Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) welcomes Sheila Singh, MD, PhD (King’s College London), and Stephen Gottschalk, MD (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), to its 22-person Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), which includes the most accomplished and innovative thought leaders in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy.

Dr. Singh, a pediatric neurosurgeon, became an ACGT Research Fellow in 2024 as part of a cross-institution collaboration focused on synthetic T-cell therapy for recurrent pediatric brain tumors, specifically medulloblastoma and ependymoma, a study that also counts Dr. Gottschalk and fellow ACGT SAC member Crystal Mackall, MD (Stanford University) as key collaborators. Dr. Gottschalk previously became an ACGT Research Fellow in 2019 for a study developing an ECM-targeted CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of pediatric sarcoma.

ACGT welcomes Drs. Singh and Gottschalk to its SAC, where they will lend their knowledge, energy and vision toward directing our funding focus and process.

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The field of cancer cell and gene therapy revolves around one simple concept: modifying the body’s own immune cells to maximize their ability to fight cancer. Over the last two decades, it’s an approach that has taken many directions. But one type of immune cell has shown particular promise: the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, or TIL, the study of which has moved the field of cell and gene therapy in a bold new way.

In 2024, the TIL therapy lifileucel (Amtagvi) became the first such treatment to receive FDA approval, specifically for the treatment of melanoma. This development was a game-changer for the field of cell and gene therapy for cancer. But what is TIL therapy, and how is it poised to further alter the way we treat cancer?

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Next month, ACGT will hold ACGT Summit 2026 in New York, an annual invitation-only gathering that convenes the field’s most influential physician-scientists shaping the future of curative cell and gene therapies for solid tumor cancers.

Summit 2026 will host some of the brightest minds in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy –  from the clinic to the biotechnology space –  to share discoveries, inspiration, and opportunities, and offer a forum for discussion and collaboration.

Summit 2026 is ACGT’s flagship scientific assembly, and this year’s event will include several major announcements. ACGT will recognize the recipients of the ACGT Investigator Award in Cell and Gene Therapy for Gynecological Cancer Research and the ACGT–Cinelli Family Foundation Investigator Award in Cell and Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer Research, recognizing outstanding innovators driving the field forward in women’s cancers.

ACGT will also share with attendees the 2026 Request for Proposals before a broader public announcement, officially setting the organization’s focus for the coming year.

Stay tuned to ACGT’s website and social media channels in the coming weeks for further coverage from Summit 2026.

At ACGT, we believe that every gift is a catalyst for breakthrough science. We are often asked for the most effective way to fuel the next wave of cell and gene therapy research.

While direct contributions remain the most immediate way to fund ACGT’s mission, the 2026 tax landscape offers several smart strategies to help your generosity go further:

For Non-Itemizers: If you take the standard deduction, you can now claim a permanent “above-the-line” deduction of up to $1,000 (or $2,000 for joint filers) for direct cash gifts. This means every household now has a tax-smart reason to donate.

The IRA Advantage: If you are age 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution allows you to transfer up to $111,000 directly from your IRA to your favorite charities. This remains a highly effective tool for those looking to satisfy a required distribution while bypassing the new 2026 tax “hurdles”—like the 5% AGI floor—entirely. This is a great opportunity to contribute to ACGT!

Don’t let the complexity of new tax laws slow down the speed of a cure. Let’s work together to make 2026 ACGT’s most impactful year yet. Reach out for assistance to ACGT’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, Keri Eisenberg. Write to keisenberg@acgtfoundation.org or call (475) 400-4373.

To designate Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy as a beneficiary, provide your IRA custodian with ACGT’s tax ID number – 06-1619523.