Why San Diego?
The Biotech Beach Is the Next Frontier for Cell and Gene Therapy
When it comes to biotech, Boston and the Bay Area have long dominated the conversation. But San Diego is fast becoming one of the most exciting locations in the US for the next generation of cell and gene therapy innovation. That’s why Advanced Therapies Week 2026 is heading to the West Coast.
San Diego has quietly built a world-class life sciences ecosystem. It combines deep scientific expertise with strong infrastructure, access to talent, and a quality of life that draws top researchers, executives, and entrepreneurs. The result is a city that doesn’t just support advanced therapies—it accelerates them.
Here’s what makes San Diego the logical next home for our industry’s flagship gathering.
A global leader in genomics and personalized medicine
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UC San Diego secured $1.7 billion in research funding in fiscal year 2025 from federal, state, industry, and philanthropic sources—fueling more than 5,600 active research projects. UC San Diego Today
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated over $1 billion in FY2024 to San Diego institutions for healthcare and life sciences initiatives. CBRE
A biotech ecosystem built to scale
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The San Diego region directly employed approximately 71,448 life science workers in 2024 and contributed $54.1 billion in total economic output. Biocom California
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There are nearly 2,000 life science–related companies in the region. ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV+1
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More than 3.2 million square feet of new lab and office space is expected to become available in San Diego County by the end of 2025. sandiegolabspaces.com
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The Research & Development District (RaDD), a $1.9 billion project, has inked its first life sciences tenant in 2025: the J. Craig Venter Institute will occupy ~50,000 square feet, about one full floor, employing around 100 people. Axios
Investment capital is flowing (but with caution)
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In Q1 2025, San Diego life sciences raised over $1 billion across ~40 deals. rjicpas.com
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In Q2 2025, San Diego startups captured more than $709 million in venture capital funding, though that was down ~34% from a year ago. Deal count remained similar, suggesting smaller average deal sizes. San Diego Regional EDC
A deep and (still) reliable talent pipeline
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As of 2024, San Diego's life sciences industry includes over 89,000 people working in the sector, of whom over 17,000 are in life sciences R&D roles. CBRE
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Average life sciences salaries in San Diego are above $171,000 per year. STAT
A lifestyle that attracts and retains talent
San Diego remains a region with high quality of life, strong amenities, climate, etc.—while numbers for life sciences professionals citing quality of life as a top factor are harder to find for 2025, the region’s overall growth in creative and highly skilled sectors continues to reflect lifestyle appeal. (No single recent survey found that matches “75% said quality of life” but anecdotal and institutional hiring supports the draw.)
A city that understands what the sector needs
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The RaDD project (Downtown San Diego) is evidence of growing local infrastructure investment tailored to life sciences. Axios
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The region is seeing more lab space being made, with many projects nearing completion, and increasing availability. CBRE+2CBRE+2
San Diego offers a unique mix of scientific excellence, growing investment, talent infrastructure, and strong quality of life. It is not just a rising hub; it is already a proven engine for life science innovation, even in the face of funding cycles and economic shifts.
Join us in San Diego
Advanced Therapies Week 2026 takes place February 9–12 in San Diego, bringing together more than 2,000 leaders from biotech, investment, science, manufacturing and regulation to turn innovation into action. For the first time on the West Coast, the event will be hosted in a premium new venue at the heart of one of the fastest-growing biotech hubs in the United States.
Attendees can expect five content tracks, more than 250 speakers, over 3,000 one-to-one meetings and 200 exhibitors, alongside the standout Investment Summit. Networking is at the core of the 2026 experience, with a new Networking Concierge service, upgraded matchmaking app, and an expanded social program that includes Topgolf, a Petco Park takeover and the Sip & Connect welcome party. Tickets are now available at www.phacilitate.com/advanced-therapies-week.
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