Dr Qasim Rafiq is Vice Dean for Health in the Faculty of Engineering and is a Professor in Bioprocess Engineering at University College London, with a focus on novel therapeutic modalities including Cell and Gene Therapies. He is a multidisciplinary engineer working at the life science, engineering and commercial interfaces with a research focus on the bioprocessing, automation and biomanufacture of cell and gene-based therapies. He currently leads a research portfolio of > £7.5M as Principal Investigator and leads a dynamic interdisciplinary research group that collaborate internationally with high-calibre academic institutions, industry partners, and leading clinicians. He is also Programme Director of the new Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies MSc programme. Qasim is both a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) and sits on multiple scientific and engineering committees including the IChemE Biochemical Engineering Subject Interest Group, British Standards Institute Biotechnology Committee and the BIA’s Cell and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.