiple approved cell therapies in a variety of different fields and therapeutic applications, including cardiovascular, neurological, hematological, immunological and oncology products.
- Thousands of lives saved as a result of our efforts
Many of you may think this is overly optimistic or even naive. Maybe a few of you out there think I’m just plain crazy! Hippocrates said “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” ISCT, on the cusp of our 3rd decade, has a wonderful opportunity. Let’s seize that opportunity!
When we work together as friends and colleagues, with the outstanding support of Queenie Jang, our Executive Director, and her staff, our Global Executive Committee, our Advisory Board, our Scientific and Stakeholder Committees as well as our Regional Committees, I am absolutely certain great things are in store. I look forward to an exciting two years and thank you for my extraordinary opportunity to serve as President of ISCT—a globally connected and patient focused society.
Getting to Know Andy
Andy Campbell, PhD
ISCT Member since 2009
Senior Manager, R&D, Life Technologies, USA
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
It may be cliché to say, but I truly feel that Cell Therapy is the future of medicine and has the capability to revolutionize human health. To me, it is incredibly interesting that we can take a cell and use it to target and treat a disease. Manmade pharmaceuticals are also amazing, but they can’t quite replicate the complexity and sophistication of a living cell. It really is a biological wonder that captivates me.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
I became involved with ISCT 2 years ago when I was asked to join the Process Development Sub-committee. I felt then, and still do, that it was a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the field. I had the privilege to help lead the development of the ISCT cell therapy tools and reagent database (under the ISCT BEACON brand), which is now currently a major feature on the ISCT website. My participation on this committee really highlighted for me the mission of the members of ISCT. Even though we all have allegiances and responsibilities within our own organizations, as members of ISCT, we are aligned on a common goal to advance the field as a whole. I have found this very rewarding because it brings us all back to why we became involved in science in the first place.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I would say there are many, but what most stands out is when a product is used in a trial or commercial production and results in a positive treatment for a patient. Even though my role may be limited, it is rewarding to be part of that process.
Where were you born and raised?
Rochester, NY
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
I have two boys (5 months and 2.5 years old), so they keep my wife and I pretty busy. We love spending time with them, and it seems even the most simple of activities like reading a book together or taking a walk down the street are the most rewarding. When I am not playing with them, I enjoy playing hockey, the guitar, and the outdoors. However, I would not say that I am “talented”!
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
I honestly think that I am pretty conservative, so this may be a boring answer. I enjoy backpacking and think that taking treks through national parks with only the supplies that you can carry is the best way to experience them.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
I find it very admirable to be able to run your own business. If I was not in my current career path, I think that I would probably like to try this. This would be very adventurous and would allow me to have a better answer for the question above….
Why did you join ISCT?
I joined ISCT because I thought it was a perfect forum to discuss the issues in the field that feel are particularly interesting to me. Those issues include the ability to commercialize a safe and reliable therapy and make it available for a broad population. I feel that this is equally as important as the cutting edge basic research questions and ISCT is a great place to discuss this.
Getting to Know Anja
Anja Grohnert, MSc
ISCT Member since 2011
PhD Student, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
Within the field of organ transplantation traditional drug-based therapies are very effective in prolonging graft survival, but they also cause side effects that impact patients’ quality of life. Cellular therapy is a promising alternative to current therapy regimens that will improve patient outcomes with less serious side effects.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
I attended the 2nd ISCT-Europe Regional Meeting in Belgirate (Italy) in 2010 and I was impressed by the diversity of applications for cellular therapy. Based on my positive experience at this meeting I decided to join ISCT.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I was given the opportunity to do a Masters degree part-time while working full-time and I graduated with distinction.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Trebbin, a small town south of Berlin in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
I have recently started to play tennis and enjoy it a lot. I also focus on developing my artistic side by learning new photography skills. An all-time favorite is reading a good book under a blanket with a hot mug of tea.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
I agreed to hike up Mount Sinai (Egypt) at night, not knowing how high it was. Only equipped with a torch, fairly poor sandals and refusing the very tempting offers by Bedouins to hop on a camel, I mastered the 4-hour ascent and got rewarded with the most breathtaking sunrise I have ever witnessed.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
I would either become a biostatistician, a designer of scientific graphics/posters or I would run a little café in a sunny location.
Getting to Know Wade
Wade Atkins, MS, MT(ASCP)
Member, ISCT North American Legal & Regulatory Affairs Committee
Quality Assurance Specialist, NIH, USA
Getting to Know David
David Peritt, PhD
ISCT Member since 2002
Scientific Director, Regenative Medicine and Cellular Therapy, Hospira, USA
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
Always been drawn to cutting edge therapeutic modalities. Was in biologics when they were not going to lead to any meaningful therapies (first at ImClone [later bought by Eli Lilly] and later Centocor [later bought by J&J]) and started working in cell therapy at J&J of all places a decade ago when these programs were not going to be meaningful therapies or businesses. Have since moved from allogeneic off the shelf cells to individualized cell therapy which may lead to meaningful treatments but will certainly not be sustainable from a business perspective. Am hoping that together as a community with the help of ISCT we can quickly dispel these myths so I can move on to the next therapeutic modality before I retire.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
ISCT has always been the meeting to go to in order to meet with colleagues in this small field and to help each other progress. There is a focus on issues that matter such as regulatory, CMC, etc. As apposed to other larger scientific meetings or more well established areas of medicine, there is far less competition but more a sense of camaraderie. We all need to work together and not in competition for the sake of patients. That is a good feeling and I feel the way science should be. While we all pray for the day for meetings that can not find a hall to big enough, it certainly is fun being on the ground floor.
What are your key plans or Achievements if involved in an ISCT committee?
As a standing member of the commercialization team I hope to learn from and help others to bring these life saving and altering therapies to a wider array of patients. This entails creating sustainable business models. Many questions exist when one is doing something new. That does not mean we should not do it, we just need to help each other overcome hurdles to get there. I hope our committee will be able to communicate and educate the wider community that they are not alone and together we can create sustainable businesses that provide patient benefit at a fair price.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Being able to have been part of teams that have developed therapies valuable to millions of patients is a wonderful feeling. When work gets tough you can always look back at those successes and consider all the lives you have touched. That gives me the energy to persevere and create a few more life altering therapies in my working career.
Where were you born and raised?
Born and raised on the East coast of the United States.
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
Before children my wife and I were quite avid birdwatchers. I always was embarrassed to admit such a “sport”. I have since learned it is one of the most common hobbies even though you do not hear much about it at work. I think everyone is keeping quiet about it. Kind of like being in cell therapy.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
Going off to graduate school oversees and learning in a language I did not know was certainly a challenge and adventure. I went to graduate school in Israel at the Medical center in Jerusalem. Beautiful city with lots of history. Taking medical hematology in Hebrew was a disaster. Thank goodness virtually all the material in the biological sciences was in English, I was able to write my thesis in English and take my orals in English. After 4 years I was proficient enough to get by nicely in the lab and argue with my landlord.
That experience still colors the way I perceive the world and my profession. I would not suggest it for everyone and I probably would not do it myself at this age. But in your mid 20s you are invincible, or maybe just stupid.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
Joining industry was the best thing I ever did in order to affect the lives of millions and I would not take it back for anything. The only regret I had and still have about leaving academia is the teaching. Being able to pass along information in a concise way and watch the lights come on is a wonderful feeling. RO1 certainly not, Biology 101….
Getting to Know Alexey
Alexey Bersenev, MD, PhD
ISCT Member since 2010
Postdoctoral fellow, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
I got an interest to the field when I was in medical school in 1999. I was fascinated by the idea of repairing damaged organs by cells instead of whole organ transplant. Also I was inspired by some initial success in tissue engineering approaches and first cell products approved in USA for cell therapy (Carticel, Apligraf). I pursued PhD in transplantation and studied mesenchymal stem cells. Since that I started actively participate in scientific conferences and professional communities.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
Since my PhD work I was hunting for high quality professional information in the field. By doing that I started to follow the updates from ISCT web-site since 2005. I was getting a lot of useful information that allowed me to focus on some cell therapy trends.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I think, getting my degrees – MD and PhD and two publications during my postdoctoral fellowship. Also I’d highlight active participation in conferences and professional societies.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in the middle part of Russia, where I graduated medical school (city of Izhevsk).
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
I have few hobbies. I like to write some of my thoughts and analyze information in my professional field online. I have two blogs and participate in many discussions. Because I’m doing it after work and enjoying it so much, I consider it as my hobby. I like many outdoor activities – play sports, hiking and traveling. I’m very much into indie- and folk- music. Last, I’d mention – tea drinking. I’m addicted to good quality Darjeeling tea. I wouldn’t speculate about my talents, I doubt that I have one.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
I think the most adventurous was my decision to leave my native country and move to US to pursue my dream – professional development and career in biomedical field.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
My current profession is a scientist. If I weren’t be a scientist I’d be physician and vise versa. If not scientist or physician I’d be a chemist.
Why did you join ISCT?
I have been following ISCT for last 5 years, but joined only this year (2010). I decided to join, because I realize that translation of science into the clinic or business is my passion. That’s what ISCT basically does. Also, for me it was the only way to get to know many people from the field in person and network.
Getting to Know Cor
Cor Lamers, PhD
ISCT Past Regional Vice President, Europe
Cellular Immunologist, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
My background is Biology and I got intrigued by the way the human body deals with diseases and malignancies, and subsequently specialized in Immunology. Following my PhD in Immunology and some post-docs I was lucky to realized a staff position at the Erasmus MC - Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and became responsible for all aspects of the translation, preparation and immune monitoring of the Adoptive T Cell Therapies (ACT) for cancer, using Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells, bi-specific antibody loaded T cells and presently chimeric antigen receptor gene modified T cells.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
I am ISCT member since January 2004; in January 2006 I joined the editorial board of Telegraft and nominated for the position of ISCT Europe regional vice president elect; I was in function in this position from May 2006 -2008 and from May 2008-2010 as ISCT Europe regional vice president. During my vice presidency ISCT Europe set out to increase visibility of ISCT in Europe and realized contacts with the European Union and European Medical Agency (EMA). In 2008 we organized the successful ISCT Europe 1st regional meeting in Antwerp, Belgium, which I chaired personally, and initiated the ISCT Europe 2nd regional meeting in 2010; we just have closed this successful meeting at the borders of Lago Maggiore, Italy; ISCT Europe extended collaborations with other European societies, and realized to bring back the ISCT annual meeting to Europe in 2011, to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
The realization of the first in Europe clinical trial using autologous chimeric antibody receptor gene modified T cells for treatment of cancer.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in a small village, Driel near to Arnhem, the Netherlands, attended secondary school in Nijmegen and went to college at the agricultural university in Wageningen. I graduated in developmental biology and immunology. I finished my PhD in immunology on the immune system of the Carp at the same university. During my post-doc positions I re-directed my interest to human oncology and immunology.
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
I relax during cycling, gardening, reading and listening to music; I am rather talented in the kitchen, backing pastries and preparing complete dinners. Active music is a hobby as well, I love to dance and I am singing in a choir. I volunteer in an organization that aids elderly and disabled and am involved in the organization and accompaniment of holiday camps.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
Jumping from a plane on a parachute; yet I am much more proud on another real achievement: after a unfortunate accent in 2009, I have been able to complete this year for the 25th time the 4-days marches in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and walking 50 km a day (from 2004 onwards 40 km a day).
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
I could do a lot of things, from being a real doctor, or teacher to having a restaurant or
a bed and breakfast in Umbria Italy, or at the borders of the Lago Maggiore, where I am writing these words.
ISCT's New President
Ed Horwitz, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His extensive involvement with ISCT included his position as Treasurer, Chair of the MSC committee, Co-Editor of Cytotherapy, and member of several annual meeting organizing committees. Watch an interview with Ed Horwitz.
Getting to Know Leigh
Leigh Sims Poston
Chair, ISCT Laboratory Practices Committee
Leigh Sims Poston, BS MT(ASCP) is the current chair of the Laboratory Practices Committee. She joined the LPC in 2005, was asked to stay on the committee after her initial term expired and then was asked to serve as chair in 2009. She has over 25 years of experience within clinical laboratory medicine. Leigh and her husband, Phil, are the proud pet parents of one cat, Rebger. They currently reside in Richmond, VA.
What drew you to the field of cellular therapy?
Actually, it was long before anyone used the term cellular therapy. I have always known what I wanted to do. As a young teen I knew that I wanted to work in medicine specifically, hematology, to fight cancer. Initially my focus was directed to bone marrow analysis to diagnose leukemia and lymphoma. When I learned of bone marrow transplant that opened up more opportunities to learn and grow. So, for the past 16 years I have been totally committed to this field.
When, how and why did you become involved with ISCT?
I first joined ISCT in 1995. That was “back in the day” when the name was ISHAGE. I was at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC. We performed a multi-center CD34 enumeration study. We submitted an abstract which was accepted. So, my first annual meeting was in Vancouver, Canada. It was very exciting. (By the way, we developed the abstract into an article which was published in the society journal, at that time, the Journal of Hematotherapy.)
This was the beginning of a long relationship that has supported years of professional and personal interaction with colleagues and friends.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Laurel, Mississippi. I am the youngest of five children and my family never moved. We lived on a small farm. So, I have a strong appreciation of and respect for nature.
Do you have any hobbies or talents?
Talents no, hobbies yes.
I love to cook. Maybe it is that southern hospitality thing but I have a strong desire to “feed” anyone who visits. This is one area that I am totally reckless in. Most of the time, I don’t use recipes! This creative outlet may be influenced by my day job, following SOPs to the letter.
I also enjoy gardening. Last summer my garden had, bountiful tomatoes, peppers and herbs. I’ve included a picture of my flowers.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life so far?
I guess it would be white water rafting. I love the water; but, I am not a strong swimmer. So, part of my goal was to master my fear. Of course, there was a guide and the rapids were not level 3 or 4. It was wonderful, very exciting. I would love to do it again.
If you weren’t in this profession, what would you envision yourself doing?
This is where it breaks down for me. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
I have had the opportunity to work with so many great clinicians and laboratorians through out my career. I can’t possibly thank them enough. However, my greatest reward has come from the patients. Just to be a part of their treatment, recovery, life - even if it is for a short time, is tremendous. Whatever direction you pursue within cellular therapy, the potential for challenge and reward is immeasurable.
Get Involved!
I would like to encourage everyone to become involved in ISCT. We had a tremendous response to LPC membership recruitment in 2009. All of the society’s committees welcome your input and involvement. Our 2010 Annual Meeting is just around the corner. There are many interesting and informative sessions planned for the program. On behalf of the Laboratory Practices Committee and as chair of the ISBT 128 Labeling for Cellular Therapy Products workshop, I hope you will have an opportunity to attend the meeting and I look forward to seeing you there.
Getting to Know Massimo
Massimo Dominici, MD
Treasurer, ISCT
Assistant Professor, University of Modena, Italy
Massimo Dominici, M.D., is an assistant professor in Oncology and Hematology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Modena is an ancient city (3rd century BC) with an old University dated 1175 AC. Modena is the home of the traditional balsamic vinegar, Luciano Pavarotti and the Italian sports car manufacturers Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. Massimo has been an ISCT member since 2001. He is currently a member of the Mesenchymal & Tissue Stem Cells Committee and the ISCT Treasurer and has seen the society go from operating at a loss to being profitable. In the 2009 he co-founded the forum of Italian Researchers on Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (FIRST). READ FULL INTERVIEW
