The First Stakeholder Meeting on “Establishment of Centre of Excellence for CAR T Cell Research and GMP Manufacturing at THSTI” brought together key clinicians, researchers, and industry experts from across globe to discuss the role of CAR-T cell therapy in treating various diseases, including autoimmune disorders, neuroinflammation, and malignancies. The discussions covered current clinical applications, patient recruitment strategies, industry collaborations, and the establishment of a GMP facility for clinical-grade CAR-T manufacturing.
Key Highlights from the Meeting
The meeting featured prominent clinicians working on various disease pathologies and treating patients with existing therapies while exploring the integration of CAR-T cell therapy. 
Dr. Vikash Agarwal (SGPGIMS, Lucknow): Shared his experience in treating patients with CAR-T cells and discussed the “Burden and treatment of systemic sclerosis, highlighting the potential role of CAR-T therapy” in managing this condition.
Dr. Vikram Mathews (CMC, Vellore): Provided insights on CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for liquid tumors, with a focus on Phase I clinical trials of CD19-directed CAR-T therapy and its therapeutic outcomes.
Dr. Uma Kumar (AIIMS, Delhi): Presented an overview of current therapies in autoimmune disorders, addressing the limitations of existing treatments and exploring the feasibility of CAR-T cell therapy in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Dr. Manjari Tripathi (AIIMS, Delhi): Delivered a talk on current treatment modalities for neuroinflammation and the possibility of CAR-T-based therapy for conditions like multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmune disorders.
Dr. Shyam Aggarwal discussed CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors, its limitations, and future potential.
Industry & Research Contributions
Dr. Michael Aigner: Miltenyi Biotech Representative emphasized their support for GMP facility establishment and the Prodigy system for clinical-grade CAR-T manufacturing, with a focus on unlocking new horizons in malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
Leading CAR-T Scientist & Entrepreneur Dr. Anish Suri working on allogeneic CAR-T cells and next-generation therapeutic delivery shared his insights on biologic platforms for selective modulation of disease-relevant T cell repertoires.
Panel Discussion & Actionable Outcomes
A brainstorming session was followed by a panel discussion featuring: Dr. Sameer Bakhshi, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Ganguly, Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Dr. Neeraj Sidharthan, Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Dr. Vikram Mathews, Dr. Manjari Tripathi, Dr. Vikas Agarwal, Dr. Uma Kumar, Dr. Rudra Prosad Goswami, Dr. Kaustav Chowdhury, Dr. Anish Suri.
They all stressed the importance of a dedicated GMP facility for CAR-T manufacturing to meet clinical and regulatory requirements. The panel discussed new players entering the market, which could lower the cost of CAR-T therapies and make them more accessible.
The stakeholder meeting successfully highlighted clinical advancements, industry collaborations, and research opportunities in CAR-T cell therapy. Moving forward, key stakeholders will work towards collaborative initiatives to drive CAR-T therapy development and strengthen India’s capabilities in cellular immunotherapy.