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 In a milestone step toward strengthening India’s cell and gene therapy (CGT) ecosystem, Miltenyi Biotec, a global leader in CGT technologies, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) to establish India’s first hands-on training programmes in clinical cell manufacturing. This groundbreaking collaboration—initiated by Miltenyi Biotec and certified under the aegis of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)—aims to bridge India’s talent and translational gap in this rapidly growing field by equipping professionals with practical expertise in the manufacturing of advanced therapies.
The training program will be hosted at THSTI’s GMP facility, with Miltenyi Biotec deploying its cutting-edge automated platforms, including the CliniMACS Prodigy and MACSQuant Analyzer. These globally validated systems support end-to-end, closed-system cell processing, ensuring high standards of safety, scalability, and regulatory compliance.
Participants will receive joint certification and benefit from an immersive, industry-aligned curriculum combining theory with hands-on training in CAR-T cell manufacturing, quality control, and analytics.
Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Priya Kapoor-G Hingorani, MD – Miltenyi Biotec India said, “We are proud to collaborate with a premier institution like THSTI to introduce India’s first hands-on training program in clinical cell manufacturing, with a strong focus on CAR-T cell therapies. This initiative reflects Miltenyi Biotec’s deep and long-term commitment to advancing cell and gene therapies in India—not only through cutting-edge technologies but also by investing in the ecosystem that enables their success. This partnership marks a pivotal step in building the skilled workforce and robust infrastructure needed to bring these transformative therapies from bench to bedside. By combining our global expertise with India’s translational research strengths, we aim to catalyse innovation, strengthen local capabilities, and accelerate patient access to life-saving CAR-T and other advanced treatments.”
“By establishing India's first hands-on training program in clinical cell manufacturing, with a particular focus on CAR-T cell therapies, we are directly addressing the critical need for skilled professionals and robust infrastructure. This initiative underscores THSTI's commitment to translating cutting-edge research into tangible healthcare solutions for the public. We are confident that this programme will significantly accelerate the adoption of advanced therapies in India, ultimately benefiting patients and strengthening our nation's position in global biotechnology,” said Prof Ganesan Karthikeyan, executive director, THSTI on the collaboration.
The initiative is more than a training program—it represents a strategic investment in India's CGT infrastructure, ensuring that emerging therapies can move from research to patient care faster and more effectively. By focusing on practical skill development, the program aims to build a pipeline of certified CGT professionals, enhance the quality and scalability of advanced therapy manufacturing in India, support local innovation and access to cutting-edge treatments and foster industry-academia partnerships to drive translational research.
This partnership reflects Miltenyi Biotec’s ongoing commitment to not just advancing scientific innovation, but also to enabling talent development as a foundation for sustainable healthcare advancement in India and beyond.
Miltenyi Biotec is a global provider of products and services that empower biomedical discovery and advance cellular therapy. Their innovative tools support research at every level, from basic research to translational research to clinical application. This integrated portfolio enables scientists and clinicians to obtain, analyze, and utilize the cell. Miltenyi Biotec’s technologies offer solutions for cellular research, cell therapy, and cell manufacturing. Their more than 35 years of expertise spans research areas including immunology, stem cell biology, neuroscience, cancer, haematology, and graft engineering. In their commitment to the scientific community, they also offer comprehensive scientific support, consultation, and expert training. Today, Miltenyi Biotec has more than 4,700 employees in 24 countries – all dedicated to helping researchers and clinicians around the world make a greater impact on science and health.
THSTI is a premier institute of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. THSTI is dedicated to translational research, integrating medicine, science, and engineering to develop biomedical innovations for public health, with a focus on vaccines, infectious diseases, and other critical health areas.
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