Media Partnership: ELRIG Cell & Gene Therapy
Excellent science deserves excellent communication.
Context
In March 2026, Zeeks partnered again with ELRIG. This time to increase visibility and impact of Cell & Gene Therapy 2026. This event is a scientific conference that unites researchers, industry leaders, innovators, and emerging voices in cell and gene therapy innovation. Held over two days at Hinxton Hall, Cambridge, the event showcased cutting-edge translational science and industry dialogue on gene therapies for neurological disorders, novel modalities for sensory diseases, rare disease platforms, and next-generation cancer immunotherapy.
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This case study outlines how Zeeks implemented a multi-channel science marketing strategy, including podcasts, blogs, newsletters, and social media. Together, this enabled engagement, knowledge transfer, and long-term community impact.
Context & Objectives
ELRIG Cell & Gene Therapy 2026 is a high-value science event, with programme tracks geared towards translational research, platform innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
Zeeks’ media partnership with ELRIG had four clear objectives:
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Increase event awareness and registrations through Zeeks channels (YouTube, website, newsletter, and social)
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Capture live insights and amplify key scientific themes
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Generate lasting media content beyond the live event
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Position Zeeks as a trusted intermediary between life science communities and broader audiences.
Strategy Implementation
1. Behind-the-Scenes Podcast Before the Event
Zeeks hosted a dedicated podcast, interviewing the conference director, Dr Verena Brucklacher. Dr Brucklacher is Head of Research Operations at Laverock Therapeutics, where she leads strategy and operational excellence for advanced gene-based therapies. As Conference Director at ELRIG, Verena helps guide strategic initiatives and cross-sector collaboration within the life sciences and drug discovery community.
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In the podcast, we learned about her behind-the-scenes insights and explored ELRIG’s role within the life sciences ecosystem. We also learned about the rationale for the 2026 programme design and the key translational and technological gaps the conference seeks to address, ranging from rare-disease gene therapies to next-generation cancer immunotherapy.
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By positioning the podcast as anticipatory science communication rather than event reporting, Zeeks created durable, high-value content that framed the conference narrative in advance, supported informed attendance, and demonstrated how strategic science marketing can extend the reach and relevance of scientific events well beyond the conference floor.
2. Post-Event Reflective Blog
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Following the conference, Zeeks published a long-form blog synthesising the event’s key takeaways and emergent themes:
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Emerging Topics & Themes
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Translational Pathways: A recurring theme was how early-stage discoveries in gene editing and cell modalities are being scaled towards clinical use.
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Interdisciplinarity: Successful therapies depend on tightly integrated engineering biology, clinical validation and regulatory pathways.
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Patient Advocacy & Impact: Talks that integrated patient experiences underscored the human dimension of scientific progress.
3. Zeeks Newsletter Integration
The key blog and podcast episodes were repurposed within the Zeeks newsletter, adding structured summaries, direct interview quotes, and links to the final media assets. This allowed us to keep the existing community informed and engaged with original reporting.
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>> Email average numbers: 97% deliverability, 60% open rate, and 3% click rate
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4. Social Media Reflections: Live Posts & Photos
Using social media before the event increased awareness, while live posting during the event provided updates during sessions, featuring quotes, photos, and key insights. Using photos, we aimed to convey the vibrancy of the event and demonstrate how community-driven events can effectively link academia and industry.
Conclusion
Zeeks’ integrated media partnership with ELRIG at Cell & Gene Therapy 2026 demonstrated the power of strategic science marketing across owned channels and live media platforms.
By creating multiple touchpoints (podcasts, newsletters, blog, and social media), Zeeks not only amplified the event’s scientific reach but also reinforced its position as a conduit between science and community.
This multi-layered content ecosystem ensured that the learning, dialogue and innovation showcased at ELRIG endured well beyond the two-day conference, fostering ongoing engagement and knowledge sharing.
As research becomes increasingly interdisciplinary and data-intensive, the role of expert-led science communication will only grow. At Zeeks, we remain committed to ensuring that complex science is communicated with clarity, integrity, and respect.
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As always, by scientists, for scientists.
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If you want to learn more about Zeeks media partnerships, please get in touch.
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