Robert Deans is Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research at the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, applying his experience towards accelerating patient access to next generation genetic medicines. Previously, Dr Deans was CSO at Synthego, a genome engineering company automating a new era of cell and gene therapeutics. Prior to Synthego, Dr Deans was founding CTO at BlueRock Therapeutics, creating iPSC based allogeneic cell therapeutics by harnessing pluripotent stem cell biology and gene editing tools. Before BlueRock, Dr Deans was founding CSO at Rubius Therapeutics developing a platform of novel enucleated cell therapeutics from engineered hematopoietic stem cells. Dr Deans was previously EVP at Athersys Inc, an adult stem cell therapeutics company now in late stage clinical development. Dr. Deans has more than 35 years of experience in adult stem cell therapeutics which includes HSC gene therapy and commercialization of progenitor cell therapeutics from bone marrow. Dr. Deans has been influential in stem cell and therapeutic societies in guiding translation and standardization of stem and progenitor cell practices.