The Breakthrough Innovations in CAR & TCR Therapy That Will Take Centre Stage at the CAR-TCR Summit Europe in 2026
Europe and Asia are rapidly becoming global hubs for advanced cell therapy development. The acceleration of in vivo CAR-T technologies, next generation TCR strategies, and novel engineering approaches is paving the way for scalable, cost-effective therapies that have the potential to transform patient access and long-term commercial viability. These scientific and translational shifts will define the next era of immunotherapy progress, and they form a major focus of the 9th CAR-TCR Summit Europe.
The Summit brings together the most innovative CAR and TCR developers, pioneering biotech teams, leading clinical investigators, and cross functional partners who are shaping the direction of the field. Through high level scientific presentations, strategic case studies, and practical insights across R&D, manufacturing, regulation and commercialisation, the event equips attendees with the intelligence needed to accelerate clinical success.
Below is a preview of some of the breakthrough programmes and novel therapeutic innovations that will be showcased on stage and discussed in depth with the experts advancing them.
Next Generation CAR Engineering & Third Generation CAR Design
Speaker: Anita Schmitt, Deputy Head, Cellular Immunotherapy, Heidelberg University Hospital
A major highlight of the 2026 programme is a deep dive into the only CD19 CAR construct that incorporates dual co stimulation through CD28 and CD137. This third generation approach is positioned to reshape the safety and efficacy profile traditionally seen with CD19 cell therapies.
Attendees will gain new clinical insights around response dynamics, tolerability, persistence and relapse management. The session reflects Europe’s leadership in sophisticated receptor engineering and its continued drive to optimise CAR architecture in ways that enhance patient outcomes.
Emerging CAR Treg Data & First in Class Regulatory Cell Therapy Approaches
Speaker: Jenny McGovern, Senior Director, Cellular Immunology, Quell Therapeutics
Quell Therapeutics will present novel preclinical data for a first in class CAR Treg programme, offering an entirely new way to approach immune regulation. With growing interest in Treg biology across autoimmunity, transplantation and inflammatory disease, this dataset is expected to generate significant enthusiasm.
The presentation will explore how CAR Treg cells can be engineered for enhanced durability, precision targeting and functional stability. For attendees looking to understand the next frontier of cell therapy beyond oncology, this session provides essential scientific insight.
Advanced TCR Therapeutics for Solid Tumours, Including Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Speaker: Rachel Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, Pan Cancer T
Solid tumour progress remains one of the most important challenges in cell therapy, and Pan Cancer T will share a major advancement in this area. Their team has developed a next generation TCR therapy targeting the ROPN1 antigen, specifically designed to improve traction in hard to treat indications such as triple negative breast cancer.
This session will unpack the engineering strategies that enhance antigen recognition, strengthen T-cell fitness, and overcome suppressive tumour microenvironment dynamics. For organisations aiming to move into solid tumour indications, this talk delivers highly relevant translational guidance.
Why These Innovations Matter for the Future of CAR & TCR Therapies
These programmes collectively demonstrate why Europe continues to play a leading role in global cell therapy development. Each reflects a commitment to designing smarter, safer and more potent therapies that balance innovation, manufacturability and long-term clinical impact.
Attendees at the 9th CAR-TCR Summit Europe will have the opportunity to explore these breakthroughs in detail, engage directly with the teams behind them, and understand how these insights can shape their own scientific and strategic roadmaps.
If your goal is to stay ahead of emerging modalities, understand the technologies that will define the next wave of CAR and TCR therapy innovation, and collaborate with thought leaders across biotech, pharma and academia, then this summit is the most valuable meeting you can attend in 2026.