Biography
John West, PhD, is a cellular therapy manufacturing leader with more than a decade of experience spanning viral vector production, CAR T-cell manufacturing, cGMP operations and early-phase clinical translation. As senior technical director of Winship Cancer Institute's GMP Facility, he oversees the manufacturing of clinical-grade viral vectors and cell therapies, including investigational CAR T-cell products for patients with cancer.
Prior to joining Winship, Dr. West served as director of cellular therapy production for UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's Advanced Cellular Therapeutics Facility, where he oversaw the expansion of the program's manufacturing capabilities and operations. During his tenure, the facility supported treatment for more than 200 patients and earned FACT accreditation without deficiency citations.
His work bridges laboratory discovery and clinical application, with a focus on advancing innovative cellular therapies for patients with limited treatment options. Driven by a commitment to patient impact, he is dedicated to improving the quality, scalability and accessibility of next-generation cancer therapies.
Education
Dr. West earned his PhD in biochemistry from North Carolina State University, where his research focused on developing vaccine candidates for alphaviruses. He later conducted postdoctoral research in cancer virology and immunology before joining UNC's cellular therapy program, where he helped establish viral vector manufacturing processes supporting investigator-initiated CAR T-cell clinical trials.
Titles & Roles
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Senior Technical Director, GMP FacilityWinship Cancer Institute of Emory University