Part of the broad class of biologic treatments known as immunotherapy, cell and gene therapies harness the body\u2019s own immune system to fight disease. Over the past two years, 15 new cell and gene therapies have been approved by the U.S. FDA, bringing\u00a0the total number of approvals<\/a>\u00a0of this type of biologic therapy using patients\u2019 own cells to 45.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cell and gene therapies have demonstrated marked success as treatment for blood cancers, generating long-term remissions and cures in both adults and children, and cell-based approaches have been FDA-approved to treat forms of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma as well as the genetic blood disorder sickle cell disease. Experts are now looking at ways to broaden the application of cell therapies to include \u201csolid-tumor\u201d cancers in organs like the breast, ovaries, lung and pancreas \u2014\u00a0and to treat other noncancerous conditions, including neurodegenerative, autoimmune and metabolic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and diabetes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Consortium members expect to open several clinical trials within the next two years, offering earlier to state-of-the-art medical treatments not available outside this pioneering Empire State network, and will also collaborate to expand patients\u2019 access to standard-of-care cell therapies already approved by the FDA.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt Mount Sinai, we are committed to advancing cell and gene therapies that offer curative potential for patients with both malignant and nonmalignant diseases,\u201d says\u00a0Keren Osman, MD<\/a>, Medical Director of the Cellular Therapy Service and Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. \u201cThe Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium provides a powerful framework for collaboration, allowing us to scale innovation, streamline access to trials, and bring the promise of these transformative therapies to more patients across New York.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are thrilled to be part of the Empire State Cellular Therapy\u00a0Consortium. I have no doubt that, with the collective efforts of its members, this\u00a0consortium\u00a0will serve as a driving force for cutting-edge cell and gene therapy,\u201d says\u00a0Jingmei Hsu,\u00a0MD<\/a>, a physician and faculty member with the hematology group at NYU Langone\u2019s\u00a0Perlmutter Cancer Center who is also Cell Therapy Trial Review Committee Chair and Director of the Cell Processing Laboratory at NYU.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCollaboration on this level is so important because it will bring about efficiency as we make faster progress toward new, innovative treatments to benefit our patients,\u201d says\u00a0Patrick Reagan, MD<\/a>, Associate Professor of Hematology\/Oncology at the UR and Director of Wilmot Cancer Institute\u2019s Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy program. \u201cThe consortium also provides a lot of opportunity for basic scientists and junior investigators and trainees to learn by having access to this cutting-edge facility and a large team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe consortium is a unique collaboration to bring cell and gene therapies to patients across the state of New York.\u00a0By\u00a0partnering\u00a0and streamlining manufacturing, we hope to integrate state-of-the-art cell therapy clinical trials and share important clinical data\u00a0across numerous centers, ultimately improving access to curative therapies for patients with a wide range of cancers and blood disorders,\u201d says\u00a0Samuel Yamshon, MD,<\/a>\u00a0Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of Cell Therapy Service at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian\/Weill Cornell Medical Center.\u00a0\u201cWe are very excited to partner with the Consortium and also leverage the excellence in laboratory science, clinical translation and clinical research at Weill Cornell Medicine to rapidly expand access to breakthrough therapies for our patients,\u201d says\u00a0Dr. Juliet Barker<\/a>, Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian\/Weill Cornell Medical Center.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited about the opportunity to make full use of the resources and expertise embedded within these outstanding teams across New York State,\u201d says cell therapy pioneer and Consortium co-founder\u00a0Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD<\/a>, Roswell Park Deputy Director and The Katherine Anne Gioia Endowed Chair in Cancer Medicine at Roswell Park, who helped develop the first cancer treatments employing a strategy known as CAR T-cell therapy. \u201cThe ideas and innovation coming out of these five centers are remarkable, and stem from our shared commitment to providing more and better options for patients with hard-to-treat diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n The consortium was launched with a February 2025 symposium at Roswell Park featuring speakers from all five member organizations. Dr. Davila will serve as the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium\u2019s inaugural Chair \u2014 a position that will rotate across all member institutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Icahn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/mtsinai_icahn_rgb_hrztl_no_reg.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"NYU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nyul-health_logo_purple_rgb_300ppi_0.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"Wilmot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/urm_wilmot_horiz_4c-002.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Weill](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/wcm-logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"Roswell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/roswell_logo_2018_rgb.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n