India’s efforts to become a global hub for cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing are being constrained by a widening skills gap across advanced bioprocessing, analytics, and clinical-grade production. While demand for CGT products is growing driven by rising R&D activity, increasing investment, and the growth of domestic and international partnerships, talent pipeline has not kept pace.
The country currently lacks sufficient trained professionals capable of supporting end-to-end CGT workflows, from upstream cell culture to regulatory-compliant quality systems. To unlock the sector’s full potential, India must rapidly scale structured, industry-aligned training programmes that equip scientists, engineers, and technicians with the specialized competencies needed for this new era of bio-manufacturing, said Dr. Priya Kapoor G. Hingorani, managing director, Miltenyi Biotec India.
Noting that India is at a pivotal moment in its cell and gene therapy journey, Dr Hingorani said, “We are seeing remarkable scientific progress across CGT, immunotherapies, and regenerative medicine. However, true clinical translation is achieved when a workforce is confident and competent in GMP-aligned manufacturing. The reality is that theoretical training alone cannot prepare scientists and clinicians for the precision, documentation discipline, and aseptic handling required in real-world cell processing environments.”
To close this gap, hands-on GMP-compliant training is becoming a crucial prerequisite. Clinical-grade solutions require safety, product consistency, traceability, and reproducibility, all of which are guaranteed by GMP frameworks, she added.
Globally, the most successful CGT ecosystems have been built on practical, immersive training that mirrors actual manufacturing scenarios. When professionals learn how to troubleshoot deviations, maintain sterility, operate closed and automated systems, and manage in-process controls, their readiness for clinical-grade production increases. This is the kind of experiential learning India needs to scale safe, consistent and affordable advanced therapies, said the Miltenyi Biotec India chief.
Today, India faces a clear skill gap across CGT manufacturing, analytics and clinical-grade bioprocessing. There is a need for structured training programmes to meet the demand for cell manufacturing specialists. Addressing this is not just a workforce issue; it is a national capability requirement to strengthen the Make in India movement. Hands-on cell and gene therapy training empowers early-career researchers, technologists and clinicians to move innovations from the bench to the bedside with confidence. It strengthens India’s ability to manufacture locally, reduces dependence on external expertise and ultimately shortens the time it takes for patients to access next-generation therapies, Dr Hingorani told Pharmabiz in an email.
We are committed to enabling this transformation at Miltenyi Biotec India. Our collaboration with BRIC-THSTI and BIRAC launched India’s first hands-on training programme on the Foundations of Cell and Gene Therapy is a step toward building this much-needed capability. By offering structured exposure to GMP-compliant workflows, CGT manufacturing and clinical translation pathways, we aim to equip India’s talent with the competencies that global CGT standards demand.
Globally, cell and gene therapies are changing the way we treat cancer, autoimmune conditions, and rare diseases. As the country builds its CGT ecosystem, continuous upskilling and strong partnerships between industry, academia and government will be essential. With the right training infrastructure and knowledge transfer, India can emerge as a leader in developing scalable, patient-centric advanced therapies for the future, said Dr Hingorani. |