Authors

John Cesarek is the senior director of Automation Engineering at Cellares, where he leads the design and development of the integrated digital, scientific, and operational workflows for automated quality control in cell therapy manufacturing.

Avencia Sanchez-Mejias

Avencia Sánchez-Mejías is CEO and co-founder of Integra Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing next-generation gene writing tools for advanced therapies. Since 2020, she has led the company’s growth and advancement of its FiCAT platform, which combines CRISPR precision with high-capacity DNA integration for cell and gene therapy applications. Sánchez-Mejías has a scientific background in molecular oncology, clinical genetics, and synthetic biology, with research experience in Spain, Singapore, and the United States. Prior to founding Integra, she was a senior researcher at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.

Mohit Trikha

Dr. Mohit (Mo) Trikha is CEO of Kivu Bioscience and brings more than 25 years of oncology drug development experience. He has helped advance more than 40 oncology programs from discovery through clinical development. Prior to Kivu, he was a venture partner at Apple Tree Partners and led oncology early development at AbbVie, focusing on ADCs, bispecific antibodies, and CAR-T therapies. Trikha has contributed to the development of Kadcyla, Polivy, and vismodegib, and holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Mekan joined Zymeworks in April 2025 and serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mekan previously served as Executive Director, Global Development Lead for the lung and gastrointestinal cancer franchises with Gilead Sciences based in the U.S. Prior to Gilead, she was the Senior Medical Director, Oncology R&D at Daiichi Sankyo U.S. responsible as global clinical development lead for two antibody-drug conjugates. She began her pharmaceutical career as a Medical Director with Bristol-Myers Squibb with a focus on immune-oncology. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, she served as an Assistant Professor at Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine and Attending Hematologist/Oncologist at North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York City. Dr. Mekan completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, OH, and a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Staten Island University Hospital of Northshore-LIJ Health System (now Northwell Health). She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Hematology and has authored numerous publications.

Anita Michael is RCA’s Executive Pharma Compliance Expert & Principal Consultant. She has 24+ years of global regulatory and quality experience, including 16 years direct FDA experience operating globally as their Pharmaceutical Expert, FDA Investigator and FDA Pre-Approval Manager. Anita has excellent interpersonal, empathetic communication and client management skills that enable her to skillfully coach and collaborate with clients at the highest levels of an organization and prepare them for successful FDA inspections (ANDA/NDA/BLA/PMA Pre-Approvals) and global regulatory and quality assurance audits across Biotech, Biologics, Sterile Operations, Drug Substances, and 503A/B. She has been Keynote Speaker for the Pharma Industry and internally to the FDA throughout her career.