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G-Rex® Grant Tour

Supporting the Emily Whitehead Foundation
HOUSTON

Location

TMC3 Building, Helix Hall, 7255 Helix Park Ave,
Houston, TX 77030

Date

Jan 21, 2026
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Event Agenda

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G-Rex Grant Tour Houston

Hear from leaders bringing hope to patients through advanced cell & gene therapies

Meet Dr. Ann Leen​

Dr. Leen is an immunologist and a Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). She has an extensive background developing and clinically testing a variety of novel immune-based therapies to treat patients with post-transplant viral infections and malignancies including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, breast and pancreatic cancer. Dr. Leen was part of the Baylor team to first optimize the G-Rex for T cell production preclinically and for advancing the platform to the GMP for clinical manufacturing, and this contribution is reflected in her being a named co-inventor on multiple G-Rex patents. Over the past 20+ years at BCM Dr. Leen has served as a PI on numerous clinical trials using cell therapies for patients,many of which were produced using the G-Rex. Overall, Dr. Leen is a named inventor on 32 patents/patent applications and has co-founded two companies AlloVir and Marker Therapeutics. She has served as a primary mentor for summer students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and clinical fellows. In 2011 she was awarded TXCH Faculty Recognition Award for Teaching Excellence and in 2018 was recognized by the BCM graduate school for 2018 for her contribution to graduate student training.

Meet Dr. Cassian Yee

Dr. Yee is an oncologist, immunologist and endowed Professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center where he is also Director of the Solid Tumor Cell Therapy Program. His lab pioneered a cell therapy modality known as Endogenous T Cell therapy that provided first clinical proof-of-concept of T cell memory, antigen- spreading, checkpoint inhibitor synergy, and years-long persistence of transferred T cells mediating durable complete responses without a requirement for lymphodepletion or high-dose IL-2. As a physician-scientist, his research converges multidisciplinary approaches in bioengineering, metabolism, epigenetics and molecular immunology into enabling technologies that render adoptive cell therapy more effective and accessible as a treatment modality for patients with common and rare cancers. He is founder of an AI startup and TCR-T cell therapy company (Mongoose Bio) with assets developed in Yee Lab focused on solid tumors, leveraging one of the largest immunopeptidomes established from MS-defined datasets. His latest project is a NASA-funded initiative to take T cells to the International Space Station.

Meet Dr. Marie-Andrée Forget​

Marie-Andrée Forget, PhD, is a Principal Scientist at CTMC, a joint venture between Resilience and MD Anderson Cancer Center. For the past three years, she has led the TIL Therapy Process Development group, enabling five INDs and six IND amendments for academic and biotech partners. Her team developed the CTMC Manufacturing TIL platform, designed to accelerate development while reducing manufacturing time and cost for non-engineered TIL as well as viral-based and non-based engineered TIL products. Before joining CTMC, Marie was recruited to MD Anderson as a postdoctoral research fellow co-mentored by Drs. Laszlo Radvanyi and Lawrence Cooper to improve the TIL manufacturing process. This included adoption of the G-Rex device in manufacturing, development of a new feeder platform, and implementation of retroviral engineering for TIL expansion. After being promoted to Scientist in charge of manufacturing production, including GMP TIL production, Marie co-authored over 45 peer-reviewed papers and two book chapters. Marie began her career in a diagnostic laboratory before earning her MS and PhD in immuno-oncology from the University of Montreal, where she studied TIL and tumor-specific T-cell expansion and tumor antigen validation for immunotherapy.

Meet Dr. Eric Smith

Dr. Smith has over 20 years of research experience in academia and cell therapy. As Senior Director of R&D, he currently oversees Product and Process Development at March Biosciences, a clinical stage CAR-T cell therapy company. His previous roles include Director of R&D at Cell Ready and Director of R&D at Marker Therapeutics.

Meet Dr. Austin Bigley

Austin Bigley serves as the Vice President of Manufacturing Science and Technology at Indapta Therapeutics. With a distinguished career focused on spaceflight immunology and cancer immunotherapy utilizing natural killer (NK) cells, Austin brings extensive research expertise in exercise and spaceflight immunology, complemented by a robust publication record. His work notably explores how Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection influences NK-cell activity against hematologic malignancies. Austin’s primary research objective is to elucidate the mechanisms by which exercise, spaceflight, and CMV infection impact NK-cell phenotype, cytotoxicity, proliferative capacity, and longevity. This research aims to develop effective ex vivo NK-cell expansion protocols to produce clinical-grade NK-cell products for use in cancer and anti-viral immunotherapy. Throughout his academic tenure, Austin has developed proficiency in a range of technical skills, including cell culture techniques, cellular expansion methods, cytotoxicity and functional assays, and flow cytometry. These skills have significantly contributed to his numerous publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, he is the inventor of the g-NK cell expansion method currently utilized by Indapta Therapeutics and has developed several quality control potency and phenotypic identity assays.
Mamta Kalra

Meet Dr. Mamta Kalra

Mamta Kalra joined Immatics in 2016 and is responsible for manufacturing process and analytical development for autologous and allogeneic ACT programs. Mamta has ~15 years of experience in the field of cell and gene therapy. She started with adoptive T-cell therapy of EBV-related cancers and other solid tumors at Center for Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine. She was instrumental in process and analytical development activities including process optimization, potency testing of products and immune-monitoring for multiple adoptive T-cell therapy trials. Upon joining Immatics, she led process development for ACTengine program and gradually expanded her contributions to encompass diverse activities under analytical development including viral vector. In addition to manufacturing advancements, she also promoted innovation leading to product and platform development for various next-generation TCR-T programs. Mamta Kalra holds a PhD in Immunology from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India and a postdoctoral training in adoptive T-cell therapy from Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine.
Ignacio Nunez, M.Sc., MBB

Meet Ignacio Nunez, M.Sc., MBB

Ignacio Nunez is a seasoned operator and manufacturing executive with deep expertise in biologics, cell and gene therapies, and complex GMP manufacturing systems. He has spent his career helping organizations translate breakthrough therapies into scalable, reliable operations. Most recently, Ignacio served as Chief Operating Officer of CellReady, where he led the company’s operational expansion in the cell and gene therapy space. He drove large-scale organizational and manufacturing transformations, delivering material reductions in capital expenditure and development timelines while strengthening GMP manufacturing, quality systems, and supply chain performance across collaborations with global biopharma, emerging biotech, academic institutions, investors, and CDMOs/CROs. Earlier, Ignacio contributed hands-on to the industrialization and commercialization of next-generation therapies, including some of the first FDA-approved cell and gene therapies. He founded BioExcellence to bring operator-led execution to clients—developing high-throughput manufacturing and operational excellence models adopted in the design and optimization of large-scale cell therapy production facilities. Ignacio holds B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Granada and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Meet Dr. Verena Kallhoff

Dr. Verena Kallhoff is the Senior Director of Global Life Sciences at the Greater Houston Partnership, where she leads strategic initiatives to grow and strengthen the region’s life sciences and biotechnology ecosystems. She works closely with local, state, national, and international stakeholders to support innovation, attract investment, and assist companies seeking to relocate or expand in the Greater Houston area. Prior to joining the Partnership, Dr. Kallhoff served as Vice President of Omics and Precision Medicine at Equideum Health, a health tech startup. She also held multiple leadership roles at The University of Texas at Austin, including directing The WorkSpaces at Texas Health CoLab, the innovation hub at Dell Medical School. There, she worked with innovators and startups commercializing their technology and developed and led programs to foster regional innovation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic she became a co-founder of TEXGHS—the Texas Global Health Security Consortium. Earlier roles include positions at Harris Health System and Houston Methodist Research Institute, where she was the Managing Director of CyBHOR, an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Kallhoff earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine and an MBA from the University of Houston–Clear Lake.

Meet Dr. Ferran Prat

Dr. Ferran Prat serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at BostonGene, where he leads the company’s commercial strategy, including sales, marketing and business development. With deep expertise in business development across the healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, Dr. Prat brings extensive experience in licensing, strategic partnerships, regulatory affairs, operations and program management. Before joining BostonGene, Dr. Prat was Senior Vice President of Research Administration and Industry Relations at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In this role, he led major collaborations with the biopharma industry, translating cutting-edge science into clinical applications and positioning MD Anderson as a leading center for industry engagement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Prat held leadership roles at Alere Inc. (now part of Abbott Laboratories) and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. He earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles and a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Meet Dr. Michael Dilling

Michael Dilling is Executive Director of Commercialization at the BCM Innovation Institute, the integrated commercialization team at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) - a nationally recognized biomedical research institution and the only private medical school in the Southwestern U.S. BCM leads all Texas-based institutions in NIH research funding and hosts top-ranked departments. Under Dilling’s leadership, BCMII builds strategic commercial partnerships that help translate biomedical discoveries into products and services that benefit patients and support BCM’s academic mission. Over the past five fiscal years, the team has completed 250+ licensing transactions and negotiated industry-sponsored research and services contracts valued at over $95 million. Dilling oversees the BCMII team of six technology management professionals, a compliance expert, and a team of three financial professionals. With over 25 years of experience in academic technology commercialization, he has negotiated or guided the negotiation of hundreds of agreements between BCM and commercial partners. He also teaches the graduate course “Commercialization of Biomedical Technologies”, covering IP, startup formation, fundraising, and product development. An active member of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Dilling contributes to its Mentorship Committee and helped develop new mentorship tools. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Texas A&M (1993), an MBA from the University of Memphis (1999), and completed postdoctoral work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He joined BCM in 2000.
Dr Chris White

Meet Chris White

Chris White is a cancer survivor, patient advocate, and national speaker whose personal journey helped shape one of the most significant milestones in solid tumor cancer treatment. He is the final patient ever dosed in the phase 2, cohort 4 clinical trial that led to the first FDA approved advanced cellular therapy for any solid tumor cancer in history. This therapy is known as Lifileucel or by its commercial name, AMTAGVI. Chris is the last of the 153 total patients treated in this groundbreaking study. He is one of only 12 participants in the trial with mucosal melanoma and one of just 6 from that group to achieve a clinical response. His outcome is particularly remarkable given that he entered the trial with stage 4 disease, metastasis to major organs and his brain, and no remaining standard treatment options. On January 15, 2020, Chris received his TIL infusion followed by all six recommended doses of IL 2. That was the final treatment he ever required. Within six weeks his tumors had reduced by an estimated 50 to 60 percent. Within nine months his scans showed a complete metabolic response. The accelerated approval of AMTAGVI in February 2024 marked a historic shift in cancer care and opened the door for additional biotherapeutics and advanced cellular therapies for solid tumors. Since solid tumors represent roughly 90 percent of all cancer diagnoses and statistics show that about 40 percent of people will face cancer in their lifetime, expanding access to options that preserve both quality and quantity of life is critical. Chris now uses his voice and experience to educate and empower patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. By sharing his story, he provides clarity, perspective, and hope for everyone navigating cancer or exploring the promise of advanced therapies.

Global Resources, Houston Innovation.

Join the coalition accelerating patient cures right here in Houston.

Tackling Solid Tumors

Dive deep into 'The Last Frontier' of cancer therapy with pioneers from MD Anderson to Baylor College of Medicine

The State of Texas CGT

Engage with experts shaping the future of the Texas biotech ecosystem.

Network and Engage

Participate in the "Believe Bundle Creation" and support the Emily Whitehead Foundation’s mission to save lives.

Event Sponsors

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Event Essentials

Prepare for a full day of innovation, networking, and impact.

January 21 Wednesday

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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST

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G-Rex Grant Tour Houston

G-Rex Grant Tour

If you're building the future of cell therapy - this is your place

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Are you a provider of tools, technology, or services used in research, development, or manufacturing of cell and gene therapies?
Does your innovation pair nicely with G-Rex?
If yes, please consider sponsoring one, some, or all of the G-Rex Grant Tour events.  Your sponsorship is a tax deductible donation to the Emily Whitehead Foundation.

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