These two scans are taken one month apart. On the left, one week before CAR-T treatment - the black areas are cancer. On the right, one month after treatment - the black areas are normal organ function. The cancer is gone.

THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE ON MEDICAL INNOVATION

Laurie Adami brings a rare voice to conversations about cancer treatment, clinical trials, and breakthrough therapies: the voice of someone who has lived it.

After a twelve-year journey with stage IV follicular lymphoma and seven lines of therapy, Laurie received CAR-T cell therapy in 2018 as part of a clinical trial at UCLA. The treatment saved her life.

Since then she has spoken with medical organizations, research institutions, advocacy groups, and industry leaders about the realities of navigating cancer care and the importance of including patients in the future of medical innovation.

Laurie’s talks combine personal experience, insight into the patient journey, and practical perspective for healthcare leaders working to improve care, access, and engagement.

Laurie is available for keynote presentations, conference panels, and healthcare innovation events.

Book Laurie to Speak

Signature Talks

Ideal Audiences

The Patient Journey Through CAR-T Therapy
A firsthand account of navigating experimental treatment and what patients and families face along the way.

Clinical Trials from the Patient Perspective
Why patients participate in trials, what barriers exist, and how organizations can better support them.

When Innovation Becomes Personal
Understanding breakthrough therapies through the lived experience of the people receiving them.

Navigating Uncertainty in Cancer Treatment
How patients make decisions when facing complex and evolving treatment options.

The Importance of Patient Voice in Healthcare Innovation
Why patient insight should be central to research, care design, and medical communication.

  • Healthcare organizations

  • Biotech and pharmaceutical companies

  • Clinical research teams

  • Medical conferences

  • Patient advocacy organizations

  • Healthcare innovation forums

Selected Speaking Engagements

Since her remission in 2018, Laurie has spoken at leading cell and gene therapy conferences, biotech companies, and advocacy events across the US and internationally - consistently as the only patient in the room. A selection of her speaking engagements is collected here.

Featured
Speaking to the Scientists Behind the Science: AstraZeneca Santa Monica

AstraZeneca, Santa Monica, December 2025: Approximately 100 researchers attended Laurie's talk at the AstraZeneca facility - the same building where Kite Pharma was originally located. Laurie spoke for approximately one hour about what it means to be a patient navigating a terminal disease and the barriers patients face.

Speaking at the Royal Institution London: 4Bio Annual General Meeting

4Bio Annual General Meeting, The Royal Institution, London, October 2025: Laurie spoke at the annual general meeting of 4Bio, a private equity fund focused on cell and gene therapy companies. The Royal Institution was founded in 1795 to honor scientific advances.

A Decade of Progress in Cell Therapy: CAR-TCR Summit Boston

10th Annual CAR-TCR Summit, Boston Public Library, September 2025: Laurie spoke at one of the leading annual gatherings for cell and gene therapy researchers and clinicians.

The Patient Who Helped Make It Possible: Kite Pharma's 25,000th CAR-T Patient Celebration

Kite Pharma 25,000th CAR-T Patient Celebration, Santa Monica, December 2024: Company-wide celebration of a milestone. Laurie spoke on a moderated panel alongside another long-term CAR-T patient, Branden, who received the treatment for pediatric leukemia the same year as Laurie.

Keynoting the Advanced Therapies Congress: Philadelphia 2024

Advanced Therapies Congress, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, November 2024: Keynote speech to approximately 1200 attendees. Laurie shared the stage with Cindy Perettie, CEO of Kite Pharma.