Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural
Biologics for Autoimmune Diseases
Where Engineering Innovation Meets Emerging Modalities and Novel MOA
18 November 2026
Autoimmune disease therapeutics are entering a new era, driven by engineering innovation and an ambition that goes beyond symptom management toward complete and durable remission. This conference brings together academic and industry scientists at the forefront of biologics discovery and engineering for autoimmune indications, where the bar for safety, selectivity, and sustained effect is uniquely demanding. Sessions will explore how the field is adapting modalities pioneered in oncology, developing multi-target strategies, and tackling the specific challenges of intermittent dosing, target coverage, and cytokine safety that define success in immunology and inflammation. From emerging targets and cell therapies to patient stratification and computational tools, this programme reflects the engineering innovation needed to deliver the next generation of autoimmune therapeutics.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
AI and Computational Applications in Autoimmunity
- AI literature mining for hypothesis generation
- Data mining to support target selection
- Computational approaches to pathway and signaling analysis
Biomarkers and Patient Stratification
- Molecular and cellular biomarkers of non-response
- Next-generation translational models reducing reliance on animal studies
- Patient stratification and responder population identification
- Quantitative biomarker development and validation
New Insights into Disease Biology and Immunopathology
Next-Generation Targets and Mechanisms in Autoimmunity
- B cell, plasma cell, and autoantibody-directed strategies
- Chemokine and cytokine receptor modulation
- Enzymatic and post-translational modification-based mechanisms
- FcRn blockade and Fc receptor targeting
- Mast cell and IgE-mediated disease targets
Engineered Cell Therapies for Autoimmunity
- Engineering strategies for durability and safety
- In vivo CAR Ts
- T cell engaging antibody formats
- Translating cell therapy engineering learnings from oncology to autoimmune disease
Multi-Target Engineering Strategies for Autoimmune Disease
- Beyond cytokine neutralisation: combining immunological and non-immunological mechanisms of action
- Biparatopic and multi-epitope targeting strategies
- Bispecific and multispecific antibody design: target pair selection and combination rationale
- Safety engineering in multi-target therapeutics: managing amplified immunogenicity and CRS risk
Protein and Antibody Engineering Strategies
- Agonist and scFv engineering for selectivity and potency
- Antibody format and Fc engineering for optimised half-life, effector function, and durability
- Bioconjugation and hypoimmune biotherapeutic design
- Logic gating and conditional activation
The deadline for priority consideration is 26 March 2026.
All proposals are subject to review by session chairpersons and/or the Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure the overall quality of the conference program. Additionally, as per Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s policy, a select number of vendors and consultants who provide products and services will be offered opportunities for podium presentation slots based on a variety of Corporate Sponsorships.
Opportunities for Participation: