Eurofins

Stefano Baila

Advanced Therapies Champion

Stefano Baila is the managing director of support biologics at Eurofins, which helps expand the company’s presence in the Cell and Gene space. He brings his expertise in cell engineering with a strong track record in advanced therapies.

Before joining Eurofins, Stefano held senior roles including Director of Operations at a contract manufacturer and Industrialisation Manager at Celyad, working on CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment. Known for combining scientific insight with a clear business mindset, he focuses on turning innovation into real-world impact and growth opportunities.

In an interview with Life Sciences Review, Baila emphasises that advancing in vivo and non-viral delivery methods, supported by evolving tools and adaptive mindsets, is key to making advanced therapies more accessible, scalable and clinically impactful.

Making Gene Therapy Scalable Starts With Rethinking Delivery

One question drives much of my work—How do we make advanced therapies accessible at scale, without compromising quality or science? The answers aren’t always obvious, but they start with delivery.

I’ve long championed non-viral delivery approaches in gene and cell therapy. Viral vectors have their place, but they bring baggage, complex manufacturing, scalability challenges and cost constraints. If we’re serious about broader access, we need alternatives that simplify the path from lab bench to patient bedside.

One of the most promising changes we're seeing is the shift from ex vivo to in vivo delivery. Editing cells directly in the body instead of modifying them in a lab dramatically reduces logistical and production hurdles. It’s a mindset shift as much as a technological one and it’s already gaining traction. The success of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic proved how effective lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can be as delivery vehicles. Since then, we’ve seen momentum accelerate.

LNPs are emerging as a credible alternative to adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), especially for in vivo applications. We’re actively supporting RNA formulation with LNPs, focusing on improving targeting. It’s not just about delivery, it’s about delivering with precision. That means refining lipid compositions or engineering proteins that guide LNPs to the right cells.

From Delivery to Durability: Engineering Better Outcomes

Once genetic material is introduced into the cell, the next challenge is ensuring it’s retained, expressed and biologically meaningful. That’s where gene-editing tools come in. Whether it's precise editing, targeted mutation or stable integration, these tools are key to turning delivery into therapy.

“One area delivering measurable impact is platform-based development. When clients start from a well-characterised, high-standard system, they move faster and with fewer unknowns. That’s especially important in early-phase programs, where speed and consistency can mean the difference between traction and delay”

The science is moving fast. Not long ago, a child received a custom CRISPR-based treatment for a rare metabolic disorder. That wasn’t just a milestone for the patient, it was a signal to the industry: we’re closer to routine, real-world application than many realise.

This convergence of delivery innovation and genome engineering is reshaping the field. Our role at Eurofins is to bridge those worlds—science and execution, innovation and practicality. We’re enabling new systems, validating emerging platforms and supporting teams that want to move faster, more sustainably and with greater confidence.

Tailoring for Scale Without Losing Precision

There’s no one-size-fits-all model for advanced therapies. Some conditions call for highly personalised, autologous solutions, while others can benefit from allogeneic, off-the-shelf approaches. Both will coexist and our job is to prepare for that reality.

That’s why we’re building flexible capabilities. Whether enhancing delivery, refining editing tools or embedding AI into manufacturing, we invest across the board. AI, in particular, will transform how we work. From predicting batch outcomes to evaluating cell viability early, it introduces a layer of foresight that could help us scale with less guesswork and more control.

Still, we must be honest about the environment we’re operating in. Economic pressure is real. Layoffs, tighter funding and market caution are affecting everyone. But innovation doesn’t pause, it just demands more thoughtful execution. We’re building the infrastructure to support both ends of the spectrum: therapies that need scale and those that require precision.

Platform Thinking for Speed and Reliability

One area that’s delivering measurable impact is platform-based development. When clients start from a well-characterised, high-standard system, they move faster and with fewer unknowns. That’s especially important in early-phase programs, where speed and consistency can mean the difference between traction and delay. It’s not just about what’s here now. We closely monitor emerging tools like next-generation sequencing and ensure we can deploy them when the timing aligns. The goal isn’t to chase every trend but to be prepared with the right tools when they matter.

Staying Grounded While Navigating Uncertainty

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from this field, it's that there’s no fixed playbook. The science evolves, the market shifts and the pressures change. What stays constant is the value of the mindset.

Curiosity and humility are two traits I keep coming back to. We’re in an industry where no one has all the answers. That’s why it’s essential to collaborate across disciplines, take on uncomfortable questions and learn from every interaction. The people who thrive in biotech today aren’t just experts; they’re open-minded, adaptable and willing to reframe the problem.

That’s how we plan to keep leading by staying close to science, embracing smarter delivery and designing systems that scale technically, economically and operationally. This is how we’ll move from promising concepts to real-world cures—faster, safer and with broader impact.