Message from the President

It is my great pleasure to announce that the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (JSGCT2026) will be held at Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka International Convention Center) from Thursday, July 23rd to Saturday, July 25th, 2026.

The theme of this meeting is "Further Advancement of Gene and Cell Therapy through Collaboration between Industry, Government and Academia." Since its introduction in the early 1990s, gene therapy, contrary to initial high expectations, experienced a decline in the early 2000s. However, from around 2010, the results of steady basic research began to emerge, and successful cases of gene therapy became more frequent. Gene therapy based on advancements in vector technology and gene-modified cell technology is now widely used as an innovative treatment for certain diseases. However, there are still challenges to further development of gene and cell therapy, including practical issues such as adverse events associated with systemic administration of vectors, challenges in vector manufacturing technology, and the application of gene and cell therapy to a wider range of diseases, as well as a shortage of young talent in this field. We believe that the role of this society will become even more important as we bring together stakeholders from industry, academia, and government to discuss and share information for the future. Under this academic and social background, the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Gene and Cell Therapy aims to stimulate collaboration between industry, government, and academia, and contribute to the further development of gene and cell therapy through participation from the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, the European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, companies developing gene and cell therapy products, regulatory authorities, and by holding joint symposia with related societies. We sincerely hope that this academic conference will serve as a platform for lively discussions with a focus on the future, and that it will be a meaningful experience for all participants.