S10 E7: Scaling Hope: The Future of Cell Therapy Access

With podcast host, Ginger Blackmon, and featuring Fabian Gerlinghaus.

In this episode of the PQI Podcast, Fabian Gerlinghaus, Co-founder and CEO of Cellares, shares insights into the evolving landscape of cell therapy manufacturing and its impact on patient access.

Fabian discusses his background as an aerospace engineer turned biotech innovator and the inspiration behind founding Cellares, a company focused on transforming how cell therapies are developed and manufactured.

The conversation walks through how CAR T therapies are created, from cell collection to reinfusion, and highlights the operational and logistical challenges that continue to limit scalability and access today. A central theme is the complexity of current manufacturing processes, many of which remain highly manual, contributing to delays, variability, and cost.

Fabian shares how automation and new manufacturing models, including the Cell Shuttle platform, aim to address these barriers by improving consistency, reducing turnaround times, and supporting broader access to these therapies. The discussion also connects these advancements back to the oncology care team, exploring what more efficient manufacturing could mean in practice for pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and ultimately, for patients waiting on therapy.

Looking ahead, the episode offers a forward-thinking perspective on how cell therapy may evolve over the next five years, with a focus on scalability, innovation, and the opportunity to reach more patients in need.