A Stanford investigation has cleared three prominent faculty members of helping with a controversial gene-editing experiment led by disgraced Chinese geneticist He Jiankui.
The Stanford faculty members under investigation were Matthew Porteus, biophysicist Stephen Quake, and neuroscientist and ethicist William Hurlbut. The purpose of the review was to understand the relationship these men had with He, and to identify any contributions they may have made to an experiment in which the Chinese scientist created the world’s first genetically modified babies.
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The recently concluded fact-finding review was conducted by a Stanford faculty member and an outside investigator, according to a press release. The investigation found no evidence of misconduct, clearing the three faculty members of any wrongdoing. As the Stanford press release notes, the reviewers found that:
the Stanford researchers were not participants in Dr. He’s research regarding genome editing of human embryos for intended implantation and birth and that they had no research, financial or organizational ties to this research. The review found that the Stanford researchers expressed serious concerns to Dr. He about his work. When Dr. He did not heed their recommendations and proceeded, Stanford researchers urged him to follow proper scientific practices.
Read full, original post: Stanford Clears Faculty Members Linked to Unethical CRISPR Baby Experiment
