CRISPRMED26 Keynote Speaker Announcement: Meet Dr. Michel Sadelain

It is our great privilege to confirm that Professor Michel Sadelain, Founding Director of the new Columbia University Irving Medical Center Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET), Director of the Cancer Cell Therapy Initiative in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine, will deliver a keynote address at CRISPRMED26.

Michel Sadelain is globally recognised as a pioneer in the development and success of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. His seminal research, initially conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and now continuing at Columbia University, has been fundamental to advancing this revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. His contributions span all facets of the technology, from the design of CARs and T-cell engineering to the clinical translation of CD19 CAR therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

His profound impact on translational medicine has been acknowledged with numerous major international awards, including the Coley Award (Cancer Research Institute), the ASGCT Outstanding Achievement Award, the Breakthrough Prize, the Gairdner International Award, and the Warren Alpert Prize (Harvard). His insights are sure to be a major highlight of our programme.

In October 2025, Michel was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (US). More information can be found here.

We eagerly look forward to welcoming Professor Sadelain, and all attendees, to Copenhagen for what promises to be a landmark conference.

The CRISPRMED26 Organising Committee

Check out the confirmed invited speakers here.