Charles River Laboratories
Shaping the Future of Cell and Gene Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance

Concept
Join Us!
Making the right choices in manufacturing and testing early is critical for gaining regulatory approval and achieving patient access faster. Charles River’s suite of cell and gene therapy solutions can support your drug’s entire lifecycle, from discovery to commercialization. We have supported the development of 24 FDA-approved cell and gene therapies and have conducted more than 1,000 studies in this field over the past year.
Ready to unlock the future of cell and gene therapy? Join our Cell and Gene Therapy Online Course on September 3rd. Whether you're an industry expert or just starting out, course this is your key to the latest advancements, regulatory insights, and practical solutions. Our integrated approach combines R&D with CMC and biologics testing, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer, reduced bottlenecks, and accelerated drug development. From discovery to commercialization, we'll help you achieve your critical development goals faster.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts, connect with industry peers, and stay ahead of the curve. Register now and take the next step in your CGT journey!


Highlights
- Gain valuable insights and explore practical applications through scientific talks.
- Explore cutting-edge solutions at our product demonstrations and exhibition.
- Connect & engage with industry experts and peers to discuss innovative strategies for utilizing Sartorius' solutions.
Sessions
Agenda
[13:30 - 14:00]
Speaker:
Matthew Hewitt, B.A. Ph.D, CTO Manufacturing Business Division, Charles River Laboratories
[14:00 - 14:30]
Speaker:
Kerstin Brack Ph.D, Scientific Director, Global Biosafety Charles River Laboratories
[14:30 - 15:15]
Panelists:
Matthew Hewitt, B.A. Ph.D, CTO Manufacturing Business Division, Charles River Laboratories
Kerstin Brack Ph.D, Scientific Director, Global Biosafety Charles River Laboratories
John Ng, General Manager, DARK HORSE CONSULTING Asia Pacific
Esteemed Voices From the Industry
Our selected experts will share insights on the latest trends, challenges, and developments in this dynamic field. Engage in unique discussions, learn about cutting-edge scientific discoveries, and explore the future of biopharmaceuticals with these influential thought leaders.


Matthew Hewitt, B.A. Ph.D., currently serves as Vice President, CTO Manufacturing Business Division at Charles River Laboratories (CRL) playing a critical role in driving CGT strategic vision as well as leading multiple operational initiatives across CRL’s CGT CDMO, Biologics Testing, and Microbial Solutions global network.
Before joining CRL, he was Head of R&D and Clinical Development for Lonza’s Personalized Medicine Business Unit leading Cocoon platform development, a closed, automated, scalable cell therapy manufacturing solution. In addition, he executed numerous collaborations across academia and industry leveraging the Cocoon.
Prior to Lonza, Matt led the Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment program at Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, focusing on improving cell therapy efficacy in solid tumors. He also led the Immunology group at the University of Pennsylvania’s Gene Therapy Program, leading and contributing to numerous AAV gene therapy programs.
Matt received his B.A. in Molecular Biology at Goucher College while playing Men’s Lacrosse, PhD in Biophysics and Physiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University within the Asthma and Allergy Division.


Dr Kerstin Brack has been a Scientific Director at Charles River since 2018 and a subject matter expert for biosafety testing of biologicals. She holds a Diploma in Biology from the University of Bremen (Germany) where she subsequently also earned her PhD in Virology. In 2001 Kerstin joined NewLab BioQuality AG (now Charles River Laboratories Germany GmbH) as a Study Director for virus and prion validation studies. She was also responsible to establish analytical test methods for biosafety testing of biologicals as well as cell-based potency assays. Between 2004 and 2018 Kerstin managed the departments for biosafety and bioassay services at Charles River Laboratories Germany.