Spotlight on Excellence: Process Development group
Who powers the science behind scalable, GMP-ready cell therapies?
Not just the tech. Not just the tools.
It’s the people transforming innovation into impact.
Because in cell therapy, science doesn’t scale itself.
At Excellos, advancing cell therapy starts with strong science—and that expertise comes to life in our Process and Analytical Development (PD/AD) team. This dynamic group plays a critical role in translating discovery into clinical and commercial reality. By bridging research and manufacturing, they design robust, scalable, and GMP-compatible platforms that power our clients’ therapeutic pipelines.
Building the Blueprint for Manufacturing Success
At Excellos, our Process and Analytical Development (PD/AD) team is where scientific discovery meets real-world applications. From early-stage optimization to GMP compatibility, this team develops the tools and technologies that enable the success of autologous and allogeneic therapies—including CAR-T, TILs, NK cells, MSCs, and HSCs. With deep expertise and a commitment to precision, they design, optimize, and transfer robust manufacturing processes that drive programs from discovery through commercial readiness.
Their work spans:
- Process Development: QbD-based optimization, scale-up/out strategies, and GMP-compatible workflows for clinical and commercial manufacturing
- Cell Platforms: Custom processes for T cells, NK cells, and CD34+ stem cells in both suspension and adherent systems
- Analytical Development: Development and validation of immunological, molecular, and bioanalytical assays to ensure quality and compliance
- Tech Transfer Support: Seamless handoff of phase-appropriate, fully documented processes to Manufacturing, including hardware, SOPs, and QC methods
- Manufacturing Enablement: Optimization of cell isolation, transduction, expansion, and cryopreservation for efficiency, consistency, and long-term stability
Through rigorous testing, scientific insight, and strategic execution, the PD/AD team lays the foundation for scalable, regulatory-ready cell therapy manufacturing.
Innovation Spotlight: The Escore™ Platform
A standout innovation from the PD/AD team is Escore™, Excellos’ proprietary cell characterization platform. Developed to evaluate donor material before manufacturing begins, Escore integrates multiple weighted biological markers—such as:
- Donor demographics (e.g., age, BMI)
- Effector potential (PSI)
- Metabolic fitness (glycolysis, PER)
- Memory potential (protein expression profiles)
This powerful algorithm allows identification of high-quality donors by correlating these parameters with cell potency—enhancing consistency, improving manufacturing outcomes, and enabling better patient results.
Meet the Team
Robert Tressler, PhD – Chief Scientific Officer
Rob has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and publications and is an inventor on numerous patents. Previously he was the CSO at the San Diego Blood Bank and has held executive scientific roles at Geron, Inc. and Cellerant Therapuetics. Robert’s scientific focus is stem cell biology, oncology, and anti-aging. Robert achieved his Ph.D. from University of Texas in Cancer Biology and has a Masters Degree in Microbiology. He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), The International Society of Cell Therapy, and the American Society of Hematology.
Jiaxue Huang, PhD – Research Scientist
Jiaxue was trained as a Ph.D in Immunologly with Dr Paul W Kincade at University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. With more than 20 years of industrial experience including Novartis on HSC, MSC, High-Throughput Screening and genetics, Jiaxue is passionate in bringing innovative concept into cellular products and cost effective manufacturing processes.
Trevor Cabreros – Bioinformatics Senior Research Associate
Trevor is a bioinformatics enthusiast who combines biology with data science. Throughout his 6-year career, he’s balanced hands-on cell culture work with software and algorithm development—building image processing tools, analysis pipelines, and databases. While he contributes to PD/AD work, his primary focus is developing the Escore™ Platform. During his free time, Trevor loves surfing and fruit smoothies!
Vipula Racha – Senior Research Associate
Vipula is a dedicated cell biologist with 9 years of experience in industry and academic research. Her expertise includes assay development, process optimization, and advanced cell culture techniques, particularly in iPSC-based 2D and 3D disease modeling and stem cell-derived cell therapies. At Excellos, Vipula works closely with clients to enhance their manufacturing processes and develop robust assays that support the transition of cell-based products into clinical development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys taking care of her collection of plants and is currently learning to knit.
Built for Partnership. Driven by Science.
At Excellos, Process and Analytical Development is more than a step in the pipeline. It’s the scientific engine behind successful cell therapies. Operating in dedicated, innovation-focused facilities, our PD/AD team transforms great ideas into GMP-compatible processes through analytical rigor, custom strategy, and creative problem-solving.
With expertise spanning T, NK, and CD34+ cells, our scientists don’t just build processes—they improve them. We collaborate closely with our clients to design workflows that are scalable, regulatory-ready, and optimized for real-world success. From donor selection to tech transfer, we anticipate challenges and engineer solutions that reduce risk and accelerate timelines.
Every therapy is unique. That’s why we’re built for partnership—offering not just the tools, but the scientific insight and flexibility to elevate each program from concept to clinic and beyond.
