A large consortium of CRISPR scientists initiated the Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) Program in order to speed up the development and implementation of gene editing therapies. The initiative to develop safer and more effective gene clinical gene editing methods is supported by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). The consortium will consider various aspects of clinical gene editing for optimization, such as the assessment of different enzymes, delivery systems, target cells, efficiencies and safety, and the use of preclinical animal models. Importantly, the research outcomes will be achieved by relying on standardized methods of data collection and coordinated by a central communication hub, greatly facilitating data comparison and integration among involved labs. The aim of the SCGE consortium is to deliver a validated toolkit that will facilitate gene editing in the clinic.

For more information, see: Saha, K., et al. (2021) The NIH somatic cell genome editing program. Nature 592: 195–204. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03191-1

Keywords: Gene editing, Therapy, NIH, Consortium, Toolkit

Questions? Email: crispr@amsterdamumc.nl