Launch of germline gene editing commission provides first look at priorities, representatives

An international commission tasked with creating a framework for assessing potential clinical applications of human germline genome editing launched Wednesday, providing the first details of the composition of its membership and oversight board, timeline and scope. The commission, convened by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of the U.K., is the most action-oriented proposal of the many responses to address concerns that were magnified in November when Chinese scientist Jiankui He revealed he used CRISPR-based gene editing in human embryos that led to the birth of two babies. The academies first proposed the commission in a Science editorial in December.

The commission's charge is to produce requirements that would inform the development of a pathway to clinical use of human germline editing, including criteria and standards for assessing whether an application should be permissible. It will hold three public meetings, convene an international workshop and solicit public input before issuing a final report, expected in the spring of 2020...