Academic institutions and research-focused medical centers are primary hubs for CAR-T cell therapy development and clinical trials. Key locations include:
United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center: Offers all FDA-approved CAR-T therapies and participates in clinical trials, supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and stem cell transplant infrastructure.
University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC): A leader in CAR-T therapy, providing FDA-approved treatments and clinical trials for blood cancers.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital: Conducts active CAR-T trials, including Phase 1/2 studies for pediatric B-cell malignancies.
China
Dominates CAR-T clinical trials globally, with 460 registered studies targeting CD19 and BCMA antigens. Many academic hospitals offer "home-grown" CAR-T therapies at lower costs compared to commercial options.
Israel
Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Hospital in Israel offer high-quality CAR-T therapy with on-site genetic labs, accredited care, and significantly lower costs compared to U.S. centers.
Europe
Spain
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona developed the first European-approved CAR-T therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
UK and Germany
Host smaller numbers of trials but remain active in research.
Australia
Provides CAR-T therapy at select public hospitals, with eligibility for ~300 patients annually.
Finding Academic Centers
- Use ClinicalTrials.gov to search for CAR-T trials by location, condition, or trial phase.
- Explore NCI-designated cancer centers that offer FDA-approved CAR-T therapies and clinical trials.
- Contact specialized CAR-T medical tourism agencies for guidance and support.
- Reach out directly to institutions.
Publication date: April 2025
Sources:
kucancercenter.org
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
umms.org
hopkinsmedicine.org
celltherapy360.com
susupport.com
innocar-t.eu
