Expert Roundtable: evolution in AAV process development: 2022 and beyond

Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2021; 7(8), 1173–1181

10.18609/cgti.2021.157

Published: 13 October 2021
Expert Roundtable
Matthias Hebben

Alejandro Becerra

Principal Applications Scientist and Global Purification Technical Lead, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Dr Alejandro Becerra is a Principal Applications Scientist and Global Purification Technical Lead. Alejandro has over 14 years of experience in downstream processing and customer support having worked as Purification Team Manager and other bioprocess engineering roles prior to joining Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2018. Dr Becerra is a subject matter expert in preparative chromatography with expertise in the development, optimization and scale-up of antibody, recombinant protein and viral vector purification processes. Alejandro holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.

Matthias Hebben

Vice President of Technology Development, LogicBio Therapeutics

Matthias Hebben has been serving as vice president of technology development at LogicBio Therapeutics since February 2019. In his role, he is leading the CMC efforts, including vector core, capsid optimization, process development, analytical development and clinical product manufacturing. Before that, he served as director of technology development and head of bioprocess development at Genethon for 6 years. Before that, he occupied several positions at Vivalis (Valneva), Intervet Shering Plough and Virbac. Matthias has a PhD in molecular biology and a MSc in bioprocess engineering

Michael Mercaldi

Senior Director of Downstream Process Development, Homology Medicines

Michael is the Senior Director of Downstream Process Development at Homology Medicines. He is responsible for leading the development of Homology’s purification and drug product manufacturing processes for their gene therapy and gene editing programs. He has held positions in process development throughout his career at MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Codiak Biosciences before joining Homology. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from Tufts University.