From Early Decisions to Late-Stage Success: Streamlining Plasmid Strategies for Gene‑Modified Cell Therapy

Labroots Virtual Event

Sponsored by: Aldevron and Minaris

Late-stage development and commercialization readiness require more than optimization within individual steps—they demand alignment across plasmid design and manufacturing. When these elements are addressed in isolation, gaps can surface during scale-up or process validation, impacting timelines and performance.

This webinar examines how design choices, material consistency, and manufacturing strategies intersect to influence vector performance, reproducibility, and scalability. The discussion will focus on practical considerations at each stage of development, including how early decisions shape downstream outcomes and where misalignment most often introduces risk.

By bringing together complementary capabilities across the development continuum, the webinar will provide a perspective on how organizations can better connect critical steps in the workflow.

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Speaker Details:

Bio: Richard Parker-Manuel, PhD, is Head of Plasmid Engineering at Minaris bringing over twenty years of molecular biology expertise, including more than a decade dedicated to cell and gene therapy. His career spans fundamental research into the regulation of DNA replication and repair during the cell cycle — with applications in cancer research — through to advanced platform development at OXGENE, which is Minaris’ innovation engine and center of excellence for advanced technologies.

In his current role, Richard leads the design and engineering of adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral vector (LV) plasmids across a diverse portfolio of client programmes, focusing on optimising potency, yield, and safety. He also drives several R&D initiatives aimed at continually advancing the performance of Minaris’s vector systems and manufacturing processes. Richard is looking forward to exploring shared development challenges alongside colleagues from Aldevron, reflecting the collaborative spirit that increasingly defines successful vector development in the cell and gene therapy space.

Bio: Luke Kroger serves as Vice President of Manufacturing at Aldevron, a leading provider of plasmid DNA, proteins, and mRNA solutions that support the development of next-generation medicines. He leads global manufacturing teams responsible for producing critical materials used in cell and gene therapies, vaccines, and other advanced biotechnologies. Luke combines deep operational expertise with a passion for developing high-performing teams, driving continuous improvement, and building manufacturing organizations capable of accelerating the delivery of life-changing therapies to patients around the world. Based in Fargo, North Dakota, he is dedicated to advancing operational excellence, scientific innovation, and talent development across the life sciences industry.