“Chula CAR-T Cell: A Living Drug for Blood Cancer Patients”

For some patients with blood cancer whose disease has relapsed or resisted standard treatments, further evaluation is required to determine the most appropriate care options.

CAR T-cell therapy represents a crucial alternative for these patients. However, the high cost of treatment remains a major barrier—particularly for underprivileged patients, even after being medically cleared and assessed as suitable candidates for the therapy.

“Chula CAR-T Cell: A Living Drug for Cancer Treatment” project, established by the Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Center at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, aims to expand access to CAR T-cell therapy for underprivileged patients. Concurrently, it drives the research and development of cell therapy technology in Thailand—spanning cell manufacturing, quality control, and clinical administration under expert medical supervision.

CAR T-cell therapy involves extracting a patient’s own T cells (a type of immune cell) and genetically engineering them to recognize and destroy target cancer cells. Once modified and expanded in the laboratory, these cells are infused back into the patient. Because the engineered cells can continue to multiply and function inside the body, this treatment is known as a “living drug.” This therapy is used for specific types of blood cancer, subject to careful evaluation of medical indications, disease status, and patient readiness by a team of specialists.

Developing CAR T-cell technology locally is vital for building Thailand's independent manufacturing and clinical treatment capabilities. It also advances medical knowledge to ensure sustainable, long-term access for patients. To bridge the gap between medical breakthroughs and real-world patient care, ongoing financial support is essential for both patient treatment costs and underlying research.

Fundraising Goal

This fundraising initiative aims to raise 10,000,000 THB to support two key areas:

1.       Patient Support for Underprivileged Patients

Subsidizes costs associated with CAR T-cell therapy for eligible patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society. Medical suitability and financial need are carefully evaluated by medical teams and hospital social workers to alleviate financial barriers to life-saving care.

2.       CAR T-cell Research and Development

Funds the optimization of manufacturing processes, studies on cell efficacy and persistence, and expanded research into future applications for other conditions.

Your donation directly enables patient care and scientific research to advance hand in hand—giving immediate hope to patients in need today while strengthening Thailand’s cellular therapy capabilities for the future.