Why did we start Act for Hope?

In this short fireside conversation, our founder Alexander Seyf reflects on the origins of Act for Hope and the vision that shaped it. What began as a simple question; “why isn’t cell and gene therapy advancing as quickly as it could?” soon became a wider mission to bring people, insights and organisations together around a shared purpose: accelerating progress for patients.

Speaking with Carol Houts from Germfree, Alexander explores the reality many across the field recognise: brilliant efforts are happening everywhere, yet they often remain disconnected. Critical insights are underused, access varies dramatically between regions, and opportunities to collaborate are frequently missed. These gaps slow down real-world impact at a time when patients urgently need therapies to reach them sooner, more reliably and more equitably.

Act for Hope was created to help change this trajectory. Instead of working in isolated pockets, the initiative aims to build a space where ideas, data, experience and challenges can be shared more openly. The goal is simple but ambitious: to bring the CGT community closer together, enabling better alignment, smoother coordination and more meaningful progress across research, development, manufacturing and patient access.

At the heart of the fireside chat is a belief that progress in cell and gene therapy isn’t only about technology or funding, it’s about connection, collaboration, and a collective sense of responsibility. By bringing diverse voices together and focusing on shared purpose, the movement seeks to create an environment where innovations can move faster and have a clearer path to patients.

Watch the video to hear Alexander’s story first-hand: how Act for Hope began, the challenges it aims to address, and the change we’re committed to driving alongside partners across the field.