About the Meeting

The Joint ASTCT + EBMT Basic and Translational Scientific Meeting is dedicated to advancing foundational and translational research in hematopoietic cell transplantation, cellular and gene therapy. This intimate meeting highlights emerging discoveries, evolving technologies and the biological mechanisms shaping the next generation of treatments.

Designed for scientists and clinicians at every career stage, the program promotes scientific exchange, mentorship and collaboration through dynamic sessions, poster presentations and networking opportunities with global experts. Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration between immunologists, biologists and clinicians bridges between lab and clinic.

Who Should Attend

  • Physicians in Training
  • Translational and Basic Scientists in Stem Cell Transplantation, Cell and Gene Therapy
  • Medical and Pediatric Hematologists and Oncologists
  • Advance Practice Providers
  • Hematopathologists
  • Pharmacists

Meeting Highlights

  • Forward-looking sessions on mechanistic biology, cell engineering and immunology.
  • Poster presentations and small-group discussions encourage dialogue between junior and senior investigators.
  • Opportunities to build lasting connections with global peers and pioneers in the field through networking hours. 

Registration

Registration for the 2026 meeting is now open.

Register Now

Registration is limited to a maximum of 100 total attendees. We are unable to accept additional registrants once the registration capacity has been met.

  Early Bird Standard
Category April 2, 2026 April 3, 2026

Trainee & Junior Faculty

Post doctoral fellows, and junior faculty within the first three years of appointment

 $200 $250

Member

Defined as individuals who are a paid member of either ASTCT or EBMT

 $250 $300
Non-Member $350 $400

Industry

Companies not sponsoring the meeting

 $900 $900 

This conference is only for individuals who are currently practicing in the field of transplantation and cellular therapy and sponsoring companies. Please contact Angie Dahl if you are interested in participating as a sponsor.

 

2026 Agenda

Schedule is subject to change. Last update: November 4, 2025.

Day 1: Thursday, May 28
 
9:00 – 10:30 AM

Mechanisms of Tolerance
Session Chair: Fadi Lakkis, MD; Stanford University

  • Innate Allorecognition as a Barrier to Tolerance – Fadi Lakkis, MD; Stanford University
  • Glycan regulation of fetomaternal tolerance – Adrian Erlebacher, MD, PhD; University of California, San Francisco
  • Tolerizing dendritic cells that program peripheral Tregs – Rabi Upadhyay, MD; NYU School of Medicine
10:30 – 11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Myeloid Cells in Immunotherapy Outcomes
Session Chair: Florent Ginhoux, PhD; Institut Gustave Roussy

  • Embracing Tumor Macrophage Heterogeneity – Florent Ginhoux, PhD; Institut Gustave-Roussy
  • Neutrophils: The Power of Many – Liaguan Ng, PhD; Westlake University
  • CAR-T Cells and CAR-iMAcs for Synergistic Antitumor Effect in Pediatric Cancers – Laurie Menger, PhD; Institut Gustave-Roussy
12:30 – 2:00 PM Lunch and Afternoon Break
2:00 – 3:30 PM

Stem Cell Biology
Session Chair: Hans Clevers, MD, PhD; Institute of Human Biology  

  • Culturing Human Epithelial Organoids in 3D and 2D – Hans Clevers, MD, PhD; Institute of Human Biology
  • Tissue Stem Cells: The Benefits and Downsides of a Lifetime of Stressful Encounters – Ellen Fuchs, PhD; Rockefeller University
  • Immune-Mediated Regulation of the Intestinal Stem Cell Compartment After Bone Marrow Transplantation – Alan Hanash, MD, PhD; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
3:30 – 5:00 PM

CAR T-Cells and Genome Manipulation
Session Chair: Pietro Genovese, PhD; Dana-Farber Cancer Center

  • TBD – Pietro Genovese, PhD; Dana-Farber Cancer Center
  • TBD – Cecilia Cotta-Ramusino, PhD; Tessera Therapeutics
  • TBD – Marco Ruella, MD; University of  Pennsylvania
5:00 – 6:00 PM Poster Tour and Networking Hour
6:00 – 7:00 PM

Keynote Dinner
Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease: Where do we stand in the treatment for all?

Marina Cavazzana, MD, PhD; Imagine Institute 
Day 2: Friday, May 29
9:00 – 10:30 AM

Tumor Immunology
Session Chair: Catherine Wu, MD; Dana-Farber Cancer Center

  • New Tools for Probling the GvL and GvHD Landscape – Catherine Wu, MD, PhD; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Genomic Tools for Measuring Biology in Space and Time – Fei Chen, PhD; Broad Institute
  • TBD – Aaron Ring, MD, PhD; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center 
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Humoral Immunity
Mark Shlomchik, MD; University of Pittsburgh  

  • The Diversity of B Cell Immune Responses – Mark Shlomchik, MD; University of Pittsburgh 
  • Clonal Dynamics of the Antibody Response – Gabriel Victora, PhD; Rockefeller University
  • Understanding the Biology of Human Plasma Cells – F. Eun-Hyung Lee; Emory University
12:00 – 12:30 PM Break
12:30 – 1:30 PM Keynote Lecture
David Scadden, MD; Harvard Stem Cell Institute   

Program Chairs

Pavan Reddy, MD
 
Nicolaus Kröger, MD

Housing

The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection

21 N Juniper Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 496-3200

Registered attendees will receive the housing link to secure discounted room rates in their official registration confirmation email upon availability.

Room Rates

$225.00 (single/double) plus any applicable taxes and fees.

Housing Rate Cutoff

To take advantage of the discounted room rate, be sure to book your reservation on or before May 6, 2026. After May 6, the room block will be released and the negotiated room rates may not be available. Please make sure the hotel is aware of any special needs. They will assign specific room types and any other requests based on availability.

Deposits

Please have your credit card information on hand upon booking your reservation. The Notary Hotel requires each individual reservation be guaranteed with a deposit equal to one night's room and tax.

Changes or Cancellations

The Notary Hotel requires that you cancel your reservation (72) hours prior to your arrival. The deposit of one night's room and tax will be forfeited for cancellations made less than (72) hours from arrival. Please call the hotel directly to make a cancellation and keep your cancellation confirmation number for your records.

Confirmations

The hotel will send you a confirmation to the email used in booking your reservation using the customized online reservation link provided by ASTCT. Review it carefully for accuracy and keep a copy for your records.

 Abstract

ASTCT and EBMT invite you to submit an abstract to present at the Joint Scientific Meeting. This opportunity allows attendees to share their research with an international audience and experts in the field. We encourage junior and senior members of the hematopoietic stem cell therapy and cellular therapies field to submit an abstract. The abstract submission window will close on Friday, January 23 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Submit your Abstract

The program includes a dedicated poster viewing hour for attendees to share their research and network. Five abstracts will be selected to present as an oral throughout the meeting. Abstract topics can include, but are not limited to, immune metabolism, GVHD, stem cell biology, cell engineering, and anti-leukemic strategies.

Abstract Submission Criteria

Abstracts will be scored based on the following criteria:

  • Importance and Relevance: Is a clear rationale for the work provided? Does the study address an important question? Do its findings have the potential to advance the field of blood and marrow or cellular therapies?
  • Originality and Innovation: Is the work novel? Does it present new findings and/or address a problem using an original or improved approach?
  • Quality of Methods and Writing: Are methods well described and valid to answer the question? Is the abstract clear and well written? Is the abstract within the 300-word limit?

Please note that the abstract submission form does not have a tracker for word count. We recommend that you prepare your abstract submission in a Word document to confirm that you stay within the 300-word limit.

The top-scoring abstracts will be selected as Oral Platform Presentations; top-scoring abstracts that are not selected for Oral Platforms might be selected as Distinguished Posters. 

Responsibility of Abstract Authors

The Presenting Author is responsible for the following:

  • Ensuring that all authors have read the abstract and agreed to be co-authors.
  • Notifying all co-authors of any additions, deletions, and changes to the program, as may be communicated by the Joint Scientific Meeting.
  • Obtaining all of the conflict-of-interest disclosure information from co-authors.
  • Making certain that abstracts are complete (tables included and labeled) and written in clear, concise and grammatically correct English, so that reviewers are able to focus solely on the scientific merits of the submission. For authors with any questions regarding the clarity, grammar or spelling of their abstract, we encourage identifying and using an independent reviewer to edit the abstract prior to submission.

Please contact the ASTCT Headquarters with any questions regarding your submission. 

Travel Grants

The Joint Scientific Meeting will award travel grants to trainees who are selected for an oral abstract presentation. Eligible recipients will receive waived registration and monetary support, location dependent, to help offset travel expenses. Awards will be disbursed post conference.  

  • Local to Philadelphia: waived registration only
  • US-based: wavied registration and $1,000 stipend
  • International: waived registration and $1,800 stipend