The status of cell and gene therapy education in medical schools—An international survey

INTRODUCTION: Cell and gene therapy (CGT) has emerged as a distinct medical field with more than 50 "Food and Drug Administration (FDA)"-approved products treating conditions from leukemia to sickle cell disease. Despite this therapeutic revolution and the field's inherent complexity, the status of CGT education in medical schools remains unknown. STUDY DESIGNS AND METHODS: This study explores the current state of CGT education in medical school curricula internationally and evaluates educators' perspectives on training adequacy and curriculum development needs. An international survey of 504 medical schools across six continents was conducted between September 2023 and April 2024. The 20-question poll assessed institutional characteristics, CGT educational requirements and structure, faculty resources, curriculum content, and educator perspectives. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all responses. RESULTS: Forty-six medical schools from 21 countries responded (9.1% response rate). Only 41% (19/46) offered CGT education, predominantly as optional courses (53%) during third and fourth years. Most programs relied on 2-4 faculty with competing responsibilities; only two institutions had dedicated CGT educators. Three schools reported standardized curricula, and none formally assessed student learning. Most educators (56%) considered current CGT education inadequate, and 78% advocated expansion. Nearly two-thirds (64%) agreed to integrate professionally developed online CGT courses. CONCLUSION: Medical education lags substantially behind the clinical adoption of CGT. The gap threatens future physicians' ability to offer optimal care. Strong educator consensus on inadequacy and interest in standardized resources signals an opportunity for intervention through collaborative curriculum initiatives.