Gene Therapy

We welcome the opportunity to partner with you in caring for your patients. Our specialists regularly collaborate with primary care physicians, neurologists, hematologists, and other providers to coordinate care before, during, and after gene therapy.

If you would like to refer a patient to our program and have them return to your care following treatment, we can easily support that process. Call 409-772-3466, and we will connect you directly with a member of our clinical team.

No. We care for patients from across Texas, Louisiana, and beyond. Our team can assist with coordinating travel and short-term housing to help make treatment as accessible as possible.

Choosing UTMB Health means partnering with a team that combines deep expertise with care centered around your family’s needs. You'll receive:

• A dedicated multidisciplinary team focused on gene therapy
• Access to state-of-the-art treatments that might not be offered elsewhere
• Comprehensive support from first visit through long-term follow-up

Gene therapy is a defining focus of our mission to bring life-changing treatments to patients and families across Texas and beyond.

Families turn to us because our entire team—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, genetic counselors, and care coordinators—focuses solely on ensuring each gene therapy is delivered with precision, compassion, and excellence.

We understand that choosing a gene therapy is one of the most significant decisions you will make. That’s why we partner with you and your referring physician from the very first consultation through long-term follow-up, providing education, guidance, and reassurance every step of the way.

Each patient receives ongoing, closely monitored care, and our specialists in other disciplines collaborate to ensure safety, optimal outcomes, and lasting support. With every treatment, our goal remains the same: to combine world-class innovation with the compassionate, family-centered care that defines who we are.

Eligibility depends on your specific condition, genetic diagnosis, overall health, and whether your disease meets certain criteria. Genetic testing and medical evaluation help determine if gene therapy at UTMB is a good match for you or your child.

Coverage for gene therapy depends on the type of therapy being used and your specific insurance plan. As these treatments are complex and highly specialized, they can be very costly. Insurance will require prior authorization. Coverage decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Our team will help you understand your insurance coverage and any potential costs before treatment begins. We’ll guide you through the process so you know what to expect and feel supported every step of the way.

To begin:

• Contact the genetics team at 409-772-3466 and ask for an evaluation. ¿Habla español? Llame al 409-226-7011.
• Provide your referring physician’s information, insurance and demographics, past medical records, and genetic test results (if available).
• During your consultation, we’ll review whether gene therapy is an option for your condition, how the process works, and what the next steps are. From there, our team helps you coordinate evaluation, scheduling, treatment, and long-term follow-up, if needed.

The actual treatment may be a single, one-day infusion or procedure, but “recovery” and follow-up depend on your condition and overall health. Some may include a short hospital stay. We will discuss after treatment options including follow up, lab work, and any ongoing monitoring. For those who live outside of the Houston area, we can partner with your local care team to make follow-up monitoring as easy as possible.