Canada’s gene and cell therapy (GCT) community has largely convened abroad, contributing to global conversations while building only loosely coordinated national connections. At a moment when Canada is investing deliberately in domestic capacity, supply chain sovereignty, and Canadian-built research infrastructure, the absence of a dedicated national forum is a gap the field can no longer afford to carry.

The Inaugural Canadian Gene and Cell Therapy Conference is that platform. Over two days in Montréal, it convenes researchers, clinicians, manufacturers, regulators, industry partners, trainees, and patient and family partners across the full translational pipeline, from discovery through to patient access. The relationships built here will shape Canada’s national GCT community for years to come.