Hello, my dear listeners, and welcome to the Kapel Gupta Career Pod Show, your go-to podcast for career advice, insights and opportunities. And I'm your host, Kapel Gupta. And today we are diving into an exciting, futuristic and life-changing career, gene therapy. And if you have ever wondered about a career where you can cure genetic diseases, work with cutting-edge technology and truly change lives, then stay tuned. This episode is for you. Genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and even some types of cancer have long been considered incurable. But thanks to gene therapy, we now have some hope. And this field is growing rapidly, and skilled gene therapists are in high demand. So let's break it down. What does a gene therapist do? And what are the qualifications needed? And most importantly, is this the right career for you? So, hello all. I'm Kapil Gupta, founder of Study Abroad Academy. I'm on a mission to coach and mentor 100,000 high school students and help them realize the dream of studying in the best universities of the world and build happy careers for themselves. So, alright, let's start with the big question. How promising is the career of a gene therapist? Well, the short answer, very promising. So let's begin with India first. India is emerging as a major hub for biotechnology in gene therapy is gaining momentum. With research institutes like the Indian Institute of Science, National Institute of Immunology, and CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology investing in gene therapy research, the field is expected to grow significantly. Startups and biotech companies such as Medgenome, Strand Life Sciences, and BioCon are exploring gene-based treatments. The Indian government is supporting biotechnology initiatives through schemes like BIRAC, that is Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, and making it easier for research in gene therapy to flourish and talking about abroad. The US and Europe are leading in gene therapy advancements with institutions like Harvard Medical School, MIT, John Hopkins University, and Stanford University paving the way. Companies such as CRISPR Therapeutics, Bluebird Bio, and Novatis are revolutionizing medicine with gene editing techniques. Countries like Canada, Australia and Germany are also investing heavily in gene therapy, making it a global career opportunity. So what exactly does a gene therapist do? Well, it's a mix of science, research, and direct patient care. Now let's break it down. So the daily responsibilities is that they conduct research on genetic disorders and develop treatment plans. They work with CRISPR and other gene editing technologies to modify faulty genes. Then they develop personalized medicine based on a patient's genetic makeup and collaborate with doctors, genetic counselors, and biomedical engineers to implement therapies, and then they work in labs, hospitals, and biotech companies focusing on gene-based treatments. And where do they work? That is the gene therapist. So I would say research labs, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and medical centers, and government and private research organizations. And if you're interested in this field, you must be wondering what skills and education do you need? So talking about the skills first, strong foundation in biology, genetics and biochemistry, proficiency in CRISPR and gene editing tools, analytical thinking and problem solving, then attention to detail and precision and good communication skills to explain complex scientific processes. And let me tell you, if any of these essential skills are missing, connect with me. I know how to inculcate these skills in you. So no worries. Now talking about the educational pathway to begin with, class 12th from science, PCB, that is physics, chemistry, biology, then bachelor's degree. It can be a BSC or BTEC in biotech, genetics, biochemistry, or microbiology. Then a master's degree, that is MSc or MTech in genetic engineering, molecular biology or biomedical sciences. Then PhD in gene therapy or a related field for advanced research in higher positions. And talking about the best universities to study gene therapy, let's talk about India first. The IITs, mainly IIT Delhi, IIT Mumbai and IIT Karakpur because they have biotechnology programs, then Ames Delhi for biomedical sciences, then Jawaharlal Nehru University, very popular one, JNU for genetic engineering and National Institute of Immunology, based in Delhi. Then talking about the global universities, that is Harvard Medical School, Gene Therapy Research, then MIT, that is CRISP and Genetic Engineering, then University of Oxford, based in UK for biotechnology and gene therapy, then ETH Zurich, based in Switzerland for molecular biology, then University of Melbourne, based in Australia for biomedical sciences. And now let's talk about money. That how much can you earn as a gene therapist? So here's a breakdown. So talking about salaries in India for the entry levels, it can be 6 to 10 lakhs per annum. The mid-level, that is, with some experience, it can go up to 15 to 25 lakhs per annum. And senior level positions or the research scientist can earn somewhere between 30 to 50 lakhs per annum. Talking abroad, in based in USA, it is 80,000 to 150,000 dollars per year. And if it is in UK, it's around 50,000 to 100,000 pounds per year. For Germany, it can be 60,000 euros to 120,000 euros per year. In Australia, 70,000 Australian dollars to 140,000 Australian dollars per year. So there you have it. Gene therapy is one of the most advanced and impactful careers in modern science. And if you love science, innovation, and making a real difference in people's lives, this could be the perfect career for you. As Richard Dawkins once said, biology is the study of complicated things that have the appearance of having been designed with a purpose. And gene therapy is proving that we can actually redesign life itself to eliminate diseases. And if this episode helped you, share it with a friend who might be interested in a career in biotechnology. And don't forget to follow the Kapel Gupta Career Pod Show for more career insights. So until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and chase your dreams.