India Focuses on Advancing Cell and Gene Therapy

• 22 Jan 2025

On 21st January 2025, the 27th meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) held at Vigyan Bhawan focused on the development of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) in India, with a particular emphasis on addressing rare diseases and cancer.

• The meeting was attended by government officials, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives, discussing the potential of CGT in combating medical challenges in India.
• The meeting highlighted the advancements in genome research, such as the Genome India Project, and the success of CAR-T cell and gene therapy for Hemophilia, pointing out these as key milestones for the future.
• The meeting advocated for accelerated CGT development through collaboration between academia, industry, and government, while ensuring affordability and accessibility.
• Presentations from key stakeholders such as the Department of Biotechnology, CSIR, ICMR, and Department of Pharmaceuticals outlined progress and highlighted the need for regulatory updates, infrastructure improvements, and workforce training.