Addressing AAV purification bottlenecks in 2026

Scott Jeffers, Ph.D., is Chief Technology Officer at GenSight Biologics, where he leads global CMC strategy for AAV-based gene therapy programs, including the commercial development of LUMEVOQ® for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. With over 20 years of experience in gene therapy and viral vector development, Dr. Jeffers has held senior roles at uniQure, Selecta Biosciences, and Brammer Bio, contributing to the launch of Hemgenix®, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for hemophilia B. 

His scientific background includes doctoral research at Purdue University (three U.S. patents in viral vector design), discovery of the SARS-CoV receptor CD209L at the University of Colorado, and structural virology research at the Institut Pasteur, published in Science and PLOS Pathogens. 

Dr. Jeffers also founded CGT Resources Now LLC, advising biopharma companies on manufacturing strategy, comparability, and regulatory readiness. A frequent speaker at global bioprocessing conferences, he is recognized for advancing innovation and reliability in gene therapy manufacturing. 

Andrew leads the viral vector process development group at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, focused on developing bioprocesses for Adeno-associated virus (AAV) based viral vectors to cure diseases such as Hemophilia B, congenital hearing loss, and Pompe disease. Andrew has worked at Regeneron since 2009. Prior to moving to gene therapy Andrew co-led the purification development group for protein therapeutics, working on Fc-fusion, monoclonal antibody, and bispecific processes. He has worked on the process development for multiple FDA-approved drugs including Dupixent^®, Libtayo^®, Inmazeb^™, Kevzara^®, Evkeeza^™ and Praluent^®, and helped develop the bispecific antibody platform at Regeneron. Andrew received his doctorate in biochemical engineering from University College London and his undergraduate masters in biochemistry from the University of Oxford.

Dedicated to transforming scientific discoveries into life-changing therapies, Dr. Samarendra Mohanty co-founded Nanoscope Therapeutics and serves as president and chief scientific officer. With over 25 years of experience in biomedical sciences, Dr. Mohanty has co-founded several biotech and medical device companies focused on developing and commercializing innovative diagnostics and therapeutic technologies. His mission-driven work bridges cutting-edge science and patient impact, with a focus on neurological and ophthalmic disorders. He has held senior academic and research positions worldwide and is Principal Investigator for major NIH-funded projects. With over 200 international patents and publications in top journals like Nature, Dr. Mohanty remains a leader in biomedical innovation. He continues to innovate and serve on the Boards of many biotech companies.

Jayan Senaratne is Director of Downstream Process Development at MeiraGTx, where he leads the early and late-stage development of downstream and drug product processes for AAV gene therapies. With an EngD in Biochemical Engineering from University College London and a MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham, he brings deep technical expertise in the development of robust and efficient manufacturing processes for biopharmaceuticals. Before joining MeiraGTx in 2019, Jayan built his career in process development and optimisation at major biotech organisations, including the Centre for Process Innovation and MedImmune (AstraZeneca).

Pouria Motevalian is an accomplished leader in the biopharmaceutical industry with extensive experience in developing innovative biopharmaceutical products such as viral vectors, vaccines, plasmid DNA, and multispecific antibodies. He currently oversees a team of over 30 scientists, driving significant advancements in the development and commercialization of novel viral vectors. In his prior role at Pfizer, he contributed to the development and regulatory approval of key products like Prevnar 20 and the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.