Sadik Kassim

Sadik Kassim, Ph.D. is a biotechnology executive and scientist specializing in cell and gene therapy, bioprocessing, and translational research. He currently serves as CSO/CTO of Genomic Medicines for Danaher's Life Sciences companies, which recently collaborated to deliver the world's first personalized CRISPR cure for "Baby KJ." Previously, he was CTO at Vor Bio, where he built the technical operations team and led development for a CRISPR-edited HSPC product, as well as the company’s preclinical CAR-T efforts. Before that, he was Executive Director at Kite Pharma, leading manufacturing process development for autologous CAR-T and TCR-based therapies. As CSO at Mustang Bio, he oversaw the company’s preclinical and manufacturing foundation. He also led early analytical development at Novartis’ Cell and Gene Therapies Unit. Sadik has contributed to the development of three commercial CAR-T therapies—Kymriah, Yescarta, and Tecartus—and, most recently, to K-abe, the world’s first patient-specific, custom gene-edited drug product, developed and administered in a record-setting six months. He completed postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute (with Dr. Steven Rosenberg), the University of Pennsylvania Gene Therapy Program (with Dr. Jim Wilson), and Johnson & Johnson’s Immunology Discovery group.