The Association of China-Ireland Academics (ACIA) jointly organised an Academic Seminar with Maynooth University Chinese Studies and Scholars Association (CSSA). This event was also supported by the Chinese Embassy (Education Section). This seminar was held on 13 April, 2019 at the seminar room of Green Dragon Well Restaurant, Dun Laoghaire. Professor Sanbing Shen (NUI Galway) delivered a talk on “The Prospects of Human Gene Editing and Clinical Applications”. Dr Yinya Liu (Maynooth University) discussed the Ethical Considerations on Human Gene Editing.
On 26 November 2018, He Jiankui, who was an associate professor in the Department of Biology of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, claimed that he had created the first human genetically edited babies, Lulu and Nana. He Jiankui’s genome editing clinical experiment was conducted without public discussion in the scientific community. There were not clear ethical review and informed consent of this experiment either. Therefore, it is necessary for both researchers and students to come to understand the cutting-edge of current Human Gene Editing and clinical applications as well as its ethical consideration. Prof Sanbing Shen provided a detailed historical review on the development of Human Gene Editing. Dr Yinya Liu introduced both the theoretical structure of ethics, bioethics, and biomedical research ethics as well as the main ethical concerns on Human Gene Editing. The conclusion is that both government, scientific community and the public should pay more attention to the public policy, ethical discussion and science progressing on this topic.
Presentation by Dr. Yinya Liu, Maynooth University
Presentation by Prof. Sanbing Shen, NUI Galway