India is at a turning point in the development of cell and gene therapies, especially powerful treatments like CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for cancer and autoimmune diseases. These therapies work by re-engineering a patient’s own immune cells to find and destroy diseased cells. The biggest opportunity for India is to skip expensive, slow, trial-and-error approaches used elsewhere and instead build smarter therapies from the start using artificial intelligence (AI). AI can help design better CARs that recognize cancer cells more accurately and stay active for longer, reducing relapse. India has a clear advantage here with its strong IT expertise, growing biotechnology capabilities, and an urgent need to make these life-saving treatments affordable. By combining AI with advanced biology, we can also develop digital cells and human digital twins, which are computer-based models that simulate how cells and therapies behave inside the human body. These digital tools can predict outcomes, test ideas virtually, and help select the best designs before entering the lab or clinic, greatly speeding up development and reducing costs.
“India has a unique opportunity to build smarter, AI-driven cell therapies from the start making advanced treatments safer, faster, and truly affordable.“
To fully unlock this potential, India must focus on a few key investments over the next decade. First, we need integrated research and translation hubs where AI scientists, biologists, engineers, clinicians, and regulatory experts work together under one roof. Today, discoveries often get stuck between the lab and the clinic because these groups operate separately. Second, India must invest in modern biomanufacturing, including scalable viral and non-viral delivery systems, GMP-grade cell processing facilities, and automation. Making therapies affordable depends as much on how we manufacture them as how we design them. Third, we must invest in digital biology platforms, including digital cell modeling and patient-specific digital twins. These technologies can simulate treatment responses, optimize dosing, and identify safety risks early, saving years of development time. Alongside this, strengthening regulatory science and training skilled professionals who understand both biology and data science will be essential. With coordinated efforts from government, academia, startups, hospitals, and industry, India can build a globally competitive ecosystem for advanced therapies.
For young scientists entering this field, the most important advice is to think beyond traditional boundaries. The future of cell and gene therapy lies at the intersection of biology, computation, engineering, and medicine. Learning how to work with data, AI tools, and digital models will be just as important as mastering laboratory techniques. At the same time, patience and scientific rigor remain crucial, as biology is complex, and progress takes time. Young researchers should focus on real clinical problems and patient needs, not just fashionable topics. Collaboration, openness, and mentorship will play a key role in success. My own journey from basic cell biology to AI-guided CAR-T design, has shown that meaningful breakthroughs happen when diverse teams work together with a shared goal. The next decade will shape India’s position in global biomedical innovation, and young scientists will be central to making advanced therapies safer, faster, and accessible to all.
