Stem cell researchers in London have requested permission to edit genes in human embryos in an attempt to not only enhance our understanding of the earliest stages of human development, but to hopefully reduce miscarriages.
One of the scientists behind the request, Dr. Kathy Niakan, a researcher affiliated with the new $1.1 billion biomedical research center in London, The Francis Crick Institute, indicated in a statement that her team wants to use genome editing techniques based on the recently developed CRISPR/Cas9 system — a revolutionary genome editing technique that has sparked a patent war between MIT, Harvard and UC Berkeley.
Dr. Niakan, lead researcher behind the Crick group applying for the license, stated that the group’s aim is to “provide further fundamental insights into early human development” by testing the function of specific through “gene editing and transfection approaches that are currently permitted under the HFE Act 2008.”
To provide further fundamental insights into early human development we are proposing to test the function of genes using gene editing and transfection approaches that are currently permitted under the HFE Act 2008. We also propose to use new methods based on CRIPSR/Cas9, which allows very specific alterations to be made to the genome. By applying more precise and efficient methods in our research we hope to require fewer embryos and be more successful than the other methods currently used.
If permission is granted, Scientific American reports that it could result in the world’s first approval of this kind of research by a national regulatory body.
According to the Crick, the stage of embryo development that their team of researchers plans to study has “tremendous potential for stem cell research” that will translate into “benefits and advances in many different fields of medicine.”
According to Dr. Niakan, all of the research would be conducted “in line with HFEA regulations” and any donated embryos would be used strictly for research purposes.
Importantly, in line with HFEA regulations, any donated embryos would be used for research purposes only. These embryos would be donated by informed consent and surplus to IVF treatment.
