Cell & Gene Therapy in India
Opportunities, Career Paths, and the Future for Researchers
February 7, 2026
Opportunities, Career Paths, and the Future for Researchers
Cell and gene therapy (CGT) has transitioned from experimental promise to regulated products like India’s first indigenous CAR-T therapy, NexCAR19, approved in 2023. India benefits from a growing market projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2033 at 15% annual growth, fueled by talent, patient pools, and investments like Bharat Biotech’s $75 million CGT facility launched in 2026. Researchers must prioritize interdisciplinary skills in process development, GMP compliance, and regulatory navigation to capitalize on this expansion.
Why CGT Matters for India
CGT technologies, including CAR-T, TCR therapies, and viral vectors, now target oncology, rare diseases, and metabolic disorders beyond initial case studies. The product’s inseparability from its manufacturing process demands scalability and regulatory alignment, where India’s cost advantages position it as a global hub if infrastructure matures. Recent CDSCO guidelines in development for CGTs, building on 2019 gene therapy rules, signal improving clarity to boost innovation and patient access.
Key Career Roles in CGT
India’s ecosystem offers diverse roles across the value chain, with active openings like Scientist positions at Aurigene Oncology requiring gene editing and immunology expertise.
Role
Core Responsibilities
Example Employers
Translational Scientist
Design preclinical studies, potency assays, IND preparation
Startups, hospitals like Tata Memorial
Process Development Scientist
Optimize scale-up, transduction, cryopreservation
CDMOs like Vector BioMed
Analytical Specialist
Validate flow cytometry, qPCR for regulatory dossiers
Bharat Biotech facility
GMP/MSAT Operator
Manage cleanrooms, batch records, tech transfer
CRDMOs growing to $22-25B by 2035
QA/QC Specialist
SOPs, audits, stability programs
ImmunoACT, Immuneel Therapeutics
Regulatory Strategist
CMC dossiers, CDSCO engagement
Pharma firms, consultancies
Clinical Operations
Trial management, patient safety in gene trials
CROs expanding in CGT
CDMO Business Development
Client mediation, operations
Vector BioMed, new platforms
Bioinformatics Specialist
Single-cell analysis, process analytics
Data teams in oncology CGT
Over 60 gene therapy jobs listed in India as of early 2025 highlight demand.
Essential Skills for Success
Hybrid expertise commands 15-25% salary premiums: master bench skills like CRISPR, viral handling alongside process mapping and assay validation. Regulatory literacy for CDSCO filings and documentation discipline are critical for reproducibility in GMP settings. Interpersonal and project management skills bridge biology, engineering, and QA teams.
Entry Pathways
PhD/postdoc routes emphasize translational GMP projects; industry starts via junior bench/QA roles at CDMOs. Upskilling in bioprocessing and regulatory courses accelerates entry, as seen in Aurigene’s requirements. Hybrid paths, like international internships linking to Indian hubs, build clinic-GMP experience.
Ecosystem Gaps and Needs
Strengths include talent and scale, but shared GMP suites, quality standardization, and regulatory co-design are vital. Targeted funding for platforms, not just assets, and career transparency can curb attrition amid CRDMO growth.
Future Outlook (2026-2035)
Domestic CDMOs will proliferate, boosting process/QC jobs; clinical trials for allogeneic therapies expand ops roles. In-vivo gene editing may enable off-the-shelf products, leveraging India’s manufacturing edge for global supply. Hybrid translational-regulatory careers will dominate as approvals like Qartemi proliferate.
Advice for Researchers
Cultivate one deep technical skill (e.g., flow cytometry) with process habits and cross-discipline communication to become indispensable. Prioritize translational exposure early—reproducibility trumps publications in CGT’s scale-driven era. India’s potential to retain talent hinges on systemic advances turning research into accessible therapies.
Key Reference Links
- “India’s Cell & Gene Therapy Market to Reach $2.5 Billion by 2033” (LinkedIn, Oct 28, 2025). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bmahajan-3108_cellandgenetherapy-healthcareinnovation-indiacgtmarket-activity-7389262248122327040…
- “CAR-T cell therapy in India 2024” (Israeli Hospitals Ltd., Apr 9, 2024). https://israelihospitals.org.il/car-t-cell-therapy-india-2024.html
- “Career Prospects & Job Profiles in Clinical Research” (ACRI India, Dec 12, 2018). https://acriindia.com/placement/job-profiles/
- “Cell and Gene Therapy CDMO Market Booms with 27.94% CAGR” (Biospace, Jul 6, 2025). https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/cell-and-gene-therapy-cdmo-market-booms-with-27-94-cagr-oncology-and-preclinical-segment…
- “New guidelines for CGTs under process, draft to be out by year-end” (Economic Times Pharma, Sep 8, 2025). https://pharma.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy-and-regulations/new-guidelines-for-cgts-under-process-draft-to-be-out-by…
- “India’s Bharat Biotech launches cell gene therapy facility” (Reuters, Mar 20, 2025). https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/indias-bharat-biotech-launches-cell-gene-therapy-facility-eyes-produ…
- ”India’s Cell & Gene Therapy Landscape: Promise, Progress, and Challenges” (Loestro, Apr 4, 2025). https://www.loestro.com/indias-cell-gene-therapy-landscape-promise-progress-and-challenges/
- “Scientist – Cell & Gene Therapy Position at Aurigene Oncology” (Biotecnika, Apr 20, 2025). https://www.biotecnika.org/2025/04/scientist-cell-gene-therapy-job-bangalore/
- “Workforce skill development pathways to close the CGT manufacturing talent gap” (Eureka PatSnap, Mar 31, 2025). https://eureka.patsnap.com/report-workforce-skill-development-pathways-to-close-the-cgt-manufacturing-talent-gap
- “Unleashing the Tiger: Indian CRDMO Sector 2025” (BCG, Mar 12, 2025). https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/india-unleashing-the-tiger-indian-crdmo-sector
- “India: Therapeutic / Stem Cell” (Genetic Literacy Project, Jan 15, 2020). https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/india-therapeutic-stem-cell/
- “CAR-T Cell Therapy for Blood Cancers in India (2025)” (CAR-T Access, Mar 19, 2025). https://car-t-access.org/car-t-cell-therapy-blood-cancers-india-2025.html
- “Bharat Biotech Launches $75 Million Cell And Gene Therapy Facility” (Megaproject, Jan 30, 2026). https://www.bioprocessintl.com/facilities-capacity/bharat-biotech-opens-75m-cgt-facility-in-india
- “61 Gene Therapy jobs in India” (LinkedIn, Mar 13, 2025). https://in.linkedin.com/jobs/gene-therapy-jobs
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