Unlocking the Elixir of Life: How Immune Cell Therapy Is Redefining the Future of Healthcare

What if the cure for some of the world’s most devastating diseases could be engineered, cell by cell?

For Dr Andy Tay, Assistant Professor and Presidential Young Professor at the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering, this is not science fiction. It’s the frontier of modern medicine—and an opportunity for senior leaders to understand, influence, and invest in a sector poised to transform lives.

This August, as part of the inaugural Distinguished Seniors Fellowship Programme (DSFP), Dr Tay will lead a signature seminar titled “Elixir of Life: Manufacturing Cells as Medicine.” This bite-sized but impactful session invites DSFP Candidates to step into the world of immune cell therapy, an area of healthcare innovation where cells are reprogrammed to fight cancer and other diseases with remarkable precision.

“It’s a privilege to engage DSFP Candidates who are experienced in their respective fields and share with them recent developments in cell therapy and the impact it can make on healthcare,” Dr Tay shares.

“The use of immune cells is one of the most effective treatments for cancer and I am excited to share with the DSFP Candidates about my research and inspire them to use their respective expertise and networks to grow this sector.”

Why this topic—and why now?

Cell therapy is already revolutionising how we treat illness. From CAR-T cell therapies to new methods in genetic modification and cell manufacturing, this field isn’t just a scientific marvel—it’s a powerful lever for impact, ethics, and enterprise.

For senior leaders navigating life after corporate careers, this seminar offers a gateway to understand a breakthrough industry that is at once scientifically cutting edge, deeply human, economically complex, and ethically rich.

More than a science lesson, this seminar creates space for critical reflection:
What are the ethical and regulatory challenges of manipulating human cells?
How can we democratise access to life-saving therapies?
And how might we, as individuals with influence, shape the future of healthcare innovation?

What to expect

This 3-hour seminar blends technical exploration with real-world case studies, ethical debates, and practical exercises. DSFP Candidates will walk away with a working knowledge of how immune cell therapies are developed, tested, and deployed—plus a deeper appreciation for the strategic, commercial, and moral decisions surrounding them.

And perhaps most importantly, they’ll be invited to consider how their experience, insight, and networks can help bring these life-altering technologies into wider public good.

Stay tuned as we introduce more of our DSFP faculty and their thought-provoking seminars.