gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function

gene therapist noun

Examples of gene therapy in a Sentence

advances in the science of gene therapy

Recent Examples on the Web

As our research on gene therapy progressed, NIH Small Business grants contributed to our founding a company that raised US$200 million in investments and partnerships and created hundreds of new jobs in Houston. —Fred D. Ledley, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025

Immunotherapies that save so many lives from cancer began with funding from the NIH, for example, as did several gene therapies that reported positive results for the first time this year in treating Huntington’s disease, a rare genetic disease in newborns, and high cholesterol. —Alice Park, Time, 15 Dec. 2025

The gene therapy works with one infusion. —Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

Lower cost cell & gene therapies. —Bob Kocher, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gene therapy

• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy
• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy

Kids Definition

gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of a functioning gene into cells especially to replace a defective gene in the treatment of genetic disorders

Medical Definition

gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function (as the destruction of tumor cells)

gene therapist noun