Join us for an in-depth webinar exploring how non-viral approaches are reshaping T cell engineering. While viral transduction has been the traditional method, challenges with cost, safety, and scalability are driving the field toward faster, more precise alternatives. CRISPR-based technologies, paired with innovative donor templates, are opening new possibilities for advanced therapies.

In this session, Elena Stoyanova, PhD (Touchlight) will introduce mbDNA™ (Megabulb DNA), a novel single-stranded circular DNA template featuring a customisable stem region and fully user-defined sequence. Chesney Michels, PhD (ElevateBio) will highlight how mbDNA was applied in combination with Life Edit’s LEG14 nuclease, a proprietary RNA-guided nuclease, to enable efficient, targeted genome editing. Together, these technologies were used to knock out the endogenous TCR and insert an exogenous TCR targeting the NYESO-1 antigen. HDR-mediated knock-in with two distinct circular donor templates, mbDNA (circular, single-stranded DNA) and a double-stranded DNA, facilitated stable genome integration, with mbDNA yielding a 2-fold increase in anti-NYESO-1 TCR T cells.

Discover how this nuclease-driven, non-viral approach offers a scalable, versatile, and precise solution for next-generation T cell therapies.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the limitations of viral transduction and explore how non-viral methods such as CRISPR-based genome editing are addressing challenges in cost, safety, and scalability for T cell engineering.
• Learn about mbDNA, a novel circular single-stranded DNA template, and how its customisable design enables precise and efficient genome editing in combination with proprietary nucleases.
• Gain insights into a real-world application of mbDNA and LEG14 nuclease for targeted TCR knock-in.