Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 11th Annual
Engineering Antibodies & Beyond
Reimagining Antibody Architectures, Formats, and Functions
18 November 2026
PEGS Europe’s Engineering Antibodies & Beyond conference showcases cutting-edge strategies to design next-generation antibody formats and alternative scaffolds that push past the limits of IgG. Through sessions on new antibody scaffold architectures, Fc and effector function engineering, and targeting difficult tissues such as the CNS and solid tumors, the program highlights solutions for selectivity, specificity, safety, and delivery. Attendees will also learn how AI, physics-based modeling, and innovative scaffold choices are reshaping antibody discovery and expanding the therapeutic target space.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
NEW ANTIBODY ARCHITECTURES AND FORMATS
- Multispecific and trispecific designs: geometry, valency
- Emerging and modular scaffolds —Fabs, scFvs, nanobodies, intracellular antibodies
- Miniproteins and cyclic peptide design
- Cytokine mimetics
ENGINEERING FOR SELECTIVITY AND SPECIFICITY
- Conditional activation strategies
- Dual-target engagement and avidity
- Tuning agonism vs antagonism
FC AND EFFECTOR FUNCTION ENGINEERING
- Fc engineering to fine tune ADCC, ADCP and complement activation
- FcRn and half-life extension or shortening
- Isotype and Fc-fusion choices (IgG vs IgA vs IgM vs engineered Fc)
ENGINEERING FOR DIFFICULT TARGETS AND TISSUES—CROSSING BBB, SELECTIVE DELIVERY
- Brain shuttle and barrier-crossing antibodies (transferrin/CD98) for CNS delivery
- Antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates for CNS delivery and gene silencing
- pMHC-targeting antibodies and TCR-mimic formats for intracellular antigens
- Scaffold choices for penetrating dense and highly charged microenvironments
- Paratope engineering for difficult targets
ANTIBODY ENGINEERING IN THE AGE OF AI/ML
- Machine learning approaches for epitope/paratope prediction, cross-reactivity risk and affinity maturation
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: