C. Russell Cruz  is a translational immunologist and innovator in immunotherapy, dedicated to advancing cellular therapies for cancer and infectious diseases. He is a tenured associate professor at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University, where he has led an  independent academic laboratory since 2013. He has a strong history of collaborative work, directing subgroups within cross-disciplinary teams under initiatives such as Cancer Grand Challenges, Cancer Moonshot, and the Martin Delaney Collaboratory. As a mentor, Dr. Cruz has guided individuals across various career stages, earning a Mentorship Award from Children’s National. Dr. Cruz has extensive experience across the clinical trial pipeline, from preclinical stages to Phase I trials, ensuring data safety and compliance through roles on several review committees. He is also experienced in bridging academia with commercialization efforts and has co-founded Mana Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on immunotherapies. Dr. Cruz actively engages in public dissemination of cutting-edge science, ensuring that his work reaches broader audiences.