Cathy Tie Calls for Public Funding of Gene-Edited Embryos
Biotech founder Cathy Tie argues in Trends in Genetics that gene-edited human embryos need public funding and new regulations to reach clinical use.
Biotech founder Cathy Tie has published a commentary in the journal Trends in Genetics arguing that gene-edited human embryos should receive public funding and be governed by new regulatory pathways. Tie contends that editing embryos is a moral imperative and should eventually move into clinical use.
The commentary does not specify a timeline for when such editing might reach clinics, but it frames public investment and updated rules as necessary steps. Tie's company, Origin Genomics, launched in March with plans to bring gene-edited embryos to IVF clinics.
The debate over heritable human gene editing has been shaped by past controversies. In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced he had created the first gene-edited babies, a claim that was widely condemned and ended with him in prison.
More recent developments have kept the issue in focus. In June, researchers at Columbia University revealed they had edited early-stage human embryos using base editing with high accuracy. In July, a European survey found more people supported than opposed human embryo editing.
The commentary was reported by wired.com.
Quick answers
What did Cathy Tie argue in Trends in Genetics?
She argued for public funding and new regulatory pathways for gene-edited human embryos, calling it a moral imperative that should eventually move into clinical use.
What is Origin Genomics?
It is Cathy Tie's biotech company, which launched in March with plans to bring gene-edited embryos to IVF clinics.
What happened with He Jiankui?
In 2018, the Chinese scientist announced he had created the first gene-edited babies. The work was widely condemned and he ended up in prison.