Science, Access, and Governance of Human Genome Editing

Science, Access, and Governance of Human Genome Editing Will Be Explored in March 7-9 Online Events

In partnership with the U.K. Academy of Medical Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine, and the World Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society is hosting a three-part series of online events on human genome editing March 7-9, 2022.

The event series — which will include sessions on the science, equity and access, and governance of human genome editing technologies and applications — is designed to inform discussions ahead of the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing, to be held in London in the spring of 2023 (March 6-8).

Speakers include:

• Robin Lovell-Badge, The Francis Crick Institute; chair of the planning committee for the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing
• Jennifer Doudna, University of California-Berkeley; member of the planning committee for the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing
• Katie Hasson, Center for Genetics and Society
• Katherine Littler, World Health Organization
• Ambroise Wonkam, Johns Hopkins University Medical School

The session schedule is as follows:

Looking Ahead to the Science

Monday, March 7, 13:40 - 16:00 GMT (8:40 a.m. – 11 a.m. EST)

This session will include discussions on the state of the science and recent developments in somatic editing, particularly delivery mechanisms for genome editing in vivo, and germline editing, particularly developments in producing edited gametes.

Looking Ahead to the Equity and Access

Tuesday, March 8, 14:00 - 16:00 GMT (9 a.m. – 11 a.m. EST)

The first half of this session will focus on health system barriers to access new somatic genome editing technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This will be followed by presentations on different ways to address price as a barrier to access in higher-income countries, both within the current research and development framework and beyond.

Looking Ahead to the Governance

Wednesday March 9, 14:00 - 17:00 GMT (9 a.m. – noon EST)

Presentations will include research on current regulatory frameworks and challenges for governance of somatic and heritable editing, if heritable genome editing is deemed safe and acceptable. The session will also focus on the governance recommendations from reports of the  International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing and the  WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing, and how these could be operationalised within nations and internationally.

Details: Advance registration is not required. Full details for each day’s events, including the livestream and Q&A details, will be accessible from the Royal Society website:  https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2022/03/looking-ahead-to-the-third-human-genome-editing-summit/.

Following the presentations, there will be online panel discussions with questions from the audience using Slido.