Meet the Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Michel Sadelain, Columbia University
Dr. Michel Sadelain, born in Paris in 1960, is a leading genetic engineer and physician-scientist, currently serving as Director of the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering & Therapy in New York. He is internationally recognized for pioneering CAR-T cell immunotherapy—a groundbreaking approach that genetically modifies a patient’s T cells into “living drugs” to fight cancer.
Previously at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Sadelain led the development of CAR-T cells targeting CD19, a marker found in certain blood cancers. His team established the first clinical applications in patients with refractory leukemia in 2007, and their work paved the way for FDA approval of CAR-T therapies in 2017.
His ongoing research focuses on expanding CAR-T therapy to solid tumors and developing off-the-shelf and gene-based treatments. Dr. Sadelain’s contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Canada Gairdner Award.
Previously at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Sadelain led the development of CAR-T cells targeting CD19, a marker found in certain blood cancers. His team established the first clinical applications in patients with refractory leukemia in 2007, and their work paved the way for FDA approval of CAR-T therapies in 2017.
His ongoing research focuses on expanding CAR-T therapy to solid tumors and developing off-the-shelf and gene-based treatments. Dr. Sadelain’s contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Canada Gairdner Award.
Prof. Rolf Berger, University of Groningen
Dr. Rolf Berger, MD, PhD, is Professor of Paediatrics and Paediatric Cardiology at the Centre for Congenital Heart Diseases at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He is a recognized expert in congenital heart disease and, in addition, all forms of pulmonary vascular disease.
In the Netherlands, the care for children with pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the lung, has been centralized to Groningen. Dr. Berger has played an important role in advancing both clinical care and academic research in the field of paediatric pulmonary vascular disease worldwide.
In the Netherlands, the care for children with pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the lung, has been centralized to Groningen. Dr. Berger has played an important role in advancing both clinical care and academic research in the field of paediatric pulmonary vascular disease worldwide.
Prof. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, Novo Nordisk
Prof. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, DMSc, is Chief Scientific Advisor at Novo Nordisk and a leading figure in the field of metabolic drug discovery. With a background in chemical and biotechnology engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and a Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Copenhagen, she joined Novo Nordisk in 1989. Her pioneering work has played a central role in the discovery and development of GLP‑1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide (Victoza®/Saxenda®) and semaglutide (Ozempic®/Wegovy®), which have transformed the treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes and obesity worldwide.
Prof. Knudsen has led several research programs expanding the application of GLP‑1–based therapies into cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative diseases. She has held leadership roles at Novo Nordisk for over three decades and currently heads the company’s GLP‑1 Centre of Excellence. In addition to her industrial role, she served as an adjunct professor in translational medicine at Aarhus University from 2015 to 2020.
Her scientific achievements have been widely recognized. She has received numerous international awards, including the Paul Langerhans Medal, the Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, and the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Through her innovative work and leadership, Prof. Knudsen has made an extraordinary impact on global health, positioning Novo Nordisk as a leader in therapies for chronic metabolic diseases.
Prof. Knudsen has led several research programs expanding the application of GLP‑1–based therapies into cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative diseases. She has held leadership roles at Novo Nordisk for over three decades and currently heads the company’s GLP‑1 Centre of Excellence. In addition to her industrial role, she served as an adjunct professor in translational medicine at Aarhus University from 2015 to 2020.
Her scientific achievements have been widely recognized. She has received numerous international awards, including the Paul Langerhans Medal, the Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, and the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Through her innovative work and leadership, Prof. Knudsen has made an extraordinary impact on global health, positioning Novo Nordisk as a leader in therapies for chronic metabolic diseases.