Universities can do more to prepare the biomedical workforce for the cell-, tissue- and gene-manufacturing industry.

Abstract

Background and aims: Precision medicine is poised to revolutionize the treatment of complex diseases, with cell, tissue and gene therapy products (CTGTP) emerging as a major driver of innovation. As industry demand for skilled professionals grows, academic institutions must adapt to equip graduates with the necessary expertise. This study examines the undergraduate curricula and internship programs of top English-speaking universities globally to assess their alignment with industry needs in the CTGTP sector.

Methods: We conducted a comparative analysis of undergraduate programs in biomedical sciences, bioengineering and life sciences, identifying CTGTP-related coursework and evaluating the depth of theoretical training offered. In addition, we mapped major biomedical companies to determine the availability of internship and research opportunities, highlighting discrepancies between academic preparation and workforce requirements.

Results: Our findings indicate that although some universities are trying to integrate CTGTP as a teaching component, many institutions offer limited coursework, leaving students to seek specialization through electives, special programs or postgraduate education.

Conclusions: To address this bottleneck in skilled labor, we propose curriculum enhancements, stronger industry-academic partnerships and expanded practical training opportunities to better prepare graduates for careers in the cell, tissue and gene manufacturing industry.