What is the ASGCT Policy Summit?

In late May 2019, the FDA approved Zolgensma, an AAV-delivered gene therapy designed to halt spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), for clinical use in the United States. This incredible milestone was long expected from the scientific community and our own membership ranks, and all involved deserve the immense congratulations and outpouring of support they’ve received.

ASGCT has done a wonderful job to promote the scientific work of our members over the past 22 years—I believe we’re the best in the world at profiling new science, supporting upcoming investigators, and sharing new discoveries. But there has long been a gap in our field in one of the most important places: Washington, D.C.

Sometime early last year, the ASGCT board of directors and staff started planning to fill that gap by educating stakeholders, advocating for our members, and proposing solutions for those on Capitol Hill as part of a second annual event, opposite the Annual Meeting on the calendar.

The Society expanded the event into what we now call the ASGCT Policy Summit after the success of last year’s initial summit, and I’m excited to announce registration for the 2019 Policy Summit is now open!

Now expanded from one day to three, the Policy Summit will cover legislative, regulatory, and bioethical content from November 4 – 6 at The Westin City Center in Washington, D.C. Unlike the Annual Meeting, we’re offering daily registration for stakeholders to best tailor their experience to their expertise. Attendance for each day is limited to 350 people, however, so I encourage any interested members to act quickly on their registration. The daily focuses are as follows:

• November 4: Global Regulatory Issues in Gene Therapy Development
• November 5: Perspectives on Payment Policies for Gene Therapies
• November 6: Ethical, Societal, and Policy Issues in Germline Gene Editing

ASGCT leadership is thrilled to see the interest in advocating for gene and cell therapy from our members and look forward to seeing the Policy Summit grow for years to come. I hope many of you will be able to join us in Washington, D.C. this fall.

Related Articles