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IN-PERSON

AMM ASCENT 2026

October 28-30, 2026  |  Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa 2000 2nd St, Coronado, CA 92118

ABOUT THIS EVENT

The Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM) brings together senior executives and top decision-makers in the mRNA industry to advance pioneering research into vaccines and therapies for patients. The annual meeting, AMM ASCENT (Advancements in mRNA Science, Commercialization, Education, and Novel Technologies), features one-on-one partnering opportunities for companies and investors, dedicated networking, keynotes and fireside chats featuring KOLs and industry visionaries, as well as engaging plenary and panel discussions among biotech, pharma, and academic leaders. Our meeting this year is in collaboration with the Society for RNA Therapeutics.

BOOK YOUR STAY

We encourage AMM ASCENT attendees to stay at the conference hotel, the Coronado Island Marriot Resort and Spa, where all conference events will be located. AMM has block of rooms available at a discounted rate for anytime between Wednesday, October 28, to Sunday, November 2. Be sure to book your room before September 30 when those rates expire! Click here to book.

All rooms in the block for Tuesday, October 27 have sold out. We have arranged an alternate room block at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront for Tuesday, October 27. The hotel is directly across the bay from the Coronado Island Marriot Resort and Spa and just a few minutes walk from the ferry that can take you to Coronado Island. Click here to book.

AGENDA

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

2:00 – 5:45 PM

Society for RNA Therapeutics Academic Consortium for Personalized RNA Therapies: Workshop

Open to all ASCENT attendees! Register here. Name badge pick-up from 1:00 – 2:00PM.
4:30 – 6:00 PM

AMM Board Meeting

6:30 – 8:30PM

Opening Reception – Sponsored by Wacker

7:30 – 9:00 AM

AMM ASCENT Name Badge Pick-Up

7:30 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Partnering Open

8:30 – 8:45 AM

Conference Welcome

John Cooke
John CookePresident & Director, Society for RNA Therapeutics, Houston Methodist Research Institute
Andy Geall
Andy GeallAlliance for mRNA Medicines & Board Chair, Replicate Bioscience Chief Development Officer
Clay Alspach
Clay AlspachExecutive Director, Alliance for mRNA Medicines
8:45 – 9:25 AM

mRNA for In Vivo Cell Engineering for Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer

Andy Geall
Andy GeallAlliance for mRNA Medicines & Board Chair, Replicate Bioscience Chief Development Officer
Jim Nolan
Jim NolanSVP, Technical Development and Operations, Sail BioMedicines
Ken Kalunian
Ken KalunianRheumatologist and Professor of Medicine, UC San Diego
Michael Klichinsky
Michael KlichinskyChief Scientific Officer, Nava Therapeutics
9:25 – 10:05 AM

Getting to Scale in Manufacturing for Rare Diseases

Sadik Kassim
Sadik KassimChief Technology Officer, Danaher Corporation
Brian Shy
Brian ShyAssistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco
Cory Smith
Cory SmithDirector of Product Management, Aldevron
10:05 – 10:25 AM

Coffee Break

10:25 – 11:25 AM

Scientific Session: Translational Research in RNA Therapeutics

Three 15-minute presentations followed by 5 minute Q&A time for each.
Pieter Cullis
Pieter CullisProfessor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia
Gene Yeo
Gene YeoProfessor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD
Magdalena M. Żak
Magdalena M. ŻakInstructor, Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
11:25 – 11:55 AM

Company Presentations

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Company Presentations

2:00 – 2:40 PM

Fireside Chat: Funding Climate for mRNA—Market Dynamics, Acquisitions, and Trends

Morrie Ruffin
Morrie RuffinManaging Partner, Adjuvant Partners
Remo Moomiaie-Qajar
Remo Moomiaie-QajarFounder, CEO, Axiom Biosciences
Ted Tenthoff
Ted TenthoffSenior Research Analyst, Piper Sandler
Rachit Neupane
Rachit NeupanePrincipal, General Catalyst
Phil Vanek
Phil VanekChief Technology Officer and Partner, Gamma Bio
2:40 – 3:20 PM

View of mRNA Development in APAC

Timothy Mercer
Timothy MercerScientific Director, BASE University of Queensland
Pooja Tiwari
Pooja TiwariCEO, AAARNA Therapeutics
3:20 – 3:40 PM

Break

3:40 – 4:20 PM

mRNA Innovation in Europe

Gilles Besin
Gilles BesinChief Executive Officer, Valerio Therapeutics
Amy Walker
Amy WalkerChief Executive Officer, 4basebio
Jodi Barrientos
Jodi BarrientosChief Executive Officer, Ribbon Bio
Max Ryadnov
Max RyadnovNPL Fellow, The National Physical Laboratory
4:20 – 4:50 PM

Poster Session Flash Talks

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Poster Session

6:30 – 8:30 PM

Reception

7:15 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast

8:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Partnering Open

8:30 – 9:10 AM

Individualized Neoantigen Therapies

Gad Berdugo
Gad BerdugoManaging Partner, Explorium Capital LLC
John Cooke
John CookePresident & Director, Society for RNA Therapeutics, Houston Methodist Research Institute
Jason Murphy
Jason MurphyChief Executive Officer, Electron Bio
Edgardo Rodriguez-Lebron
Edgardo Rodriguez-LebronPresident and CEO, iOncology
Nicole Fay
Nicole FayDirector of Personalized Therapeutics, Echo Immune
9:10 – 9:50 AM

mRNA to Enable Base and Prime Editing for Rare Disease

Alexis Komor
Alexis KomorProfessor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics & Russell F. Doolittle Faculty Scholar, UC San Diego
Peter Cameron
Peter CameronSVP, Profluent
Roberta Duncan
Roberta DuncanMember, AMM Executive Committee
Sarah Haecker
Sarah HaeckerStrategic Advisor, Franklin Biolabs
9:50 – 10:20 AM

mRNA Standards Development and Manufacturing

Sarita Kattel
Sarita KattelPrincipal Scientist, United States Pharmacopeia
Duccio Medini
Duccio MediniChief Science & Technology Officer, Pitt BioForge
10:20 – 10:40 AM

Coffee Break

10:40 – 11:40 AM

Scientific Session: Innovation in RNA Therapeutics and Delivery

Bruce Sullenger
Bruce SullengerJoseph and Dorothy Beard Professor, Duke University Medical Center
Jeremy Wilusz
Jeremy WiluszAssociate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Christian Lopez
Christian LopezGraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Craig Martin
Craig MartinProfessor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts
11:40 AM – 12:10 PM

Fireside Chat: The Role of Foundations and Public Agencies in Funding mRNA Development

Dan Wattendorf
Dan WattendorfDirector, Accelerator, Gates Foundation
Kelly M. McVearry
Kelly M. McVearryCEO, Bento Biology
Charlene Son Rigby
Charlene Son RigbyChief Executive Officer, Global Genes
Parker Moss
Parker MossR3 Global Commercial Program Director, Welcome Leap
12:15 – 1:15 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:15 – 2:00 PM

Company Presentations

2:00 – 2:30 PM

Policy and Politics

Graham Taylor
Graham TaylorFounder & President, Helix Biotech
Clay Alspach
Clay AlspachExecutive Director, Alliance for mRNA Medicines
Mayealie Adams
Mayealie AdamsVP and Head of Government Affairs, Danaher
Sara Singleton
Sara SingletonManaging Director, Alliance for mRNA Medicines
Patricia Alvarez-Sahagun
Patricia Alvarez-SahagunDirector of Public Policy, Moderna
2:30 – 3:10 PM

The Future of mRNA Development: AI and Other Innovative Strategies

Sophia Lugo
Sophia LugoChief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board, Radar Therapeutics
Peter Chu
Peter ChuCo-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, & Chairman, Eclipse Bioinnovations
Aaron Larsen
Aaron LarsenChief Scientific Officer, Crystal NAX
Joel Edwards
Joel EdwardsCEO, Arnova Therapeutics
3:10 – 3:15 PM

Closing Remarks

3:15 PM

Conference Adjourns

SPEAKERS

Mayealie Adams

Mayealie Adams

VP and Head of Government Affairs

Danaher

Clay Alspach

Clay Alspach

Executive Director

Alliance for mRNA Medicines

Patricia Alvarez-Sahagun

Patricia Alvarez-Sahagun

Director of Public Policy

Moderna

Jodi Barrientos

Jodi Barrientos

Chief Executive Officer

Ribbon Bio

Gad Berdugo

Gad Berdugo

Managing Partner

Explorium Capital LLC

Gilles Besin

Gilles Besin

Chief Executive Officer

Valerio Therapeutics

Peter Cameron

Peter Cameron

SVP

Profluent

Peter Chu

Peter Chu

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, & Chairman

Eclipse Bioinnovations

John Cooke

John Cooke

President & Director

Society for RNA Therapeutics, Houston Methodist Research Institute

Pieter Cullis

Pieter Cullis

Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The University of British Columbia

Roberta Duncan

Roberta Duncan

Member

AMM Executive Committee

Joel Edwards

Joel Edwards

CEO

Arnova Therapeutics

Nicole Fay

Nicole Fay

Director of Personalized Therapeutics

Echo Immune

Andy Geall

Andy Geall

Alliance for mRNA Medicines & Board Chair

Replicate Bioscience Chief Development Officer

Sarah Haecker

Sarah Haecker

Strategic Advisor

Franklin Biolabs

Ken Kalunian

Ken Kalunian

Rheumatologist and Professor of Medicine

UC San Diego

Sadik Kassim

Sadik Kassim

Chief Technology Officer

Danaher Corporation

Sarita Kattel

Sarita Kattel

Principal Scientist

United States Pharmacopeia

Michael Klichinsky

Michael Klichinsky

Chief Scientific Officer

Nava Therapeutics

Alexis Komor

Alexis Komor

Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics & Russell F. Doolittle Faculty Scholar

UC San Diego

Aaron Larsen

Aaron Larsen

Chief Scientific Officer

Crystal NAX

Christian Lopez

Christian Lopez

Graduate Student

Johns Hopkins University

Sophia Lugo

Sophia Lugo

Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board

Radar Therapeutics

Craig Martin

Craig Martin

Professor Emeritus

University of Massachusetts

Kelly M. McVearry

Kelly M. McVearry

CEO

Bento Biology

Duccio Medini

Duccio Medini

Chief Science & Technology Officer

Pitt BioForge

Timothy Mercer

Timothy Mercer

Scientific Director

BASE University of Queensland

Remo Moomiaie-Qajar

Remo Moomiaie-Qajar

Founder, CEO

Axiom Biosciences

Parker Moss

Parker Moss

R3 Global Commercial Program Director

Welcome Leap

Jason Murphy

Jason Murphy

Chief Executive Officer

Electron Bio

Rachit Neupane

Rachit Neupane

Principal

General Catalyst

Jim Nolan

Jim Nolan

SVP, Technical Development and Operations

Sail BioMedicines

Charlene Son Rigby

Charlene Son Rigby

Chief Executive Officer

Global Genes

Edgardo Rodriguez-Lebron

Edgardo Rodriguez-Lebron

President and CEO

iOncology

Morrie Ruffin

Morrie Ruffin

Managing Partner

Adjuvant Partners

Max Ryadnov

Max Ryadnov

NPL Fellow

The National Physical Laboratory

Brian Shy

Brian Shy

Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine

University of California San Francisco

Sara Singleton

Sara Singleton

Managing Director

Alliance for mRNA Medicines

Cory Smith

Cory Smith

Director of Product Management

Aldevron

Bruce Sullenger

Bruce Sullenger

Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor

Duke University Medical Center

Graham Taylor

Graham Taylor

Founder & President

Helix Biotech

Ted Tenthoff

Ted Tenthoff

Senior Research Analyst

Piper Sandler

Pooja Tiwari

Pooja Tiwari

CEO

AAARNA Therapeutics

Phil Vanek

Phil Vanek

Chief Technology Officer and Partner

Gamma Bio

Amy Walker

Amy Walker

Chief Executive Officer

4basebio

Dan Wattendorf

Dan Wattendorf

Director, Accelerator

Gates Foundation

Jeremy Wilusz

Jeremy Wilusz

Associate Professor

Baylor College of Medicine

Gene Yeo

Gene Yeo

Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

UCSD

Magdalena M. Żak

Magdalena M. Żak

Instructor, Genetics & Genomic Sciences

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

WHY ATTEND

1-on-1 Partnering

Through the power of the partneringONE partnering platform, attendees can search, connect, and schedule 1:1 meetings with potential partners to identify opportunities, build relationships, and move deals forward.

Networking Events

Ample dedicated networking opportunies to connect with other industry leaders and potential partners.

Plenary Sessions & Panel Discussions

Learn from senior executives and top decision-makers in the mRNA industry to advance pioneering research into vaccines and therapies for patients with engaging speakers, fireside chats, and panel discussions.

SPONSORS

Thank You to Our Sponsors

AMM is grateful to the partners whose support is making AMM ASCENT possible. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact contact@mrnamedicines.org to learn more and check out our sponsor prospectus here.

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze

MEDIA PARTNERSHIP

Media Partnership

Advancing RNA is a Life Science Connect community focused on the rapidly evolving field of RNA-based therapeutics. It aims to provide valuable insights, discussions, and resources for professionals developing RNA-based drugs. Primary members of the community consist of individuals from biopharma organizations engaged in pre-BLA development, often in the pre-IND discovery stage. The community addresses various challenges in RNA therapy development, including analytical, quality, manufacturing, and regulatory issues. Additionally, Advancing RNA is positioned within the broader Life Science Connect network, allowing members to access additional resources as needed for their RNA therapy development journey.

SCIENTIFIC PARTNER

Scientific Partner

The Society for RNA Therapeutics (SRT) is a global network to support translational research and development of RNA therapeutics; to develop standards for RNA manufacturing, guidelines for clinical trials, and to facilitate public-private-regulatory partnerships and to advocate for accessible RNA therapeutics for all patients.

SRT aims to provide public and professional education and develop training guidelines; to advocate for patients with diseases amenable to RNA therapies; to develop clinical best practices in RNA therapeutics; to support early career and professional development; and to advocate accessibility to RNA therapeutics for low and middle income countries for the enhancement of global health.

ABOUT AMM

The Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM) is dedicated to advancing and advocating for an RNA platform approach to medicine, including protein replacements, gene editing and cell engineering strategies, immunotherapies and vaccines to treat cancer, rare disease, autoimmunity and other chronic and infectious illnesses for the benefit of patients, public health, and society.

We advance this mission by shaping policy, accelerating regulatory science, expanding access, and enabling manufacturing — while convening the scientists, innovators, and industry leaders who are turning RNA’s promise into reality. Our goal is simple: ensure that transformative RNA medicines reach every patient who needs them.