As an award-winning journalist with 20+ years experience in b2b media, Karen passionately believes that b2b content does not have to boring. She began her career writing for Food Manufacturing magazine before making the leap to pharmaceuticals in 2013. During her tenure at Pharma Manufacturing, Karen prided herself in keeping the brand's editorial look, tone and content fresh and accessible. Under her guidance, Pharma Manufacturing won 65 editorial and design awards, including being named ASBPE's Magazine of the Year in 2021. Karen graduated with honors from Bucknell University, where she majored in English and played Division 1 softball for the Bison. Happily living in NJ's famed Asbury Park with her partner, Karen is a retired Garden State Rollergirl, known to the roller derby community as the 'Predator-in-Chief.'

Karen can be reached at [email protected]. View articles by Karen Langhauser

Mike Auerbach is a seasoned professional in the field of editing and publishing, currently serving as the Group Editor-in-Chief at CompareNetworks. With a career spanning several decades, Auerbach has established himself as a respected figure in the pharmaceutical and life sciences publishing industry.

Auerbach's journey in editing began in 1988 when he took on the role of Editor-In-Chief at Advantage Business Media. This early experience laid the foundation for his expertise in managing editorial content and operations. In his current position at CompareNetworks, Auerbach oversees editorial content for various publications, including American Pharmaceutical Review, Pharmaceutical Outsourcing, Cell and Gene Therapy Review, and Tablets & Capsules magazine. He is known for his insightful articles and editorial leadership in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Auerbach's work often focuses on cutting-edge topics such as cell and gene therapy, demonstrating his commitment to covering advancements in the pharmaceutical industry. Based in Wayne, New Jersey, Auerbach maintains an active professional presence, contributing to industry discussions and publications. His role involves not only managing editorial content but also engaging with industry professionals and staying abreast of the latest developments in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing.

Mike can be reached at [email protected].

Mark Flower has 20 years’ experience in cell and gene therapy, immunotherapy, cell therapy manufacturing, apheresis cell collections, and bioprocessing.

Currently VP of business development at AGC Biologics, Mark is responsible for driving strategic growth and partnerships within the rapidly evolving field of cell and gene therapies.

Mark most recently served as VP of business development with Cryoport Systems, and prior to that, VP of business development with Cellares. Previous roles include VP of business development and strategic relationships with Be The Match BioTherapies (BTMB), a National Marrow Donor Program subsidiary. Prior to BTMB, he served as executive director of sales and marketing at Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions (which became Minaris Regenerative Medicine), a leading cell therapy CDMO. Earlier in his career, Mark worked in the Therapeutic Systems business unit at Terumo BCT where he launched multiple tools and technologies into the cell therapy arena. Notably, he launched the first MNC collection protocol (leukapheresis collection) on the Spectra Optia Apheresis System into Europe in 2008, and subsequently the U.S. He also led the commercialization and global product launch of the Quantum Cell Expansion System.

Mark is currently a member of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) North America Executive Committee and holds a seat on ISCT’s Business Development and Finance Committee.
View articles by Mark Flower.

After nearly a decade shaping Germfree’s commercial strategy as chief commercial and strategy officer, Carol now serves as CEO of Germfree.

Carol brings nearly three decades of experience in pharmaceutical, biologics product development, quality, regulatory affairs, and clinical research. Her extensive background has positioned her as a strategic force within Germfree, an offsite cleanroom construction company providing innovative facility solutions for biopharmaceutical applications. Carol’s career includes executive leadership roles in various full-service CROs such as QST Consultations (Abond), Clinartis, BioRASI, and Pleiad (Cromsource). Her responsibilities spanned across global service management, including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, and more. She has also held quality and compliance roles at Biomimetic Therapeutics, Stryker Biotech and Pfizer.

Carol takes immense pride in her strong partnership with her husband of over 30 years, with whom she has raised two remarkable children and a tenacious basset hound named Norman. In her leisure time, Carol relishes the great outdoors, engaging in activities such as hiking and kayaking, and appreciating the beauty of mountain life. Her deep-rooted passion for health care access and equality serves as a powerful driving force behind her unwavering dedication to the industry she loves and serves.
View articles by Carol Houts.

Claudia Lin is a biotech veteran with over 30 years of experience in multi-national companies and startups in the U.S., EU and China working in life cycle biologics product development, manufacturing, and quality. A global supply chain expert, Claudia’s work focuses on phase-appropriate product development, quality management, and regulatory compliance for all biologics. She holds a PhD in cell and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
View articles by Claudia Lin.

Dr. Jeff Martin is a cancer biologist with a Ph.D. in Cancer Genetics and over a decade of experience in immuno-oncology. As the founder of Oncoleader, Jeff currently advises biotech professionals, providing expert insights on the best ways to navigate the current trends in the immuno-oncology industry.
View articles by Jeffrey Martin.

Carl leads DeciBio’s advanced therapies practice. He brings experience across biopharma, manufacturing/bioprocessing, and supply chain considerations for his clients. He has executed on projects ranging from pipeline prioritization/life cycle management, indication road mapping, growth strategy, and M&A projects across healthcare, life science tools, and pharma (cell and gene therapies). Carl holds a B.S. from the university of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from MIT where he trained with Professor Robert Langer.
View articles by Carl Schoellhammer.

Lara has deep expertise leading translational development activities for cell and gene therapies. She combines nuanced understanding of the scientific, clinical and commercial landscapes to drive a company’s strategic decisions. Her scientific development experience includes process design, analytical methods, raw materials, lab operations, intellectual property, regulatory interactions, and outward-facing communications. She has overseen multi-functional, multi-layered teams and has developed plans and strategies with both short- and long-term implications for businesses. Her work has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations at academic and industry conferences, as well as issued patents. She earned a BSE in Chemical Engineering from Princeton and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania.
View articles by Lara Ionescu Silverman.

Sanjin Zvonic is a cell and molecular biologist with a strong technical/scientific background in physiology, stem cell biology, and cell therapy CMC development. Zvonic has held roles at PCT and Novartis’ Cell and Gene Therapy Unit, most recently serving as vice president of product development and manufacturing at WindMIL Therapeutics.

After earning his doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology, Zvonic continued on to a post-doctoral position at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, followed by a second post-doctoral role at Tulane University. In his current role at Dark Horse Consulting, he is focused on strategic growth and development of the BD function, client engagement, and pipeline growth, while continuing to leverage his technical background as a practice expert on select projects.
View articles by Sanjin Zvonic.