India Launches First CAR-T Manufacturing Training Program to Build Cell and Gene Therapy Expertise
Key Insights
BRIC-THSTI (search), Miltenyi Biotec (search), and BIRAC (search) have launched India's first hands-on training program focused on CAR-T cell therapy (search) manufacturing to bridge the gap between research and clinical application.
The three-day workshop runs from November 12-14, 2025, combining online modules with practical training on CliniMACS Prodigy and MACSQuant Analyzer systems at THSTI's CGT facility.
The initiative aims to strengthen India's translational research ecosystem and accelerate the country's emergence as a global hub for cell and gene therapy innovation.
BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (search) (BRIC-THSTI (search)), in collaboration with Miltenyi Biotec (search) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC (search)), has launched India's first hands-on training program on the Foundations of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Manufacturing, with a special focus on CAR-T cell therapy (search).
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical application by equipping early-career scientists and clinicians with practical experience spanning pre-clinical development, GMP-compliant manufacturing, and clinical translation.
Program Structure and Timeline
The workshop, titled "CAR-T Cell Therapy (search) Manufacturing Hands-on Workshop and Symposia," will take place at THSTI, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, from November 12-14, 2025. The three-day program combines Miltenyi University's online modules with immersive, practical training at THSTI's CGT facility, covering every stage from pre-clinical development and closed-system manufacturing to quality control and clinical translation.
Participants, including researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals from across India, will engage in intensive training after completing Miltenyi University's online curriculum. The training is structured to deliver end-to-end exposure to CGT manufacturing, including preclinical development, closed-system cell processing, and quality-control and compliance practices.
Technical Training Components
Key components of the training include hands-on CAR-T cell manufacturing using the CliniMACS Prodigy system and the MACSQuant Analyzer for cell analysis and quality-control testing. The program covers in-process and quality-control workflows, specifically CAR-T Express Modes, and provides continued access to Miltenyi University's virtual curriculum.
Key highlights include training on the CliniMACS Prodigy and MACSQuant® Analyzer systems, in-process and quality-control workflows, and continued access to Miltenyi's virtual learning platform.
Industry Leadership Perspectives
"At Miltenyi Biotec, we believe the promise of cell and gene therapy is only as strong as the ecosystem that supports it, the infrastructure, the skills, and the technology. Through this collaboration with THSTI and BIRAC (search), we are investing in India's next-generation scientific talent to ensure that advanced therapies can be translated from bench to bedside in a way that is local, relevant and sustainable," said Dr. Priya Kapoor G. Hingorani, Managing Director, Miltenyi Biotec (search) India.
Prof. G. Karthikeyan, Executive Director, BRIC-THSTI (search), noted: "By bringing together academic excellence, industry know-how and ecosystem support, we are accelerating India's aspiration to become a global hub in cell and gene therapy manufacturing and delivery. Our partnership with Miltenyi Biotec (search) and BIRAC (search) marks a significant step forward in strengthening India's translational research ecosystem."
Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC (search), added: "BIRAC has been committed to nurturing India's biotechnology ecosystem through innovation-driven public-private partnerships. Initiatives such as this enable India to build the skilled talent pool and manufacturing frameworks that are essential to bringing advanced therapies to those who need them most."
Addressing Global Healthcare Challenges
Globally, cell and gene therapies are being used in the treatment of cancer (search), autoimmune and rare diseases (search). The complexity of manufacturing and the need for trained personnel have posed challenges to wider access. India's emphasis on capacity-building, skill-transfer and local manufacturing capability seeks to address these gaps and develop scalable, patient-oriented solutions suited to national healthcare needs.
With cell and gene therapies transforming care globally, this initiative aims to strengthen India's translational ecosystem, boost manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate the country's emergence as a global hub for cell and gene therapy innovation.
The collaboration between THSTI, Miltenyi Biotec (search) and BIRAC (search) reflects a shared effort to build local expertise, enhance translational capabilities and establish an enabling ecosystem for precision medicine in India.