October 18, 2023

Thursday, December 7, 2023
8:30am – 6:30pm
Bossone Research Enterprise Center
3140 Market Street, Philadelphia, 19104

Please join us for a Gene Therapy Symposium that will convene faculty and researchers from Drexel University and Spark Therapeutics to present the latest developments in gene therapies research and innovations that are transforming healthcare.

This event is intended to:

• Build scientific community
• Communicate both the grand challenges and the opportunities in gene therapies
• Identify potential areas of collaboration between Drexel University and Spark Therapeutics

With a mission to unlock the power of gene therapy to accelerate healthcare transformation, Spark Therapeutics is a leading gene therapy company, with the first gene therapy for a genetic disease approved in U.S. Since their inception in 2013, Spark has built a fully integrated company combining their proprietary adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy platform with excellence in R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations.

Drexel has significant breadth and depth in applied research on innovative new therapies, technologies, and methods that improve care and support specific needs of individuals across the lifespan. We leverage clinical work, deep partnerships in life sciences and medicine, locational expertise, research, and programming. Gene therapies and gene therapy-adjacent technologies are topics within our Health Innovation Area of Excellence and Opportunity (AEO).

About the Symposium:

John Fry, President of Drexel University, will deliver opening remarks.
Ron Philip, Chief Executive Officer of Spark Therapeutics will conclude the program with closing remarks.

About the Program:

The program consists of four sessions:

1. Gene Therapy Promises and Challenges
2. Innovative Technologies in Gene Delivery and Manufacturing
3. Data Science and Genomics
4. Central Nervous System/Neuroscience Gene Therapy

Each session consists of four presentations — two from Drexel and two from Spark. Gene therapy experts from Spark Therapeutics and Drexel University, 16 speakers, will present their research topic followed by a question-and-answer session.

Poster Session:

We invite Spark Therapeutics and Drexel University researchers and students who are actively working in these areas to present their work in gene therapy and gene therapy adjacent technologies during the symposium. To participate in the poster session, applicants must submit a poster abstract no later than Friday, November 10, 2023, at 5:00pm. 

All abstracts should be informative and contain the following sections:

1. Background: A brief statement of study’s objectives
2. Methods: A concise statement of methods
3. Results: A clear presentation of results, which should be “data rich”
4. Conclusions: A closing statement of study’s conclusions; do not state “results will be discussed”

Abstracts are limited to 2600 characters (including spaces).

Drexel applicants: Submit your abstracts for consideration to the InfoReady Portal by Friday, November 10, 2023, 5:00pm deadline.

Professional Networking:

Opportunities for networking will be available throughout the day.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. After the final session, attendees are invited to a reception. 

Please register for the event by November 22, 2023, at 5:00pm.

Questions? Email Jennifer Gregory, Research Events Manager, RDevents@drexel.edu.